🔎

Subjective guess: -(으)ㄴ/는가 보다

Keywords
-(으)ㄴ/는가 보다
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Intermediate Grammar
🔎
TL;DR 🦄
  • 🔎 -(으)ㄴ/는가 보다 means I guess / it seems / apparently, based on a clue or impression.
  • 🧠 It is a subjective inference: the speaker notices something and gently concludes, “maybe that’s what’s going on.”
  • 🧩 답장이 없어요. 바쁜가 봐요. [dap-jang-i eop-seo-yo. ba-ppeun-ga bwa-yo] = There’s no reply. I guess they’re busy.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Open
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets and listen to chunks like 바쁜가 봐요, 많은가 봐요, 학생인가 봐요, 오는가 봐요, and the common spoken forms 오나 봐요, 춥나 봐요. Listen for the soft “I’m inferring from clues” feeling. 🎧
 

🌈 The Big Picture

-(으)ㄴ/는가 보다 lets you make a careful guess from what you see, hear, or notice.
 
It often translates as:
  • “I guess...”
  • “It seems...”
  • “Apparently...”
  • “Looks like...”
  • “I suppose...”
 
Examples:
  • 표정이 안 좋아요. 기분이 안 좋은가 봐요.
      • [pyo-jeong-i an jo-a-yo. gi-bu-ni an jo-eun-ga bwa-yo]
      Their expression doesn’t look good. I guess they’re not in a good mood. 😟
  • 줄이 길어요. 사람이 많은가 봐요.
      • [ju-ri gi-reo-yo. sa-ra-mi ma-neun-ga bwa-yo]
      The line is long. I guess there are many people. 👥
  • 교복을 입었어요. 학생인가 봐요.
      • [gyo-bo-geul i-beo-sseo-yo. hak-saeng-in-ga bwa-yo]
      They’re wearing a school uniform. I guess they’re a student. 🎒
 
This grammar is softer than saying a fact directly. You are not saying “I know.” You are saying, “The signs make me think so.”
 

🎨 The Core “Subjective Guess” Family

1. Action verb + 는가 보다

Use this when you are guessing about an action or process.
  • 오다 → 오는가 보다 = I guess someone is coming
  • 기다리다 → 기다리는가 보다 = I guess someone is waiting
  • 막히다 → 막히는가 보다 = I guess it is jammed/blocked
 
In everyday speech, action verbs often use the shorter -나 보다:
  • 오나 봐요 = I guess someone is coming
  • 기다리나 봐요 = I guess someone is waiting
 

2. Adjective/descriptive verb + -(으)ㄴ가 보다

Use this when you are guessing about a state or quality.
  • 바쁘다 → 바쁜가 보다 = I guess someone is busy
  • 많다 → 많은가 보다 = I guess there are many
  • 어렵다 → 어려운가 보다 = I guess it is difficult
  • 친절하다 → 친절한가 보다 = I guess someone is kind
 

3. Noun + 인가 보다

Use this when you are guessing identity, category, or role.
  • 학생 → 학생인가 보다 = I guess they are a student
  • 휴일 → 휴일인가 보다 = I guess it is a holiday
  • 문제 → 문제인가 보다 = I guess it is a problem
 

4. Past guess + -았/었나 보다

Use this when the clue suggests something already happened.
  • 오다 → 왔나 보다 = I guess someone came
  • 먹다 → 먹었나 보다 = I guess someone ate
  • 끝나다 → 끝났나 보다 = I guess it ended
  • 바쁘다 → 바빴나 보다 = I guess someone was busy
 

🛠️ How It Works in Sentences

1. Guessing from no reply
  • 답장이 없어요. 지금 바쁜가 봐요.
      • [dap-jang-i eop-seo-yo. ji-geum ba-ppeun-ga bwa-yo]
      There’s no reply. I guess they’re busy now. 📱
 
2. Guessing from a visible clue
  • 길이 젖었어요. 비가 왔나 봐요.
      • [gi-ri jeo-jeo-sseo-yo. bi-ga wan-na bwa-yo]
      The road is wet. I guess it rained. 🌧️
 
3. Guessing identity
  • 가방에 책이 많아요. 학생인가 봐요.
      • [ga-bang-e chae-gi ma-na-yo. hak-saeng-in-ga bwa-yo]
      There are many books in the bag. I guess they’re a student. 📚
 
4. Guessing an action
  • 밖에 사람들이 서 있어요. 누군가를 기다리는가 봐요.
      • [ba-kke sa-ram-deu-ri seo i-sseo-yo. nu-gun-ga-reul gi-da-ri-neun-ga bwa-yo]
      People are standing outside. I guess they’re waiting for someone. 🚪
 

🧩 Formation Rules

Present action verbs → 는가 보다

  • 가다 → 가는가 보다
  • 오다 → 오는가 보다
  • 기다리다 → 기다리는가 보다
  • 막히다 → 막히는가 보다
 
Common spoken shortcut: -나 보다
  • 오나 봐요
  • 기다리나 봐요
  • 막히나 봐요
 

Adjectives/descriptive verbs → -(으)ㄴ가 보다

  • vowel-ending stem → ㄴ가 보다
    • 크다 → 큰가 보다
    • 바쁘다 → 바쁜가 보다
    • 친절하다 → 친절한가 보다
  • consonant-ending stem → 은가 보다
    • 많다 → 많은가 보다
    • 좋다 → 좋은가 보다
    • 작다 → 작은가 보다
 

Nouns → 인가 보다

  • 학생 → 학생인가 보다
  • 휴일 → 휴일인가 보다
  • 실수 → 실수인가 보다
 

Past → -았/었나 보다

  • 오다 → 왔나 보다
  • 먹다 → 먹었나 보다
  • 끝나다 → 끝났나 보다
  • 피곤하다 → 피곤했나 보다
 

🚨 Exception Rule(s)

  • ㅂ-irregular adjectives change before -(으)ㄴ가:
    • 춥다 → 추운가 보다
    • 어렵다 → 어려운가 보다
    • 덥다 → 더운가 보다
  • ㄹ-ending adjectives drop ㄹ before ㄴ가:
    • 멀다 → 먼가 보다 is grammatically possible but often less natural than spoken 머나 봐요 or another expression. For learner safety, use common sentences like 거리가 먼가 봐요 only after seeing examples.
    • 길다 → 긴가 보다
  • For nouns, do not forget 인:
    • ✅ 학생인가 봐요
    • ❌ 학생가 봐요
  • Do not confuse 먹어 보다 with 먹나 보다:
    • 먹어 봐요 = try eating
    • 먹나 봐요 = I guess someone is eating/eats
 
✍️
Spacing note
Write 보다 as a separate helper:
  • ✅ 바쁜가 봐요
  • ✅ 학생인가 봐요
  • ✅ 비가 왔나 봐요
  • ❌ 바쁜가봐요
 

📚 Cross-check note

This lesson connects with
🔎
Based on Evidence: -나 보다 / -(으)ㄴ가 보다,
🕵️
Supposition: -(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다,
🤔
I wonder if: -(으)ㄴ/는가 싶다,
🌫️
It seems/appears: -(으)ㄹ 듯하다, and
🌙
Vague Conjecture: -(으)ㄹ지도 모르다. This page focuses on the subjective guess feeling: the speaker notices a clue and gently infers what is probably true.
 

🪞 Synonym & Usage Alert

  • -(으)ㄴ/는가 보다 = I guess / seems / apparently; subjective inference from a clue.
    • 바쁜가 봐요. = I guess they’re busy.
  • -나 보다 = common spoken short form, especially with action verbs and many adjectives.
    • 비가 오나 봐요. = I guess it’s raining.
  • -(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다 = it appears; a little more objective/sign-based.
    • 바쁜 모양이에요. = It seems they’re busy.
  • -(으)ㄴ/는가 싶다 = I wonder if; softer internal thought.
    • 바쁜가 싶어요. = I wonder if they’re busy.
  • -(으)ㄹ 것 같다 = I think / seems; very general and common.
    • 바쁠 것 같아요. = I think they’ll be busy / they seem busy.
  • -(으)ㄹ지도 모르다 = might / maybe; weaker possibility.
    • 바쁠지도 몰라요. = They might be busy.
 

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ Using it when you know directly and certainly.
      • ✅ Use it when you are inferring from clues.
  • ❌ 학생가 봐요 → ✅ 학생인가 봐요.
  • ❌ 많다 봐요 → ✅ 많은가 봐요 or spoken 많나 봐요.
  • ❌ 먹어 봐요 for “I guess they are eating” → ✅ 먹나 봐요 / 먹는가 봐요.
  • ❌ Confusing comparison 보다 with conjecture 보다:
    • 어제보다 = than yesterday
    • 왔나 봐요 = I guess someone came
 
🔎 Bottom line: -(으)ㄴ/는가 보다 helps you sound observant and careful: “I noticed a clue, so I guess...”
 

Try this exercise

Instructions
Complete each sentence with the correct -(으)ㄴ/는가 보다 or related spoken form.
1. 바쁘다 → 답장이 없어요. ＿＿＿＿.
There’s no reply. I guess they’re busy.
Answer
바쁜가 봐요.
2. 많다 → 줄이 길어요. 사람이 ＿＿＿＿.
The line is long. I guess there are many people.
Answer
많은가 봐요.
3. 학생 → 교복을 입었어요. ＿＿＿＿.
They’re wearing a school uniform. I guess they’re a student.
Answer
학생인가 봐요.
4. 오다 past → 밖에 신발이 있어요. 누가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
왔나 봐요.
5. 먹다 past → 접시가 비었어요. 다 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
먹었나 봐요.
6. 기다리다 → 밖에 서 있어요. 누군가를 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
기다리는가 봐요 or spoken 기다리나 봐요.
7. 어렵다 → 질문이 많아요. 수업이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
어려운가 봐요.
8. ❌ 친구가 봐요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
친구인가 봐요.
9. Choose “try eating”:
① 먹어 봐요
② 먹나 봐요
Answer
① 먹어 봐요.
10. Choose “I guess they’re eating”:
① 먹어 봐요
② 먹나 봐요
Answer
② 먹나 봐요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 답장 [dap-jang] → reply
  • 줄 [jul] → line
  • 교복 [gyo-bok] → school uniform
  • 밖 [bak] → outside
  • 신발 [sin-bal] → shoes
  • 접시 [jeop-si] → plate
  • 비다 [bi-da] → to be empty
  • 누군가 [nu-gun-ga] → someone
  • 수업 [su-eop] → class
Tip 💡 This grammar is natural when there is a clue: no reply, long line, empty plate, wet street, or visible behavior.
🚀
Want more reps? Keep going into the Practice Hub for subjective-guess training. 🔎
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Subjective guess: -(으)ㄴ/는가 보다
 
Welcome to the clue-reading lab. 🔎 You’ll practice making careful guesses from no replies, long lines, empty plates, closed doors, facial expressions, and other little evidence trails.
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a sentence aloud.
 

Exercise 1 — Form Builder 🔧

A. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿ 봐요
I guess someone goes/is going
Answer
가는가 봐요 or spoken 가나 봐요.
B. 오다 → ＿＿＿＿ 봐요
Answer
오는가 봐요 or spoken 오나 봐요.
C. 기다리다 → ＿＿＿＿ 봐요
Answer
기다리는가 봐요 or spoken 기다리나 봐요.
D. 바쁘다 → ＿＿＿＿ 봐요
Answer
바쁜가 봐요.
E. 많다 → ＿＿＿＿ 봐요
Answer
많은가 봐요.
F. 어렵다 → ＿＿＿＿ 봐요
Answer
어려운가 봐요.
G. 학생 → ＿＿＿＿ 봐요
Answer
학생인가 봐요.
H. 문제 → ＿＿＿＿ 봐요
Answer
문제인가 봐요.
I. 먹다 past → ＿＿＿＿ 봐요
Answer
먹었나 봐요.
J. 끝나다 past → ＿＿＿＿ 봐요
Answer
끝났나 봐요.
🔧
Form Box
  • action present → 는가 봐요 or common 나 봐요
  • adjective → -(으)ㄴ가 봐요
  • noun → 인가 봐요
  • past → -았/었나 봐요
Tip 💡 The “가” part makes the guess feel question-like inside the sentence.
 

Exercise 2 — Read the Clue 🔍

A. 답장이 없어요. 지금 ＿＿＿＿.
There’s no reply. I guess they’re busy now.
Answer
바쁜가 봐요.
B. 길이 젖었어요. 비가 ＿＿＿＿.
The road is wet. I guess it rained.
Answer
왔나 봐요.
C. 줄이 길어요. 손님이 ＿＿＿＿.
The line is long. I guess there are many customers.
Answer
많은가 봐요.
D. 불이 꺼져 있어요. 가게가 문을 ＿＿＿＿.
The lights are off. I guess the store closed.
Answer
닫았나 봐요.
E. 계속 웃어요. 영화가 ＿＿＿＿.
They keep laughing. I guess the movie is fun.
Answer
재미있나 봐요 or 재미있는가 봐요.
F. 표정이 안 좋아요. 기분이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
안 좋은가 봐요.
G. 책상이 깨끗해요. 누가 청소를 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
했나 봐요.
H. 교실에 사람이 없어요. 수업이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
끝났나 봐요.
I. 가방에 책이 많아요. 학생＿＿＿＿.
Answer
학생인가 봐요.
J. 눈이 빨개요. 많이 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
울었나 봐요.
🔍
Clue Box
  • no reply → busy
  • wet road → rained
  • long line → many people/customers
  • lights off → closed
  • laughing → fun
  • red eyes → cried
Tip 💡 Say the clue first, then use -(으)ㄴ/는가 봐요 for the inference.
 

Exercise 3 — Choose the Right “보다” 🧭

A. “I guess they ate.”
① 먹었나 봐요
② 먹어 봐요
Answer
① 먹었나 봐요.
B. “Please try eating.”
① 먹나 봐요
② 먹어 보세요
Answer
② 먹어 보세요.
C. “Today is colder than yesterday.”
① 어제보다 추워요
② 춥나 봐요
Answer
① 어제보다 추워요.
D. “I guess it’s cold.”
① 춥나 봐요
② 어제보다 추워요
Answer
① 춥나 봐요.
E. “I guess they’re a student.”
① 학생인가 봐요
② 학생보다
Answer
① 학생인가 봐요.
F. “Than a student.”
① 학생인가 봐요
② 학생보다
Answer
② 학생보다.
G. “I guess someone is waiting.”
① 기다려 봐요
② 기다리나 봐요
Answer
② 기다리나 봐요.
H. “Try waiting.”
① 기다려 봐요
② 기다리나 봐요
Answer
① 기다려 봐요.
I. “I guess it is a problem.”
① 문제인가 봐요
② 문제보다
Answer
① 문제인가 봐요.
J. “Compared to the problem / than the problem.”
① 문제인가 봐요
② 문제보다
Answer
② 문제보다.
🧭
Decision Box
  • 먹어 보다 → try eating
  • 먹나 보다 → guess someone eats/is eating
  • 학생보다 → than a student
  • 학생인가 보다 → guess someone is a student
Tip 💡 Same-looking 보다, totally different jobs.
 

Exercise 4 — Compare Guessing Patterns 🔎

A. Conversational inference: 집에 없＿＿＿＿.
I guess they’re not home.
Answer
집에 없나 봐요.
B. More appearance/sign-based: 집에 없는 ＿＿＿＿.
It seems they’re not home.
Answer
집에 없는 모양이에요.
C. Internal wondering: 집에 없는가 ＿＿＿＿.
I wonder if they’re not home.
Answer
집에 없는가 싶어요.
D. Weak possibility: 집에 없을지도 ＿＿＿＿.
They might not be home.
Answer
집에 없을지도 몰라요.
E. General “I think”: 집에 없는 것 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
집에 없는 것 같아요.
F. Strong certainty: 집에 없을 게 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
집에 없을 게 틀림없어요.
G. “I guess they’re busy”: 바쁜가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
바쁜가 봐요.
H. “I wonder if they’re busy”: 바쁜가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
바쁜가 싶어요.
I. “They look tired”: 피곤해 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
피곤해 보여요.
J. “I guess they’re tired”: 피곤한가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
피곤한가 봐요.
🔎
Comparison Box
  • -가 봐요 → I guess from clues
  • 모양이에요 → it appears from signs
  • -가 싶어요 → I wonder if
  • -지도 몰라요 → might/maybe
  • 것 같아요 → I think / seems generally
  • 보여요 → looks visually
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. ❌ 학생가 봐요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
학생인가 봐요.
B. ❌ 많다 봐요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
많은가 봐요 or spoken 많나 봐요.
C. ❌ 먹어 봐요 for “I guess they’re eating” → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹나 봐요 or 먹는가 봐요.
D. ❌ 비가오나봐요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
비가 오나 봐요.
E. 왔나 봐요 means:
Answer
I guess someone came.
F. 학생인가 봐요 means:
Answer
I guess they are a student.
G. Choose the evidence-based guess:
① 비가 왔나 봐요
② 비가 올지도 몰라요
Answer
① 비가 왔나 봐요.
H. Choose the weak possibility:
① 비가 왔나 봐요
② 비가 올지도 몰라요
Answer
② 비가 올지도 몰라요.
I. Choose the internal wondering sentence:
① 문제인가 봐요
② 문제인가 싶어요
Answer
② 문제인가 싶어요.
J. When should you use -(으)ㄴ/는가 보다?
Answer
Use it when you notice a clue and make a careful, subjective guess from that clue.
🛡️
Final Check
  • Action: 오는가 봐요 / spoken 오나 봐요
  • Adjective: 바쁜가 봐요, 많은가 봐요
  • Noun: 학생인가 봐요
  • Past: 왔나 봐요, 먹었나 봐요
  • Different: 먹어 봐요 = try eating
Tip 💡 Clue + guess = -(으)ㄴ/는가 봐요.
 
🎉 You finished the -(으)ㄴ/는가 보다 workout. Now you can make careful subjective guesses: 바쁜가 봐요, 학생인가 봐요, 왔나 봐요, and 오나 봐요. Detective Korean unlocked. 🔎✨