Korean grammar patterns › Level 4
-(으)ㄴ/는 모양이다
it appears that, it looks like (inference from evidence)
Level 4 · TOPIK II · intermediate
How to use it
The speaker infers something from what they see or hear, often after -는 걸 보니(까). Verbs: -(으)ㄴ (past), -는 (present), -(으)ㄹ (future guess); adjectives -(으)ㄴ.
Forming it
| 오다 | → 온 모양이에요 |
| 자다 | → 자는 모양이에요 |
| 바쁘다 | → 바쁜 모양이에요 |
| 학생 | → 학생인 모양이에요 |
Not used about your own feelings or experience: ✗ 제가 배고픈 모양이에요. It needs some evidence; for a simple opinion use -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다.
Examples
길이 젖은 걸 보니 밤에 비가 온 모양이에요.
The street is wet, so it looks like it rained last night.
옆집에 불이 다 꺼진 걸 보니 벌써 자는 모양이에요.
All the lights next door are off, so it seems they're already asleep.
Compared with similar patterns
-나 보다 (G3-026) is very close and more casual. -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 (G2-006) can also express your own opinion or soften statements about yourself. -(으)ㄴ/는 듯하다 (G4-012) is more written.