-(으)ㄴ/는 셈이다

How to use it

Sums up a situation by calculation or reasoning: it isn't exactly so, but in effect it comes to this. Often after a reason with -(으)니까 or -아/어서.

Forming it

-(으)ㄹ 셈이다 has a different meaning, 'intend to': 어떻게 할 셈이에요? 'What do you plan to do?'.

Examples

• 숙제를 거의 다 했으니까 끝난 셈이에요.

  I've done almost all my homework, so it's as good as finished.

• 한 달에 두 번 만나니까 2주에 한 번 보는 셈이에요.

  We meet twice a month, so it amounts to seeing each other once every two weeks.