V + -나 보다 / A + -(으)ㄴ가 보다 – It Seems / Appears That (Inference)
Meaning: It seems that; I guess that; it appears that
Conjugation & Pattern
- Present: Verb (and 있다/없다) + -나 보다 | Adjective + -(으)ㄴ가 보다 | Noun + 인가 보다
- Past (V/A): -았/었나 보다 | Noun: 이었나/였나 보다
- Future: V/A + -(으)ㄹ 건가 보다
Detailed Usage
Used when the speaker infers a situation or state based on an objective clue or piece of evidence they have observed or heard. Primarily used with second- or third-person subjects.
Example Sentences
- 1
어머니께서 전화를 안 받으시는 걸 보니까 지금 바쁘신가 봐요.
Eomeonikkeseo jeonhwareul an badeusineun geol bonikka jigeum bappeusinga bwayo.
Seeing that my mother isn't answering the phone, she must be busy right now.
- 2
흐엉 씨가 하품을 계속 하는 걸 보니 어젯밤에 잠을 못 잤나 봐요.
Heueong ssiga hapumeul gyesok haneun geol boni eojetbame jameul mot janna bwayo.
Seeing Huong yawning continuously, it seems she couldn't sleep last night.
- 3
식당 앞에 줄이 긴 걸 보니까 음식이 아주 맛있나 봐요.
Sikdang ape juri gin geol bonikka eumsigi aju masinna bwayo.
Looking at the long line in front of the restaurant, the food must be delicious.
Important Notes
Unlike '-(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다' (which can express purely subjective impressions), '-나 보다 / -(으)ㄴ가 보다' is based on external evidence. At the present tense, verbs take '-나 보다' while adjectives take '-(으)ㄴ가 보다'; in the past tense, both take '-았/었나 보다'.
