KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -(으)ㄴ 모양이다
Korean Grammar “-(으)ㄴ 모양이다”: How to Use It (TOPIK 4)
How to attach it
The ending differs for verbs and adjectives, so the table shows both. Compare how each word changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch (verb) | 보는 모양이다 | boneun moyangida |
| 읽다 | to read (verb) | 읽는 모양이다 | ingneun moyangida |
| 크다 | big (adjective) | 큰 모양이다 | keun moyangida |
| 좋다 | good, nice (adjective) | 좋은 모양이다 | joeun moyangida |
What changes
- For verbs, -는 attaches directly to the stem (읽 → 읽는). A stem ending in ㄹ drops the ㄹ first (살 → 사는).
- For adjectives, the present-tense form is -(으)ㄴ: ㄴ after a vowel (크 → 큰) and 은 after a consonant (좋 → 좋은).
Explanation
길이 젖어 있는 걸 보니 밤에 비가 온 모양이에요.
“-(으)ㄴ 모양이다” expresses a guess based on what you see or hear: “it seems that ….” Use “-(으)ㄴ 모양이다” for the past and “-는 모양이다” for present verbs. The sentence means “Judging from the wet road, it looks like it rained during the night.”
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 길이 젖어 있는 걸 보니 밤에 비가 온 모양이에요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 길이 | ||
| 길 | ㄱ+ㅣ+ㄹ | [기] gi |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | [리] ri |
| 젖어 | ||
| 젖 | ㅈ+ㅓ+ㅈ | [저] jeo |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [저] jeo |
| 있는 | ||
| 있 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅆ | [인] in |
| 는 | ㄴ+ㅡ+ㄴ | neun |
| 걸 | ㄱ+ㅓ+ㄹ | geol |
| 보니 | ||
| 보 | ㅂ+ㅗ | bo |
| 니 | ㄴ+ㅣ | ni |
| 밤에 | ||
| 밤 | ㅂ+ㅏ+ㅁ | [바] ba |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | [메] me |
| 비가 | ||
| 비 | ㅂ+ㅣ | bi |
| 가 | ㄱ+ㅏ | ga |
| 온 | ㅇ+ㅗ+ㄴ | on |
| 모양이에요 | ||
| 모 | ㅁ+ㅗ | mo |
| 양 | ㅇ+ㅑ+ㅇ | yang |
| 이 | ㅇ+ㅣ | i |
| 에 | ㅇ+ㅔ | e |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 길이 → [기리]
- Nasalization: a final ㄱ, ㄷ or ㅂ becomes ㅇ, ㄴ or ㅁ before ㄴ or ㅁ (and a ㄹ after ㅁ or ㅇ becomes ㄴ). 있는 → [인는]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 길 | noun | road, way | TOPIK level 1 |
| 있다 | verb | to exist, to have | TOPIK level 1 |
| 밤 | noun | night | TOPIK level 1 |
| 비 | noun | rain | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 길이 젖어 있는 걸 보니 밤에 비가 온 ____이에요.
Show the answer
Answer: 길이 젖어 있는 걸 보니 밤에 비가 온 모양이에요.
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