B2 · उच्च मध्यवर्ती चैप्टर 15

Expressing Certainty and Logic

5 कुल नियम
51 उदाहरण
5 मिनट
इस अध्याय के नियम त्वरित अभ्यास

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of logical deduction and unwavering certainty in natural Korean conversation.

  • Express logical probability based on external circumstances.
  • Deny possibilities and confirm absolute facts with authority.
  • Make educated guesses about the past and concede points gracefully.
Speak with conviction, reason with logic.

तुम क्या सीखोगे

In this chapter, you're about to take a big leap and speak like a true Korean native! You'll move beyond just saying "I'm sure or I think"; you'll learn to precisely and subtly convey your level of certainty and logic in your speech. Imagine your friend hasn't arrived yet, and you see heavy traffic; by learning «-ㄹ/을 법하다,» you can say, "They're likely stuck in traffic." Or, when you're 100% sure something is impossible, with «-ㄹ 리가 없다,» you can decisively say, "There's no way!" In this lesson, you'll learn powerful tools like «-ㄹ/을 게 분명하다» to express yourself without a shred of doubt when you're absolutely certain about something. Wow, how great it is not to worry anymore! You can even use «-았/었을 것이다» to logically deduce about past events you didn't personally witness, like

They must have gone out yesterday.
These structures fit together like a puzzle, allowing you to express anything from a likely guess to absolute certainty in the best possible way. After this chapter, you'll be able to confidently express your opinions with reasoning and certainty in any conversation. You'll even learn how to use «-기는 하다» to concede a point politely before adding a small but and qualifying your statement. Ready for a much deeper and more authentic Korean conversation? Let's get started!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to describe likely scenarios using -ㄹ/을 법하다 based on logical reasoning.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to strongly negate impossible situations using -ㄹ 리가 없다.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to reconstruct past events logically using -았/었을 것이다.

अध्याय गाइड

Overview

Welcome, B2 Korean learners! Are you ready to elevate your Korean grammar to a truly native-like level? This chapter is your gateway to expressing certainty and logic with precision and nuance.
Moving beyond simple I think or "I'm sure," you'll master expressions that allow you to convey exactly how confident you are about a statement, or how logically you've deduced something. This is a crucial step in achieving fluency and engaging in deeper, more authentic conversations.
At the B2 CEFR level, the expectation is to communicate effectively in a wide range of situations, and that includes expressing your thoughts with conviction and sound reasoning. By learning structures like -ㄹ/을 법하다 for likelihood, -ㄹ 리가 없다 for impossibility, -ㄹ/을 게 분명하다 for absolute certainty, and -았/었을 것이다 for logical past deductions, you'll gain the tools to articulate your opinions with confidence. You'll even learn -기는 하다 to gracefully concede a point before introducing a counter-argument.
These advanced Korean grammar patterns will make your speech more sophisticated and natural, helping you sound less like a textbook and more like a native speaker.

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into the powerful tools for expressing certainty and logic in Korean. First, for expressing that something is logically likely or probable, we use -ㄹ/을 법하다. This structure suggests that based on circumstances, something seems like it could reasonably happen.
For instance, «그는 바빠서 못 올 법해요» (He's busy, so he's likely unable to come). When you're absolutely certain that there's no way something could be true, you'll use -ㄹ 리가 없다. It conveys strong disbelief or a logical impossibility.
For example, «그가 거짓말을 했을 리가 없어요» (There's no way he lied).
To express absolute certainty, when you have no doubt whatsoever, the phrase -ㄹ/을 게 분명하다 is your go-to. It means "it's clear that or it must be. Imagine saying, 내일 비가 올 게 분명해요" (It's definitely going to rain tomorrow). For making a logical past guess, like deducing what must have happened, we use -았/었을 것이다.
This is perfect for speculating about past events you didn't witness but can logically infer. For example, «그는 어제 집에 일찍 갔을 거예요» (He must have gone home early yesterday). Finally, to acknowledge with a 'but', or to concede a point before offering a qualification, we use -기는 하다.
This softens your statement and adds nuance. For instance, «맛있기는 한데, 너무 비싸요» (It is delicious, but it's too expensive). Mastering these B2 Korean grammar structures will significantly enhance your expressive capabilities.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: «비 올 것 같아.» (Sounds too casual/simple for strong certainty)
✓ Correct: «비가 올 게 분명해요.» (It's definitely going to rain.)
*Explanation:* While «것 같다» expresses probability, -ㄹ/을 게 분명하다 conveys a much stronger, almost undeniable certainty, which is what the speaker truly intends here.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: «그가 어제 집에 일찍 가야 했어.» (This implies 'had to go,' not 'must have gone' as a deduction)
✓ Correct: «그는 어제 집에 일찍 갔을 거예요.» (He must have gone home early yesterday.)
*Explanation:* -았/었을 것이다 is specifically for logical deduction about past events. «가야 했어» means he *had* to go, indicating obligation, not inference.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: «이 음식은 맛있어. 하지만 비싸.» (A bit blunt, lacks nuance)
✓ Correct: «이 음식은 맛있기는 한데, 너무 비싸요.» (This food is delicious, but it's too expensive.)
*Explanation:* -기는 하다 acknowledges the positive aspect (delicious) first, then gently introduces the negative (expensive), making the statement more polite and nuanced than a direct but.

Real Conversations

A

A

지영 씨가 아직 안 왔네요. (Jiyoung hasn't arrived yet.)
B

B

길이 많이 막히는 걸 보니, 늦을 법해요. (Seeing the heavy traffic, she's likely going to be late.)
A

A

그 어려운 시험에 그가 합격했을까요? (Do you think he passed that difficult exam?)
B

B

그가 밤새 공부한 걸 보면, 합격했을 리가 없어요. (Considering he studied all night, there's no way he didn't pass. / He must have passed.)
A

A

이 프로젝트는 내일까지 끝낼 수 있을까요? (Can we finish this project by tomorrow?)
B

B

팀원들이 열심히 하고 있으니, 분명히 끝낼 수 있을 게 분명해요. (Since the team members are working hard, it's clear we'll be able to finish it.)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between -ㄹ/을 법하다 and just using 아마 (probably)?

While 아마 expresses general probability, -ㄹ/을 법하다 specifically implies that something is *logically reasonable* or *plausible* given the circumstances, often based on common sense or observable facts. It adds a layer of reasoned deduction.

Q

Can -았/었을 것이다 be used for future deductions?

No, -았/었을 것이다 is exclusively for logical deductions about *past* events. For future deductions, you would typically use -ㄹ/을 것이다 (e.g., «내일 비가 올 것이다» - It will probably rain tomorrow).

Q

Is -ㄹ 리가 없다 considered informal?

No, -ㄹ 리가 없다 is a versatile expression usable in both formal and informal contexts. Its formality depends more on the politeness level of the ending (e.g., -ㄹ 리가 없어요 vs. -ㄹ 리가 없어).

Q

When is -기는 하다 more appropriate than a simple yes, but...?

-기는 하다 is perfect when you want to acknowledge a point or agree with something, but immediately want to add a caveat, a criticism, or a different perspective. It softens the but and shows you've considered the other side.

Cultural Context

These expressions of certainty and logic are deeply embedded in how native Korean speakers communicate, reflecting a culture that values thoughtful consideration and polite nuance. Using structures like -ㄹ/을 법하다 allows for logical reasoning without sounding overly assertive, while -기는 하다 enables polite disagreement or qualification, crucial in a high-context society. You'll hear these B2 Korean grammar patterns frequently in everyday conversations, news analysis, and even debates, as they allow speakers to express strong opinions with appropriate levels of confidence and deference.
Mastering them will not only improve your grammar but also your cultural understanding.

मुख्य उदाहरण (8)

1

이 시간쯤이면 차가 막힐 법해요.

इस समय ट्रैफिक होना तो लाज़मी है।

तार्किक अनुमान: -ㄹ/을 법하다
2

그 식당은 리뷰가 많아서 맛있을 법해.

उस रेस्टोरेंट के इतने रिव्यूज हैं, तो खाना अच्छा ही होगा।

तार्किक अनुमान: -ㄹ/을 법하다
3

James-ga geu don-eul humchyeoss-eul li-ga eops-eoyo.

हो ही नहीं सकता कि जेम्स ने वो पैसे चुराए हों।

ऐसा हो ही नहीं सकता... (-ㄹ 리가 없다)
4

Beolsseo maejin-il li-ga eopseo! Il-bun-bakk-e an jinatneunde.

इतनी जल्दी सोल्ड आउट होने का सवाल ही नहीं उठता! अभी तो बस एक मिनट हुआ है।

ऐसा हो ही नहीं सकता... (-ㄹ 리가 없다)
5

어제 비가 많이 `왔을 거예요`. 땅이 다 젖어 있거든요.

कल पक्का बहुत बारिश हुई होगी। देखो, ज़मीन पूरी गीली है।

तार्किक भूतकाल अनुमान: 'किया होगा' (-았/었을 것이다)
6

민수 씨는 벌써 `퇴근했을 거예요`. 사무실 불이 꺼져 있어요.

मिन्सू पक्का ऑफिस से निकल गया होगा। ऑफिस की लाइटें बंद हैं।

तार्किक भूतकाल अनुमान: 'किया होगा' (-았/었을 것이다)
7

그 영화가 재미있기는 한데 너무 길어요.

वो फिल्म दिलचस्प तो है, पर बहुत लंबी है।

'लेकिन' के साथ स्वीकार करना (-기는 하다)
8

돈이 있긴 한데 쓰기 싫어.

पैसे हैं तो सही, पर खर्च करने का मन नहीं है।

'लेकिन' के साथ स्वीकार करना (-기는 하다)

टिप्स और ट्रिक्स (4)

💡

The 'Duh' Factor

इसे तब इस्तेमाल करो जब नतीजा सबको साफ़ दिख रहा हो। जैसे 'उसने रात भर पढ़ाई की है, तो पास होना तो बनता है': «시험에 합격할 법해요.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: तार्किक अनुमान: -ㄹ/을 법하다
💬

ड्रामा क्वीन मोड

यह फ्रेज़ K-dramas में बहुत पॉपुलर है। जब कोई बड़ा ट्विस्ट आता है, तो अक्सर लोग चिल्लाकर कहते हैं: «말도 안 돼! 그럴 리가 없어!» (बकवास! ऐसा हो ही नहीं सकता!)
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ऐसा हो ही नहीं सकता... (-ㄹ 리가 없다)
🎯

'게' का जादू

याद रखो, '게' असल में '것이' का छोटा रूप है। बातचीत में '게' का इस्तेमाल तुम्हें ज़्यादा स्वाभाविक और धाराप्रवाह बनाता है। «이건 진짜일 게 분명해.»
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पूर्ण निश्चितता व्यक्त करना (-ㄹ/을 게 분명하다)
🎯

सबूत का नियम

इस ग्रामर का इस्तेमाल तब करो जब तुम्हारे पास कोई 'सुराग' हो। अगर ज़मीन गीली है, तो बोलो «비가 왔을 거예요»। अगर बिना किसी वजह के बस तुक्का मार रहे हो, तो «-았/었을지도 몰라요» ज़्यादा सही रहेगा।
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: तार्किक भूतकाल अनुमान: 'किया होगा' (-았/었을 것이다)

मुख्य शब्दावली (6)

분명하다 to be clear/certain 이유 reason 교통 체증 traffic jam 인정하다 to admit/acknowledge 가능성 possibility 확실히 certainly/definitely

Real-World Preview

clock

The Late Friend

Review Summary

  • V/A + -ㄹ/을 법하다
  • V/A + -ㄹ/을 리가 없다
  • V/A + -았/었을 것이다

सामान्य गलतियाँ

The pattern is almost exclusively used with '없다' to show impossibility. Using '있다' makes it a rhetorical question which is much rarer.

Wrong: 그가 올 리가 있어요? (Is there a way he's coming?)
सही: 그가 올 리가 없어요. (There's no way he's coming.)

In spoken Korean, -ㄹ 것이에요 is almost always contracted to -ㄹ 거예요. Using the uncontracted form sounds overly stiff.

Wrong: 어제 갔을 것이에요.
सही: 어제 갔을 거예요.

-기는 하다 feels incomplete without a contrasting clause (하지만/한데). It is used to concede a point before adding a 'but'.

Wrong: 그는 똑똑하기는 해요. (He is smart.)
सही: 그는 똑똑하기는 하지만 공부는 안 해요. (He is smart, but he doesn't study.)

इस अध्याय के नियम (5)

1

तार्किक अनुमान: -ㄹ/을 법하다

B2
जब बात सिर्फ अंदाज़े की नहीं, बल्कि 'लॉजिक' और 'तर्क' की हो, तो «-ㄹ/을 법하다» का इस्तेमाल करो।
이 시간쯤이면 차가 막힐 법해요.
10 उदाहरण
2

ऐसा हो ही नहीं सकता... (-ㄹ 리가 없다)

B2
जब तुम लॉजिक या सबूत के आधार पर 100% श्योर हो कि कुछ मुमकिन नहीं है, तो «-ㄹ/을 리가 없다» का इस्तेमाल करो।
James-ga geu don-eul humchyeoss-eul li-ga eops-eoy...
10 उदाहरण
3

पूर्ण निश्चितता व्यक्त करना (-ㄹ/을 게 분명하다)

B2
जब तुम किसी स्थिति या भविष्यवाणी के बारे में बिल्कुल पक्के हो, तो '-ㄹ/을 게 분명하다' का इस्तेमाल करो।
그 영화는 재미있을 게 분명해요.
10 उदाहरण
4

तार्किक भूतकाल अनुमान: 'किया होगा' (-았/었을 것이다)

B2
जब तुम्हें पुरानी किसी बात पर 'लॉजिकल अंदाज़ा' लगाना हो, तो «-았/었을 것이다» का इस्तेमाल करो। यह तुम्हारे दिमाग के लिए एक जादुई टूल है जो कहता है कि पक्का «ऐसा हुआ होगा»।
어제 비가 많이 `왔을 거예요`. 땅이 다 젖어 있거든...
10 उदाहरण
5

'लेकिन' के साथ स्वीकार करना (-기는 하다)

B2
जब किसी बात को 'हाँ' बोलकर 'लेकिन' जोड़ना हो, तो «-기는 하다» का इस्तेमाल करो।
그 영화가 재미있기는 한데 너무 길어요.
11 उदाहरण

Next Steps

You've just added a layer of sophistication to your Korean that many learners never reach. You are now capable of debating and reasoning like a true B2 speaker!

Watch a Korean mystery drama and narrate your theories using -ㄹ 게 분명해요.

Write 5 sentences about your childhood using -았/었을 것이다 for things you don't remember clearly.

Continue to: Inevitability and Close Calls

त्वरित अभ्यास (10)

इस वाक्य में गलती ढूंढें: '그는 어제 밥을 먹을 거예요.'

그는 어제 밥을 먹을 거예요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그는 어제 밥을 먹었을 거예요.
चूँकि बात '어제' (कल) की हो रही है, तो आपको अंदाज़ा लगाने से पहले '-었-' पास्ट मार्कर लगाना होगा।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: तार्किक भूतकाल अनुमान: 'किया होगा' (-았/었을 것이다)

मजबूत विश्वास व्यक्त करने के लिए कौन सा वाक्य अधिक स्वाभाविक है?

आप एक रेस्तरां में एक लंबी कतार देखते हैं और कहना चाहते हैं कि यह निश्चित रूप से स्वादिष्ट है।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 이 식당은 맛있을 게 분명해요.
-ㄹ 게 분명해요, -ㄹ 것 같아요 की तुलना में बहुत अधिक निश्चितता व्यक्त करता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पूर्ण निश्चितता व्यक्त करना (-ㄹ/을 게 분명하다)

निश्चितता व्यक्त करने के लिए खाली जगह भरें।

내일은 날씨가 ___ 분명해요. (좋다)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 좋을 게
विशेषण '좋다' में एक व्यंजन (consonant) है, इसलिए हम -을 게 जोड़ते हैं।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: पूर्ण निश्चितता व्यक्त करना (-ㄹ/을 게 분명하다)

कौन सा वाक्य इस स्थिति के लिए सही है?

स्थिति: तुम्हारा दोस्त कहता है कि उसने सुअर को उड़ते देखा।

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 돼지가 날 리가 없어요.
हालांकि '날 수 없어요' (उड़ नहीं सकता) सच है, लेकिन '날 리가 없어요' (उड़ने का सवाल ही नहीं उठता) तुम्हारी हैरानी और अविश्वास को बेहतर दिखाता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ऐसा हो ही नहीं सकता... (-ㄹ 리가 없다)

स्पेसिंग (Spacing) ठीक करो।

Find and fix the mistake:

그는성공할법하다.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 그는 성공할 법하다.
सही तरीका है: Modifier (성공할) + स्पेस + 법하다।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: तार्किक अनुमान: -ㄹ/을 법하다

वाक्य पूरा करो: 'यह एक ऐसी कहानी है जो सच लग सकती है।'

그것은 그럴 ___ 이야기예요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 법한
그럴 법하다 का मतलब है 'मुमकिन या जायज़ होना'।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: तार्किक अनुमान: -ㄹ/을 법하다

'जानना' (알다) का सही रूप भरें।

वो कल ही आया है। ___ ___ ___ ___ the secret password! (हो ही नहीं सकता कि उसे पता हो)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 알 리가 없어
हम '알 리가 없어' (stem 알 + 리가 없다) का इस्तेमाल यह बताने के लिए करते हैं कि उसके लिए पासवर्ड जानना नामुमकिन है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: ऐसा हो ही नहीं सकता... (-ㄹ 리가 없다)

छोटे रूप (shortened form) में गलती पहचानें और सुधारें।

한국어가 어렵긴은 하지만 재미있어요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.
'-긴' असल में '-기는' का छोटा रूप है, लेकिन आप '긴은' जैसा कुछ इस्तेमाल नहीं कर सकते।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'लेकिन' के साथ स्वीकार करना (-기는 하다)

'가다' (जाना) का सही रूप भरकर वाक्य पूरा करो ताकि यह एक पास्ट गेस लगे।

민수는 이미 집에 ____.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 갔을 거예요
किसी के 'चले जाने' का अंदाज़ा लगाने के लिए पास्ट कंजंक्चर फॉर्म '갔을 거예요' का इस्तेमाल होता है।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: तार्किक भूतकाल अनुमान: 'किया होगा' (-았/었을 것이다)

'मुझे पसंद तो है, पर...' कहने के लिए खाली जगह भरें।

피자를 좋아___ 한데 너무 비싸요.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 기는
जब आप किसी चीज़ को पसंद करते हैं पर कोई शिकायत भी है, तो '-기는' पैटर्न का इस्तेमाल करें।

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 'लेकिन' के साथ स्वीकार करना (-기는 하다)

Score: /10

सामान्य प्रश्न (6)

हाँ, इसके लिए -었/았을 법하다 का इस्तेमाल करो। इसका मतलब है 'लॉजिक के हिसाब से ऐसा हुआ होगा'। जैसे: «그가 벌써 갔을 법해요.»
그럴 법하다 लॉजिक पर आधारित है, जबकि 그럴 듯하다 का मतलब है कि कोई बात सुनने में सही लग रही है, चाहे वो सच हो या न हो। जैसे: «그럴 듯한 핑계네요.»
'리' शब्द Hanja 理 (तर्क/लॉजिक) से आया है। तुम इसे '이해' (समझना) जैसे शब्दों में भी देखोगे। तो असल में तुम कह रहे हो कि 'कोई लॉजिक ही नहीं है' जैसे: «그럴 리가 없어»।
बिल्कुल! अगर कोई तुम पर ऐसा इल्ज़ाम लगाए जो तुमने किया ही नहीं, तो कहो: «내가 그럴 리가 없어» (हो ही नहीं सकता कि मैंने ऐसा किया हो)।
-ㄹ 것이다 एक सामान्य भविष्य या एक सरल अनुमान है। -ㄹ 게 분명하다 साक्ष्य के आधार पर 'निश्चितता' की एक भारी परत जोड़ता है। यह 'मैं जाऊँगा' और 'मुझे यकीन है कि मैं जाऊँगा' (एक पर्यवेक्षक के दृष्टिकोण से) के बीच का अंतर है।
हाँ! -았/었을 게 분명하다 का प्रयोग करें। उदाहरण: '그는 이미 밥을 먹었을 게 분명해요' (मुझे यकीन है कि उसने पहले ही खा लिया है)।
पिछला अध्याय
Recalling Observations and Habits
अगला अध्याय
Inevitability and Close Calls
रोडमैप पर वापस