Your goal
Separate what you observed from a possible cause and ask what still needs checking.
You may know a file will not open without knowing that the device is faulty. Describe the symptom so the other person can ask useful questions.
Before you start
- 증상
- an observable sign of a problem
- 원인
- cause
- 추정
- a tentative explanation
- 파일
- a file
- 연락처
- contact details
- 확인하다
- check whether information is correct
Explore the situation
Consultation notes
Mina’s information file
These notes separate what Mina observed and what she thinks.
| Item | Recorded information |
|---|---|
| Current problem | 안내 파일이 열리지 않아요. |
| Attempt | 파일을 두 번 열어 봤어요. |
| Other observation | 같은 기기에서 다른 파일은 열려요. |
| Mina’s guess | 이 파일에 문제가 있는 것 같아요. |
| Unknown | 다른 기기에서도 같은지 아직 몰라요. |
This is not a device-repair procedure.
Learn the expressions
“파일이 열리지 않아요” reports an observed symptom. “이 파일에 문제가 있는 것 같아요” offers a possible cause. Other files opening does not yet establish the reason this one fails.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Present state: adjective + -(으)ㄴ 것 같아요 | 글씨가 작은 것 같아요. |
| Present action: verb + -는 것 같아요 | 문자가 늦게 오는 것 같아요. |
| 있다 / 없다 + -는 것 같아요 | 파일에 문제가 있는 것 같아요. |
| What to check next | 연락처가 맞는지 확인해 봐야 해요. |
Compare 작다→작은 것 같아요, 바쁘다→바쁜 것 같아요 and 오다→오는 것 같아요. Here we focus on guesses about current states or actions. Write a space between 것 and 같아요.
Read the conversation
An information file will not open
안내 파일이 열리지 않아요.
Show meaning
The information file will not open.
다른 파일도 열리지 않아요?
Show meaning
Do other files fail to open too?
다른 파일은 열려요. 이 파일에 문제가 있는 것 같아요.
Show meaning
Other files open. I think this file may have a problem.
원인은 더 확인해 봐야 해요.
Show meaning
We need to check the cause further.
A message has not arrived
신청 완료 문자가 아직 안 왔어요.
Show meaning
The application confirmation message has not arrived yet.
신청서의 연락처가 맞는지 확인해 보세요.
Show meaning
Please check the contact details on the form.
Build a sentence
Change the card details and try a sentence before revealing the example. Then assemble the sentence pieces.
Explore the situation and respond
Observation and interpretation
Suspect the file
- Symptom
- 이 파일만 열리지 않아요.
Example and explanation
이 파일에 문제가 있는 것 같아요.
The file itself still needs checking.
Cause unknown
- Known extent
- 다른 기기에서는 아직 열어 보지 않았어요.
Example and explanation
원인은 더 확인해 봐야 해요.
Do not conclude that the device is broken.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Build a sentence expressing a possible cause.
Sentence pieces
- 문제가 있는 것 같아요.
- 이 파일에
2. Say what needs checking next.
Sentence pieces
- 확인해 봐야 해요.
- 연락처가 맞는지
Practice
Choose a response that fits the situation using the expressions you learned.
1. Mina tried twice and the file would not open. What is observed?
- 기기가 고장 났어요.
- 직원이 잘못된 자료를 보냈어요.
- 파일이 열리지 않아요.
2. Which sentence marks a possible cause?
- 다른 파일은 열려요.
- 파일에 문제가 있는 것 같아요.
- 파일을 두 번 열어 봤어요.
3. Which pattern fits the present action 오다?
- 문자가 늦게 오는 것 같아요.
- 문자가 늦게 온는 것 같아요.
- 문자가 늦게 오은 것 같아요.
4. You do not know whether the contact details are wrong. What next?
- 연락처가 틀렸다고 확정해요.
- 신청을 하지 않았다고 확정해요.
- 연락처가 맞는지 확인해 봐야 해요.
Try a new situation
Consultation notes
Jun’s confirmation message
Jun applied this morning and has not checked the contact details yet.
| Item | Recorded information |
|---|---|
| Observation | 신청 완료 문자가 아직 안 왔어요. |
| Attempt | 받은 문자 목록을 다시 확인했어요. |
| Other observation | 같은 휴대전화로 다른 문자는 왔어요. |
| Guess | 연락처가 틀린 것 같아요. |
| Unknown | 신청서의 연락처가 실제 번호와 같은지 몰라요. |
These notes do not establish cancellation or a system failure.
Use the new role information. Write the required details in Korean and try saying them.
Tasks
Try the tasks first, then compare with the answers and examples in step 10.
1. State Jun’s problem first.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
2. Report that other messages arrived on the same phone.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
3. Express a contact-detail error as a possibility.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
4. Say what to check further.
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
5. Ask staff whether the form’s contact details are correct. End the written question with a question mark (?).
Show a hint
Use the pattern and keep the supplied information.
Sort observation, inference and checks
Classify the role of six statements using Jun’s notes. A guess is not a confirmed fact.
The confirmation message has not arrived.
- Observed fact or attempt
- Possible cause
- Further check
Other messages were received on the same phone.
- Observed fact or attempt
- Possible cause
- Further check
The contact details may be wrong.
- Observed fact or attempt
- Possible cause
- Further check
I checked the inbox again.
- Observed fact or attempt
- Possible cause
- Further check
The confirmation message may be delayed.
- Observed fact or attempt
- Possible cause
- Further check
We need to check the contact details on the form.
- Observed fact or attempt
- Possible cause
- Further check
Check your learning
Read the new conditions and distinguish the key information.
1. Jun applied this morning but has no confirmation message yet. Which describes the symptom?
- 다른 문자도 모두 안 와요.
- 신청 완료 문자가 아직 안 왔어요.
- 신청한 적이 없어요.
2. What kind of statement is 연락처가 틀린 것 같아요?
- A possible cause
- A confirmed cause
- A received message
3. Which question checks the unknown information?
- 왜 제 기기를 고장 냈어요?
- 신청을 취소했지요?
- 신청서의 연락처가 맞아요?
4. Make 글씨가 작다 tentative.
- 글씨가 작인 것 같아요.
- 글씨가 작은 것 같아요.
- 글씨가 작는 것 같아요.
5. What does the arrival of other messages tell us?
- Those messages could be received
- A contact error is confirmed
- Confirmation will arrive soon
6. Which separates the symptom and the guess?
- 연락처가 틀렸으니까 확인할 필요가 없어요.
- 다른 문자가 왔으니까 신청도 취소됐어요.
- 문자가 아직 안 왔어요. 연락처가 틀린 것 같아요. 확인해 봐야 해요.
Reflect on your reading
Tick only what you actually checked. Feedback from another person is optional and is not required to finish the lesson.
Answers and explanations
Show answers and explanations
Practice questions
1. Mina tried twice and the file would not open. What is observed?
Answer: 파일이 열리지 않아요.
The failure to open is observed.
- 기기가 고장 났어요. — Device failure is not established.
- 직원이 잘못된 자료를 보냈어요. — Responsibility is unknown.
2. Which sentence marks a possible cause?
Answer: 파일에 문제가 있는 것 같아요.
것 같아요 signals a guess.
- 다른 파일은 열려요. — This is an observation.
- 파일을 두 번 열어 봤어요. — This reports an attempted action.
3. Which pattern fits the present action 오다?
Answer: 문자가 늦게 오는 것 같아요.
Add -는 to 오-.
- 문자가 늦게 온는 것 같아요. — 온는 is not the form here.
- 문자가 늦게 오은 것 같아요. — 오은 is not the present-action form.
4. You do not know whether the contact details are wrong. What next?
Answer: 연락처가 맞는지 확인해 봐야 해요.
Check the unknown detail.
- 연락처가 틀렸다고 확정해요. — That concludes too early.
- 신청을 하지 않았다고 확정해요. — No message does not establish whether an application was made.
Learning check
1. Jun applied this morning but has no confirmation message yet. Which describes the symptom?
Answer: 신청 완료 문자가 아직 안 왔어요.
This matches the current record.
- 다른 문자도 모두 안 와요. — Other messages arrived.
- 신청한 적이 없어요. — He applied today.
2. What kind of statement is 연락처가 틀린 것 같아요?
Answer: A possible cause
The contact details have not been checked.
- A confirmed cause — This is not confirmation.
- A received message — It is an interpretation, not a message.
3. Which question checks the unknown information?
Answer: 신청서의 연락처가 맞아요?
It asks to verify contact details.
- 왜 제 기기를 고장 냈어요? — Failure and blame are unverified.
- 신청을 취소했지요? — There is no evidence of cancellation.
4. Make 글씨가 작다 tentative.
Answer: 글씨가 작은 것 같아요.
Add -은 to the adjective stem 작-: 작은 것 같아요.
- 글씨가 작인 것 같아요. — 작- is not a noun, so do not attach 인.
- 글씨가 작는 것 같아요. — 작다 is an adjective; do not use the present-action ending -는 here.
5. What does the arrival of other messages tell us?
Answer: Those messages could be received
One observation does not prove every cause or outcome.
- A contact error is confirmed — The form still needs checking.
- Confirmation will arrive soon — Arrival time is unknown.
6. Which separates the symptom and the guess?
Answer: 문자가 아직 안 왔어요. 연락처가 틀린 것 같아요. 확인해 봐야 해요.
It separates observation, possible cause and checking.
- 연락처가 틀렸으니까 확인할 필요가 없어요. — It treats an unverified cause as certain.
- 다른 문자가 왔으니까 신청도 취소됐어요. — That conclusion does not follow.
Example answers
Written responses are examples. Other wording can also meet the same conditions.
1. State Jun’s problem first.
신청 완료 문자가 아직 안 왔어요.
아직 신청 완료 문자가 안 왔어요.
Report the observation without claiming cancellation.
2. Report that other messages arrived on the same phone.
다른 문자는 왔어요.
같은 휴대전화에서 다른 문자는 받았어요.
This is supporting evidence, not a confirmed cause.
3. Express a contact-detail error as a possibility.
연락처가 틀린 것 같아요.
신청서의 연락처가 틀린 것 같아요.
틀린 것 같아요 marks uncertainty.
4. Say what to check further.
연락처가 맞는지 확인해 봐야 해요.
신청서의 연락처가 맞는지 확인해 봐야 해요.
Check the guess against the actual record.
5. Ask staff whether the form’s contact details are correct. End the written question with a question mark (?).
신청서의 연락처가 맞아요?
연락처가 맞아요?
Request verification.
Sort observation, inference and checks
Consultation notes
Jun’s confirmation message
Jun applied this morning and has not checked the contact details yet.
| Item | Recorded information |
|---|---|
| Observation | 신청 완료 문자가 아직 안 왔어요. |
| Attempt | 받은 문자 목록을 다시 확인했어요. |
| Other observation | 같은 휴대전화로 다른 문자는 왔어요. |
| Guess | 연락처가 틀린 것 같아요. |
| Unknown | 신청서의 연락처가 실제 번호와 같은지 몰라요. |
These notes do not establish cancellation or a system failure.
The confirmation message has not arrived. → Observed fact or attempt
This is observed in the inbox.
Other messages were received on the same phone. → Observed fact or attempt
This observation is in the record.
The contact details may be wrong. → Possible cause
The application has not yet been checked.
I checked the inbox again. → Observed fact or attempt
This was an actual attempt.
The confirmation message may be delayed. → Possible cause
Delay is possible, but its cause remains unknown.
We need to check the contact details on the form. → Further check
It names the next check.
Sentence-piece practice
1. Build a sentence expressing a possible cause.
이 파일에 문제가 있는 것 같아요.
것 같아요 marks an unconfirmed judgment.
2. Say what needs checking next.
연락처가 맞는지 확인해 봐야 해요.
Check rather than immediately decide the cause.
Review and continue
Come back to these
Recall with the example closed
Separate what you observed from a possible cause and ask what still needs checking.
Change one detail
Change a person, action or time and make two sentences.
Combine with earlier expressions
Make a short exchange with a question and response.
Review what felt difficult
Review this expressionSeparate symptoms from possible causes →Earlier learningReconnect the foundation →Look separately at activity completion and core learning results.