Certainty
How sure is the speaker that this is true?
의미
Certainty shows how sure the speaker is that a statement is true. The speaker can present something as certain, likely, or doubtful. Languages use words, verb forms, or tone of voice for this, and some have no special certainty form. How the speaker knows concerns the source of the information, not how strongly the speaker believes it.
알아보는 방법
Look for what makes a statement sound certain, likely, or doubtful, rather than simply describing what happens.
모국어에서는
Korean expresses confidence with words such as 분명히, meaning 'definitely,' and 아마, meaning 'probably.' -(으)ㄹ 거예요 can express an expectation or estimate, including about the present, while 것 같아요 commonly makes a statement more tentative. The speaker's certainty is not automatically fixed by the tense of the sentence.
민수는 분명히 올 거예요. (Minsuneun bunmyeonghi ol geoyeyo.)
분명히 makes the speaker's confidence explicit.
지수는 지금 집에 있을 거예요. (Jisuneun jigeum jibe isseul geoyeyo.)
있을 거예요 expresses an estimate about the present, not future location.
이 옷은 좀 작은 것 같아요. (I oseun jom jageun geot gatayo.)
것 같아요 presents the judgment cautiously.