-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 뻔하다
It's Obvious/certain That
Expresses that something is obvious or certain to happen, often in a negative way. It's like saying 'It's a given that...' or 'I can already see it happening...'
How It Works
This pattern combines a verb or adjective with '-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게' (a contraction of -는 것 + 이) and '뻔하다'. It's a powerful way to express strong conviction about a predictable, and usually negative, event or state.
Conjugation Rules:
The tense is indicated by the ending attached to the verb/adjective stem.
- Adjectives & 이다/아니다: Stem + -ㄹ/을 게 뻔하다
- 예쁘다 → 예쁠 게 뻔하다 (It's obvious she will be pretty)
- 좋다 → 좋을 게 뻔하다 (It's obvious it will be good - less common due to negative nuance) - Verbs (Present/Habitual): Stem + -는 게 뻔하다
- 하다 → 하는 게 뻔하다 (It's obvious he does it)
- 먹다 → 먹는 게 뻔하다 (It's obvious he eats it) - Verbs (Future): Stem + -ㄹ/을 게 뻔하다
- 오다 → 올 게 뻔하다 (It's obvious he will come)
- 늦다 → 늦을 게 뻔하다 (It's obvious he will be late) - Verbs (Past): Stem + -았/었을 게 뻔하다
- 가다 → 갔을 게 뻔하다 (It's obvious he went)
- 보다 → 봤을 게 뻔하다 (It's obvious he saw it)
Key Nuance: Negative Expectation
While it translates to 'it's obvious', the feeling is closer to 'I can see it now, and it's not good'. You use it for things you can predict will go wrong, be troublesome, or turn out as you negatively expected. For example, saying 'He'll obviously be late' (늦을 게 뻔하다) implies frustration or resignation, not just a neutral prediction.
Comparison:
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 뻔하다: Strong certainty with negative connotation. (e.g., 또 거짓말하는 게 뻔하다 - It's obvious he's lying again.)
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 틀림없다: Strong certainty, but neutral. Based on evidence. (e.g., 이것은 범인의 지문인 게 틀림없다 - This is certainly the culprit's fingerprint.)
- -ㄹ 거예요: Simple future prediction, neutral. (e.g., 비가 올 거예요 - It will rain.)
Examples (4)
- 시험공부를 하나도 안 했으니 결과는 안 좋을 게 뻔해요.
Since I didn't study for the exam at all, it's obvious the result will be bad.
Word by Word: Exam study one bit not did so result is not good will be obvious.
The speaker is predicting a negative outcome with high certainty based on the fact that they didn't study.
- 그렇게 많이 먹으면 밤에 잠을 못 자는 게 뻔하잖아.
If you eat that much, it's obvious you won't be able to sleep at night, you know.
Word by Word: Like that much eat if at night sleep cannot sleep is obvious.
This is a statement about a predictable, undesirable consequence of an action.
- 사장님께 그 얘기를 하면 화내실 게 뻔해서 아무도 말을 못 하고 있어요.
It's so obvious the boss will get angry if we tell him that, so no one can say anything.
Word by Word: To the boss that story if tell get angry will be obvious so nobody words cannot speak.
The certainty of the boss's negative reaction (화내실 게 뻔해서) prevents people from acting.
- 어제 밤새 게임했으니 오늘 수업 시간에 졸았을 게 뻔해.
He played games all night yesterday, so it's obvious he dozed off during class today.
Word by Word: Yesterday all night played games so today class time in dozed off must have is obvious.
This uses the past tense form (-았/었을 게 뻔하다) to make a strong, critical assumption about a past event.
Common Mistakes
Using it for positive or neutral situations.
Different Meaning열심히 공부했으니까 시험에 합격할 게 뻔해요.Better열심히 공부했으니까 시험에 합격할 게 틀림없어요.'-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 뻔하다' has a strong negative connotation. Using it for a positive outcome like passing an exam sounds strange, as if you're being cynical. For positive certainty, use expressions like '-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 틀림없다' (it's certain that) or simply '-ㄹ 거예요' (will).
Confusing it with '-ㄹ 뻔하다' (almost did).
Different Meaning버스를 놓칠 게 뻔했어요.Better버스를 놓칠 뻔했어요.'-ㄹ 뻔하다' means you almost did something but didn't. '버스를 놓칠 뻔했어요' means 'I almost missed the bus'. The incorrect sentence would mean 'It was obvious that I would miss the bus', which is a different meaning. Don't confuse the two patterns.
Learn This First
To express certainty 'it's obvious/certain that', you need modifier forms and adverbial forms.
Related Patterns
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 틀림없다Be Certain/sure
Both express strong certainty. However, '-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 틀림없다' is neutral and based on evidence ('it must be...'), while '-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 뻔하다' is subjective and carries a negative, predictable nuance.
- -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다Almost Did
This pattern means 'almost did something'. Although it contains '뻔하다', its meaning is completely different. '-ㄹ 뻔하다' is about something that didn't happen, while '-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 뻔하다' is about something that is certain to happen.
- -나 보다It Seems/looks Like
This expresses a guess or assumption ('it seems/looks like...'). It is much weaker and less certain than '-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 뻔하다'. Use '-나 보다' for speculation and '-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 뻔하다' for a confident, negative prediction.
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 테니(까)Probably Because, Since
This means 'since/because it will probably...'. It's used to state a likely future event as a reason for a suggestion or command. While both involve prediction, '-ㄹ 테니(까)' provides a basis for another clause, whereas '-ㄴ/는/ㄹ 게 뻔하다' is typically a standalone statement of obviousness.