What's the difference between 気がする and ような気がする?


Compare:

> 何かを忘れた気がする。  
>  何かを忘れたような気がする。  
>  I feel like I forgot something.

As far as I know, they both mean the same thing. What nuance does adding ような
give?




Adding ような communicates that the speaker is even less sure. It's also used as
a softener when you say something that's potentially negative.

E.g.

> 「お母さん、最近物忘れが多い気がする」  
>  「お母さん、最近物忘れが多いような気がする」

A speaker might choose the latter phrasing just to soften the tone.




Adding ような communicates that the speaker is even less sure. It's also used as
a softener when you say something that's potentially negative.

E.g.

> 「お母さん、最近物忘れが多い気がする」  
>  「お母さん、最近物忘れが多いような気がする」

A speaker might choose the latter phrasing just to soften the tone.

