Mastering Korean Grammar: -(으)ㄹ 거예요 (Future Tense)
Today, we are learning how to talk about the future in Korean using -(으)ㄹ 거예요.
This is the polite, informal future tense ending. It’s the most common way to say “I will…” or “I am going to…” in everyday conversation.
It’s used to talk about future plans, intentions, or to make predictions about what might happen.
1. Usage: Understanding -(으)ㄹ 거예요
This pattern’s main function is to end a sentence in the future tense. It belongs to the ‘polite informal’ speech style, 해요체 (haeyo-che).
Function 1: Future Plans and Intentions
You use it to state what you, or someone else, plans to do in the future.
- Korean: 주말에 영화를 볼 거예요.
English: “I am going to watch a movie on the weekend.” - Korean: 내일 한국어를 공부할 거예요.
English: “I will study Korean tomorrow.”
Function 2: Predictions
You can also use it to make a guess or a prediction about a future event.
- Korean: 내일은 비가 올 거예요.
English: “It will probably rain tomorrow.” - Korean: 그 식당은 맛있을 거예요.
English: “That restaurant will (probably) be delicious.”
Function 3: Asking Questions about the Future
To ask a question, simply raise your intonation at the end of the sentence.
- Korean: 주말에 뭐 할 거예요? (said with a rising tone)
English: “What are you going to do on the weekend?” - Korean: 이것도 먹을 거예요?
English: “Are you going to eat this too?”
2. Conjugation: How to Form -(으)ㄹ 거예요
You attach this ending to the stem of a verb or adjective (the part you get after dropping -다).
Rule 1: Stems ending in a Vowel
If the stem ends in a vowel, you add -ㄹ 거예요.
- 가다 (to go) → 가 + -ㄹ 거예요 = 갈 거예요
- 보다 (to see) → 보 + -ㄹ 거예요 = 볼 거예요
- 공부하다 (to study) → 공부하 + -ㄹ 거예요 = 공부할 거예요
Rule 2: Stems ending in a Consonant
If the stem ends in a consonant, you add -을 거예요.
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + -을 거예요 = 먹을 거예요
- 읽다 (to read) → 읽 + -을 거예요 = 읽을 거예요
- 좋다 (to be good) → 좋 + -을 거예요 = 좋을 거예요
Rule 3: Stems ending in ㄹ (Irregular)
If the stem *already* ends in the consonant ㄹ, you just add – 거예요. You do NOT add 을.
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들 + – 거예요 = 만들 거예요
- 살다 (to live) → 살 + – 거예요 = 살 거예요
Nouns: ‘Will be [Noun]’ (일 거예요)
To say “It will be a [noun]” or “I will be a [noun],” you use the future tense of 이다 (to be). You add -일 거예요 after the noun, whether it ends in a vowel or a consonant.
- Noun ends in a consonant: + 일 거예요Example: 학생 (student) → 학생일 거예요. (He will be a student.)
- Noun ends in a vowel: + 일 거예요Example: 의사 (doctor) → 의사일 거예요. (She will be a doctor.)
3. Example Sentences with -(으)ㄹ 거예요
Here are 10 simple examples that cover all the rules.
- Korean: 내일 뭐 할 거예요?
English: What will you do tomorrow? (하다 verb) - Korean: 저는 집에서 쉴 거예요.
English: I will rest at home. (Rule 1: Vowel stem) - Korean: 저녁에 책을 읽을 거예요.
English: I will read a book in the evening. (Rule 2: Consonant stem) - Korean: 이따가 친구를 만날 거예요.
English: I am going to meet a friend later. (Rule 3: ㄹ stem) - Korean: 비빔밥을 먹을 거예요.
English: I am going to eat Bibimbap. (Rule 2: Consonant stem) - Korean: 내일은 날씨가 추울 거예요.
English: The weather will (probably) be cold tomorrow. (Prediction) - Korean: 이 버스는 시청에 갈 거예요.
English: This bus will go to the city hall. (Rule 1: Vowel stem) - Korean: 그 사람은 의사일 거예요.
English: That person is probably a doctor. / That person will be a doctor. (Noun) - Korean: 시험이 어려울 거예요.
English: The exam will (probably) be difficult. (Prediction) - Korean: 파티에 안 갈 거예요.
English: I am not going to go to the party. (Negative)
4. Key Rules and Comparisons
Here are a few crucial points to remember about this speech style.
Rule 1: Politeness Level (해요체)
-(으)ㄹ 거예요 is the standard, polite, and informal way to talk about the future. It’s safe to use in most daily situations.
Rule 2: This is FUTURE Tense Only
This form *only* expresses the future. You must use it with future time words, not past ones.
- Present: 가요 (I go)
- Past: 갔어요 (I went)
- Future: 갈 거예요 (I will go)
The Formal Version: -(으)ㄹ 것입니다 (or in short (으)ㄹ 겁니다)
As requested, here is the very formal version of this grammar. In presentations, news, or formal writing, you use the -ㅂ니다/습니다 style. The future tense in this style is -(으)ㄹ 것입니다.
- Formal Statement: -(으)ㄹ 것입니다
Example 1: (Vowel stem) 갈 것입니다. (I will go.)
Example 2: (Consonant stem) 먹을 것입니다. (I will eat.) - Formal Question: -(으)ㄹ 것입니까?
Example 1: 갈 것입니까? (Will you go?)
Example 2: 먹을 것입니까? (Will you eat?) - Example 1: 제가 2시에 전화할게요. (I will call you at 2 o’clock.)
The Formal Version: -(으)ㄹ 것입니다
As requested, here is the very formal version of this grammar. In presentations, news, or formal writing, you use the -ㅂ니다/습니다 style. The future tense in this style is -(으)ㄹ 것입니다.
(으)ㄹ게요 vs (으)ㄹ 거예요
When the subject is first person (I) and a promise is being made, (으)ㄹ게요 is also used for future.
