How to Talk About the Future in Korean: ~(으)ㄹ 거예요 Explained
Jun 05, 2026You've learned how to talk about the present and the past in Korean. Now it's time to look ahead.
"I'm going to study Korean." "It will be cold tomorrow." "I'm planning to visit Seoul."
In Korean, one pattern covers all of this: ~(으)ㄹ 거예요. It's the go-to expression for future plans, predictions, and intentions - and once you know it, your Korean conversations open up in a whole new direction.
What Does ~(으)ㄹ 거예요 Mean?
~(으)ㄹ 거예요 expresses:
- Future plans - something you intend to do
- Predictions - something you expect will happen
- Intentions - what you're going to do
It translates most naturally as "I'm going to...", "I will...", or "It will..." depending on context.
내일 공부할 거예요. I'm going to study tomorrow.
날씨가 추울 거예요. It will be cold.
How to Form ~(으)ㄹ 거예요
Step 1: Remove 다 from the dictionary form → get the verb stem Step 2: Check whether the stem ends in a consonant or vowel (or ㄹ)
| Stem ending | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vowel | ㄹ 거예요 | 가다 → 갈 거예요 |
| Consonant | 을 거예요 | 먹다 → 먹을 거예요 |
| ㄹ (already) | 거예요 (just add) | 만들다 → 만들 거예요 |
Conjugation Table
| Dictionary form | Stem ending | ~(으)ㄹ 거예요 | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | vowel | 갈 거예요 | will go |
| 오다 | vowel | 올 거예요 | will come |
| 보다 | vowel | 볼 거예요 | will watch/see |
| 마시다 | vowel | 마실 거예요 | will drink |
| 배우다 | vowel | 배울 거예요 | will learn |
| 먹다 | consonant | 먹을 거예요 | will eat |
| 읽다 | consonant | 읽을 거예요 | will read |
| 받다 | consonant | 받을 거예요 | will receive |
| 만들다 | ㄹ | 만들 거예요 | will make |
| 살다 | ㄹ | 살 거예요 | will live |
| 공부하다 | 하다 | 공부할 거예요 | will study |
| 여행하다 | 하다 | 여행할 거예요 | will travel |
| 일하다 | 하다 | 일할 거예요 | will work |
~(으)ㄹ 거예요 in Real Sentences
📅 Plans & Schedule
내일 친구를 만날 거예요.
- Literal: Tomorrow friend [object] will meet
- Natural: I'm going to meet a friend tomorrow.
이번 주말에 집에서 쉴 거예요.
- Natural: I'm going to rest at home this weekend.
다음 달에 한국에 갈 거예요.
- Natural: I'm going to Korea next month.
오늘 저녁에 한국 영화를 볼 거예요.
- Natural: I'm going to watch a Korean movie tonight.
졸업하고 한국어를 계속 공부할 거예요.
- Natural: After graduating, I'm going to keep studying Korean.
🌤️ Predictions & Expectations
내일 날씨가 좋을 거예요.
- Natural: The weather will be nice tomorrow.
이 시험은 어려울 거예요.
- Natural: This exam will be difficult.
그 영화 재미있을 거예요.
- Natural: That movie will be interesting.
많이 늦을 거예요. 먼저 드세요.
- Natural: I'll be very late. Please eat first.
💬 Intentions & Decisions
한국어를 열심히 배울 거예요.
- Natural: I'm going to study Korean hard.
내년에 한국에서 살 거예요.
- Natural: I'm going to live in Korea next year.
오늘부터 매일 운동할 거예요.
- Natural: Starting today, I'm going to exercise every day.
Asking About Future Plans
| Korean | Natural Translation |
|---|---|
| 뭐 할 거예요? | What are you going to do? |
| 어디 갈 거예요? | Where are you going to go? |
| 뭐 먹을 거예요? | What are you going to eat? |
| 언제 올 거예요? | When are you going to come? |
| 누구를 만날 거예요? | Who are you going to meet? |
| 한국어 계속 공부할 거예요? | Are you going to keep studying Korean? |
Real Conversations Using ~(으)ㄹ 거예요
📍 Conversation 1: Weekend plans
A: 이번 주말에 뭐 할 거예요? (What are you going to do this weekend?)
B: 친구랑 같이 한강에 갈 거예요. 날씨가 좋을 것 같아요. (I'm going to go to the Han River with a friend. I think the weather will be nice.)
A: 거기에서 뭐 할 거예요? (What are you going to do there?)
B: 자전거도 타고, 치킨도 먹을 거예요! (I'm going to ride bikes and eat fried chicken!)
📍 Conversation 2: Future goals
A: 한국어 왜 배워요? (Why are you learning Korean?)
B: 내년에 한국에 갈 거예요. 그래서 지금 열심히 공부하고 있어요. (I'm going to go to Korea next year. So I'm studying hard right now.)
A: 한국에서 뭐 할 거예요? (What are you going to do in Korea?)
B: 어학당에서 한국어를 더 배울 거예요. 그리고 여행도 많이 할 거예요. (I'm going to learn more Korean at a language school. And I'm going to travel a lot too.)
📍 Conversation 3: Dinner plans
A: 오늘 저녁 뭐 먹을 거예요? (What are you going to eat tonight?)
B: 김치찌개 만들 거예요. 재료가 다 있어요. (I'm going to make kimchi jjigae. I have all the ingredients.)
A: 저도 먹을 수 있어요? (Can I eat some too?)
B: 물론이죠! 같이 먹을 거예요. (Of course! We're going to eat together.)
Negative Future: 안 ~(으)ㄹ 거예요
| Korean | Natural Translation |
|---|---|
| 안 갈 거예요. | I'm not going to go. |
| 안 먹을 거예요. | I'm not going to eat. |
| 오늘은 안 공부할 거예요. | I'm not going to study today. |
| 그 사람은 안 올 거예요. | That person is not going to come. |
~(으)ㄹ 거예요 vs. ~고 싶어요
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ~(으)ㄹ 거예요 | Plan / intention / prediction | 한국에 갈 거예요. (I'm going to go to Korea.) |
| ~고 싶어요 | Desire / wish | 한국에 가고 싶어요. (I want to go to Korea.) |
~고 싶어요 = what you want to do (may or may not happen) ~(으)ㄹ 거예요 = what you plan or intend to do (more decided)
한국에 가고 싶어요. 그래서 돈을 모을 거예요. I want to go to Korea. So I'm going to save money.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Mistake 1: Using 을 after a vowel stem
❌ 가을 거예요 ✅ 갈 거예요 (가 ends in vowel → add ㄹ only)
❌ Mistake 2: Forgetting 을 after a consonant stem
❌ 먹 거예요 ✅ 먹을 거예요 (먹 ends in consonant → add 을)
❌ Mistake 3: Confusing with past tense
먹었어요 = I ate (past) 먹을 거예요 = I'm going to eat (future)
Quick Practice
Conjugate into ~(으)ㄹ 거예요:
- 자다 (to sleep)
- 읽다 (to read)
- 만들다 (to make)
- 운동하다 (to exercise)
- 오다 (to come)
Answers:
- 잘 거예요
- 읽을 거예요
- 만들 거예요
- 운동할 거예요
- 올 거예요
Summary
| Stem ending | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vowel | stem + ㄹ 거예요 | 가다 → 갈 거예요 |
| Consonant | stem + 을 거예요 | 먹다 → 먹을 거예요 |
| ㄹ | stem + 거예요 | 만들다 → 만들 거예요 |
| 하다 | 할 거예요 | 공부하다 → 공부할 거예요 |
~(으)ㄹ 거예요 is one of those patterns that immediately makes your Korean feel more complete. The moment you can talk about plans, predictions, and intentions, real conversations become possible - not just describing the present, but looking ahead together.
📚 This Is Chapter 9 of the A1 Masterclass
~(으)ㄹ 거예요 is the core grammar focus of Chapter 9: 주말에 영화를 볼 거예요 of the Today Korean A1 Masterclass - where you'll learn to talk about future plans and predictions in natural, flowing Korean.
Author
