-(으)ㄹ 거예요 - Future Plans and Predictions
-(으)ㄹ 거예요 is commonly used to talk about future plans, intentions, and predictions in Korean.
It can be translated as “will,” “be going to,” or “probably will,” depending on the context.
- 내일 친구를 만날 거예요.
I am going to meet a friend tomorrow. - 주말에 집에서 쉴 거예요.
I will rest at home on the weekend. - 내일은 날씨가 추울 거예요.
The weather will probably be cold tomorrow.
The action or condition comes before -(으)ㄹ 거예요.
Basic Sentence Structure
The basic structure is:
Verb or adjective stem + -(으)ㄹ 거예요
First, remove -다 from the dictionary form.
Then add -을 거예요, -ㄹ 거예요, or 거예요, depending on how the stem ends.
- 먹다 → 먹을 거예요
will eat - 가다 → 갈 거예요
will go - 살다 → 살 거예요
will live - 하다 → 할 거예요
will do
Use -을 거예요 After Most Final Consonants
Use -을 거예요 when the verb or adjective stem ends in a final consonant other than ㄹ.
- 먹다 → 먹 + 을 거예요 → 먹을 거예요
will eat - 읽다 → 읽 + 을 거예요 → 읽을 거예요
will read - 입다 → 입 + 을 거예요 → 입을 거예요
will wear - 작다 → 작 + 을 거예요 → 작을 거예요
will be small - 좋다 → 좋 + 을 거예요 → 좋을 거예요
will be good
Use -ㄹ 거예요 After a Vowel
Use -ㄹ 거예요 when the stem ends in a vowel.
The ㄹ becomes a final consonant on the last syllable of the stem.
- 가다 → 가 + ㄹ 거예요 → 갈 거예요
will go - 보다 → 보 + ㄹ 거예요 → 볼 거예요
will see or watch - 마시다 → 마시 + ㄹ 거예요 → 마실 거예요
will drink - 배우다 → 배우 + ㄹ 거예요 → 배울 거예요
will learn - 공부하다 → 공부하 + ㄹ 거예요 → 공부할 거예요
will study
Stems Ending in ㄹ
When the stem already ends in ㄹ, do not add another ㄹ.
Add 거예요 directly after the stem.
- 살다 → 살 거예요
will live - 만들다 → 만들 거예요
will make - 놀다 → 놀 거예요
will play - 열다 → 열 거예요
will open
Do not write two ㄹ sounds.
살 거예요. ✓
살ㄹ 거예요. ✗
Expressing Future Plans
Use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 to talk about something that you plan or intend to do.
- 내일 도서관에서 공부할 거예요.
I am going to study at the library tomorrow. - 주말에 친구를 만날 거예요.
I am going to meet a friend on the weekend. - 다음 달에 한국에 갈 거예요.
I am going to Korea next month. - 오늘 저녁에 요리할 거예요.
I am going to cook this evening. - 방학에 여행할 거예요.
I am going to travel during vacation.
The plan may be definite or simply intended. The context shows how certain it is.
Basic Sentence Structure for Plans
A common future sentence follows this structure:
Topic or Subject + Time + Other Information + Verb + -(으)ㄹ 거예요
- 저는 내일 친구를 만날 거예요.
Literal: As for me, tomorrow friend meet will.
Natural: I am going to meet a friend tomorrow.
- 민수 씨는 주말에 집에서 쉴 거예요.
Literal: As for Minsu, on the weekend at home rest will.
Natural: Minsu will rest at home on the weekend.
The future expression appears at the end of the sentence.
Expressing Intentions
-(으)ㄹ 거예요 can express a decision or intention.
- 저는 한국어를 열심히 공부할 거예요.
I am going to study Korean hard. - 오늘은 일찍 잘 거예요.
I am going to go to bed early today. - 이 책을 살 거예요.
I am going to buy this book. - 이제 운동을 시작할 거예요.
I am going to start exercising now.
When the subject is the speaker, the expression often communicates what the speaker intends to do.
Expressing Predictions
-(으)ㄹ 거예요 can also express a prediction about the future.
It is commonly used with both verbs and adjectives.
- 내일 비가 올 거예요.
It will probably rain tomorrow. - 주말에는 사람이 많을 거예요.
There will probably be many people on the weekend. - 시험이 어려울 거예요.
The exam will probably be difficult. - 저녁에는 날씨가 추울 거예요.
The weather will probably be cold in the evening. - 그 영화는 재미있을 거예요.
That movie will probably be interesting.
In predictions, the English translation often includes “probably” even though there is no separate Korean word for it.
Using -(으)ㄹ 거예요 with 하다 Verbs
Verbs and adjectives ending in 하다 change to 할 거예요.
- 공부하다 → 공부할 거예요
will study - 운동하다 → 운동할 거예요
will exercise - 여행하다 → 여행할 거예요
will travel - 일하다 → 일할 거예요
will work - 요리하다 → 요리할 거예요
will cook - 친절하다 → 친절할 거예요
will be kind
Examples:
- 저는 저녁에 운동할 거예요.
I am going to exercise in the evening. - 친구와 제주도에서 여행할 거예요.
I am going to travel on Jeju Island with a friend. - 내일은 아주 바쁠 거예요.
I will probably be very busy tomorrow.
Asking About Future Plans
Use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 in a question to ask about someone’s future plans or intentions.
The form does not change. In conversation, your voice rises at the end.
- 내일 뭐 할 거예요?
What are you going to do tomorrow? - 주말에 어디에 갈 거예요?
Where are you going to go on the weekend? - 누구를 만날 거예요?
Who are you going to meet? - 저녁에 뭘 먹을 거예요?
What are you going to eat for dinner? - 한국에서 얼마나 오래 살 거예요?
How long are you going to live in Korea?
Short Answers
- 집에서 쉴 거예요.
I am going to rest at home. - 부산에 갈 거예요.
I am going to go to Busan. - 친구를 만날 거예요.
I am going to meet a friend. - 불고기를 먹을 거예요.
I am going to eat bulgogi.
The subject is often omitted because it is already clear from the question.
뭐 할 거예요?
뭐 할 거예요? is a very common question in everyday Korean.
It means “What are you going to do?”
- 오늘 뭐 할 거예요?
What are you going to do today? - 주말에 뭐 할 거예요?
What are you going to do on the weekend? - 방학에 뭐 할 거예요?
What are you going to do during vacation?
Possible answers include:
- 친구를 만날 거예요.
I am going to meet a friend. - 영화를 볼 거예요.
I am going to watch a movie. - 집에서 공부할 거예요.
I am going to study at home. - 가족과 여행할 거예요.
I am going to travel with my family.
어디에 갈 거예요?
Use 어디에 갈 거예요? to ask about a future destination.
- 주말에 어디에 갈 거예요?
Where are you going to go on the weekend? - 서울에 갈 거예요.
I am going to go to Seoul. - 휴가 때 어디에 갈 거예요?
Where are you going during your vacation? - 제주도에 갈 거예요.
I am going to go to Jeju Island.
In everyday conversation, 에 is often omitted after 어디.
- 어디 갈 거예요?
Where are you going to go?
Both forms are natural.
More Examples
- 내일 아침에 일찍 일어날 거예요.
I am going to wake up early tomorrow morning. - 저녁에 친구와 밥을 먹을 거예요.
I am going to eat dinner with a friend. - 이번 주말에는 영화를 볼 거예요.
I am going to watch a movie this weekend. - 다음 달부터 운동할 거예요.
I am going to exercise starting next month. - 내년에 한국어 시험을 볼 거예요.
I am going to take a Korean test next year. - 친구가 우리 집에 올 거예요.
My friend will come to my house. - 내일은 날씨가 좋을 거예요.
The weather will probably be nice tomorrow. - 그 식당은 사람이 많을 거예요.
There will probably be many people at that restaurant. - 한국어 공부가 더 어려울 거예요.
Studying Korean will probably become more difficult. - 다음 수업은 재미있을 거예요.
The next lesson will probably be interesting.
-고 싶어요 and -(으)ㄹ 거예요
These expressions have different meanings.
-고 싶어요 expresses a desire
- 한국에 가고 싶어요.
I want to go to Korea.
The speaker wants to go, but the trip may not be planned.
-(으)ㄹ 거예요 expresses a plan or prediction
- 한국에 갈 거예요.
I am going to go to Korea.
The speaker presents the trip as a future plan.
Compare:
- 주말에 친구를 만나고 싶어요.
I want to meet a friend on the weekend. - 주말에 친구를 만날 거예요.
I am going to meet a friend on the weekend.
Wanting to do something and planning to do it are not always the same.
Present Tense and Future Meaning
Korean sometimes uses the present tense for scheduled or expected future events.
- 내일 학교에 가요.
I am going to school tomorrow. - 내일 학교에 갈 거예요.
I am going to go to school tomorrow.
Both can refer to the future.
The present form may sound like a scheduled or settled event.
-(으)ㄹ 거예요 clearly emphasizes the future plan or intention.
For beginners, using -(으)ㄹ 거예요 is a clear way to express future meaning.
Negative Future Sentences with 안
Place 안 before the main verb.
- 내일 학교에 안 갈 거예요.
I am not going to school tomorrow. - 저녁을 안 먹을 거예요.
I am not going to eat dinner. - 주말에는 일 안 할 거예요.
I am not going to work on the weekend. - 그 영화를 안 볼 거예요.
I am not going to watch that movie.
With 하다 verbs, 안 commonly comes before 하다.
- 공부 안 할 거예요.
I am not going to study.
Negative Future Sentences with -지 않을 거예요
Use -지 않을 거예요 for the standard long negative form.
- 먹다 → 먹지 않을 거예요
will not eat - 가다 → 가지 않을 거예요
will not go - 공부하다 → 공부하지 않을 거예요
will not study - 춥다 → 춥지 않을 거예요
will not be cold
Examples:
- 저는 커피를 마시지 않을 거예요.
I will not drink coffee. - 내일 학교에 가지 않을 거예요.
I will not go to school tomorrow. - 주말에는 공부하지 않을 거예요.
I will not study on the weekend.
Both negative forms are correct.
- 학교에 안 갈 거예요.
I am not going to school. - 학교에 가지 않을 거예요.
I will not go to school.
Using Nouns with 일 거예요
With nouns, use Noun + 일 거예요 to express a prediction or assumption.
- 그 사람은 학생일 거예요.
That person is probably a student. - 내일은 휴일일 거예요.
Tomorrow will probably be a holiday. - 민수 씨의 가방일 거예요.
It is probably Minsu’s bag.
This is different from attaching -(으)ㄹ 거예요 to a verb or adjective stem.
학생일 거예요. ✓
학생을 거예요. ✗
Common Irregular Forms
Some verbs and adjectives change before -(으)ㄹ 거예요.
ㄷ Irregular
Some stems ending in ㄷ change ㄷ to ㄹ before a vowel ending.
- 듣다 → 들을 거예요
will listen - 걷다 → 걸을 거예요
will walk
However:
- 받다 → 받을 거예요
will receive
Not every ㄷ verb is irregular.
ㅂ Irregular
Some stems ending in ㅂ change to 우.
- 춥다 → 추울 거예요
will be cold - 덥다 → 더울 거예요
will be hot - 어렵다 → 어려울 거예요
will be difficult
However:
- 입다 → 입을 거예요
will wear
ㅅ Irregular
Some stems ending in ㅅ lose the ㅅ.
- 짓다 → 지을 거예요
will build - 낫다 → 나을 거예요
will get better
However:
- 웃다 → 웃을 거예요
will laugh
These forms are best learned through repeated examples.
Common Mistakes
Adding the future form to the conjugated verb
Attach -(으)ㄹ 거예요 to the verb or adjective stem.
먹을 거예요. ✓
먹어요를 거예요. ✗
갈 거예요. ✓
가요를 거예요. ✗
Forgetting to remove -다
Remove -다 before adding the ending.
먹다 → 먹을 거예요 ✓
먹다을 거예요 ✗
가다 → 갈 거예요 ✓
가다ㄹ 거예요 ✗
Using -을 after a vowel
Use -ㄹ 거예요 after a vowel.
가다 → 갈 거예요 ✓
가을 거예요 ✗
보다 → 볼 거예요 ✓
보을 거예요 ✗
Adding another ㄹ after a ㄹ-ending stem
Do not add a second ㄹ.
살다 → 살 거예요 ✓
살을 거예요 ✗
만들다 → 만들 거예요 ✓
만들을 거예요 ✗
Writing 거예요 incorrectly
The correct spelling is 거예요.
갈 거예요. ✓
갈 거에요. ✗
Writing everything together
Write a space before 거예요.
먹을 거예요. ✓
먹을거예요. ✗
갈 거예요. ✓
갈거예요. ✗
Quick Practice
Change each dictionary form into the -(으)ㄹ 거예요 form.
- 먹다
- 가다
- 보다
- 마시다
- 공부하다
- 살다
- 읽다
- 만들다
Answers
- 먹다 → 먹을 거예요
- 가다 → 갈 거예요
- 보다 → 볼 거예요
- 마시다 → 마실 거예요
- 공부하다 → 공부할 거예요
- 살다 → 살 거예요
- 읽다 → 읽을 거예요
- 만들다 → 만들 거예요
Complete the Sentences
Complete each sentence using the future form of the verb.
- 내일 친구를 __________.
만나다 - 주말에 영화를 __________.
보다 - 저녁에 한국 음식을 __________.
먹다 - 다음 달에 한국에 __________.
가다 - 오늘 밤에 일찍 __________.
자다 - 내일부터 운동을 __________.
시작하다
Answers
- 내일 친구를 만날 거예요.
- 주말에 영화를 볼 거예요.
- 저녁에 한국 음식을 먹을 거예요.
- 다음 달에 한국에 갈 거예요.
- 오늘 밤에 일찍 잘 거예요.
- 내일부터 운동을 시작할 거예요.
Question Practice
Answer the questions with your own information.
- 내일 뭐 할 거예요?
- 주말에 어디에 갈 거예요?
- 누구를 만날 거예요?
- 오늘 저녁에 뭘 먹을 거예요?
- 내년에 무엇을 배우고 싶어요?
- 이번 주말에 공부할 거예요?
Key Points
- Remove -다 before attaching the future expression.
- Use -을 거예요 after most final consonants.
- Use -ㄹ 거예요 after a vowel.
- After a stem ending in ㄹ, add 거예요 without another ㄹ.
- Use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 for future plans, intentions, and predictions.
- Use it with both verbs and adjectives.
- With nouns, use Noun + 일 거예요.
- Use 안 + future form or -지 않을 거예요 to express a negative future.
- Write a space before 거예요.
- The correct spelling is 거예요, not 거에요.
Continue Learning
Next grammar:
보다 (더) ✨ Making Comparisons
