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Korean grammar

Korean future tense: (으)ㄹ 거예요

The Korean future is the (으)ㄹ modifier plus 거예요: 갈 거예요, I will go. After a vowel stem add ㄹ, after a consonant stem add 을. With weather or another person as the subject the same form means probably (비가 올 거예요, it will probably rain). Two neighbours are worth learning with it: (으)ㄹ 것 같아요 for a softer guess, and (으)려고 해요 for a plan you intend to carry out.

Examples are written in Hangul. New to it? Start with the hangul chart.

In short

  • Stem + ㄹ 거예요 after a vowel, 을 거예요 after a consonant: 가다 → 갈 거예요 (I will go), 먹다 → 먹을 거예요 (I will eat).
  • With weather or a third person it means probably: 비가 올 거예요 (it'll probably rain), 내일은 맑을 거예요 (tomorrow will be clear).
  • ㄹ-stems already end in ㄹ, so nothing is added: 살다 → 살 거예요, 만들다 → 만들 거예요.
  • The polite present also covers the near future: 내일 가요 (I'm going tomorrow). (으)ㄹ 거예요 makes the plan or prediction explicit.
  • (으)ㄹ 것 같아요 is a softer guess: 비가 올 것 같아요 (it looks like it'll rain). (으)려고 해요 states an intention: 일본에 가려고 해요 (I intend to go to Japan).

ㄹ 거예요 (vowel) / 을 거예요 (consonant)

The future is the (으)ㄹ modifier + 거예요. After a VOWEL stem → ㄹ 거예요: 가다 → 갈 거예요 ('I will go'). After a CONSONANT stem → 을 거예요: 먹다 → 먹을 거예요 ('I will eat'). With a weather/3rd-person subject it means 'probably': 비가 올 거예요 = 'It'll probably rain.' This is Korean's closest match to 'will / probably'.

  • 거예요

    geoyeyo

    will / probably (after ㄹ)

  • 밥을 먹을 거예요

    I will eat.

  • 갈 거예요

    I will go

  • 비가 올 거예요

    It'll probably rain

modifier + 것 같아요

것 같아요 ('it seems / I think') hedges a statement. For a guess about the future, use the ㄹ/을 modifier: 비가 올 것 같아요 = 'It looks like it'll rain.' For something happening now, verbs take 는 (가는 것 같아요) and adjectives take (으)ㄴ (예쁜 것 같아요) — except 있다/없다 adjectives like 맛있다, which take 는: 맛있는 것 같아요 'it seems delicious'. Learn it as a set frame: [modifier] + 것 같아요.

  • 것 같아요

    geot gatayo

    I think / it seems

  • 비가 올 것 같아요

    It looks like it'll rain

(으)려고 해요 — 'I intend to / I'm going to'

(으)려고 하다 = intend to, plan to (do). Attach it to the verb stem; the final verb is 하다: 가다 → 가려고 해요 (I intend to go); 먹다 → 먹으려고 해요. After a vowel stem → 려고 (가려고); after a consonant → 으려고 (먹으려고). Use it for a personal plan or intention: stronger than maybe, softer than a promise.

  • 려고 해요

    -ryeogo haeyo

    intend to (after vowel)

  • 으려고 해요

    -euryeogo haeyo

    intend to (after consonant)

  • 내일 한국 음식을 먹으려고 해요

    I intend to eat Korean food tomorrow.

  • 외국에 가려고 해요

    I intend to go abroad

  • 일본에 가려고 해요

    I intend to go to Japan

Check yourself

Questions from the course. Pick an answer to check it; nothing is saved.

  1. 1.'I will go.' Pick the Korean.

  2. 2.'It'll probably rain.' Pick the Korean.

  3. 3.'It looks like it'll rain.' Pick the Korean.

  4. 4.'It seems delicious.' (you're tasting it now) Pick the Korean.

  5. 5.'I intend to go to Japan.' Pick the Korean.

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