-ㄹ/을 걸요

Are you ready to unlock yet another treasure from the vast treasure chest of the Korean language? 🗝️🔐 Well, strap on your language learning boots and grab your magnifying glasses because today, we’re diving into the wonderful world of “-ㄹ/을 걸요!”

Imagine having a magical crystal ball that allows you to guess or make assumptions. 🔮✨ Well, “-ㄹ/을 걸요” is just like that, but without the hefty price tag or the need to visit a wizard!

Are you often caught guessing what your cat might be thinking? Or wondering why your coffee tastes like…salty water? 🤔 Or maybe, just maybe, you’ve wondered if your friend should have brought an umbrella in that cloudy weather? This lesson is perfect for you!

Join me on this whimsical journey as we explore, laugh, and sometimes get things hilariously wrong (because hey, who said guessing is always accurate?). Let’s get started! 🚀🌌

Conjugation

VERB STEM + ㄹ/을 걸요

1. Take a verb i.e. 가다
2. Drop 다
3. Add appropriate ending based on the below rules (in this case it becomes 갈 걸요)

• If the verb stem ends with a vowel, add ㄹ 걸요
• If the verb stem ends with a consonant, add 을 걸요

• 먹다 –> 먹 + 을 걸요 –> 먹을 걸요
• 사다 –> 사 + ㄹ 걸요 –> 살 걸요
• 오다 –> 오 + ㄹ 걸요 –> 올 걸요
• 하다 –> 하 + ㄹ 걸요 –> 할 걸요

Understanding ㄹ/을 걸요

📜 Historical Roots: While the exact historical origin of “-ㄹ/을 걸요” is not detailed in ancient texts, its widespread use in modern Korean conversation suggests it evolved naturally over time, reflecting the nuanced way Koreans express assumptions, regrets, or light predictions.

✨ Basic Understanding: “-ㄹ/을 걸요” is a frequently used expression in Korean that carries the sentiment of “I guess,” “I think,” or “I should have.” It’s a way of expressing a light assumption, showing regret over a missed opportunity, or gently predicting something.

• Structure:
  • ㄹ 걸요: Used with verbs or adjectives that end in a vowel.
    • Example: 보다 (to see) → 볼 걸요 (I guess I should see)
  • 을 걸요: Used with verbs or adjectives that end in a consonant.
    • Example: 만들다 (to make) → 만들을 걸요 (I guess I should make)
• Meanings:
  • Assumption: When you’re not entirely certain but are making a soft guess about something.
    • Example: 그는 배고플 걸요. (He must be hungry.)
  • Regret: Expressing a sense of missed opportunity or looking back on an action with slight regret.
    • Example: 그 영화를 봤을 걸요. (I should have watched that movie.)
  • Light Prediction: Making a gentle prediction or stating something you think will happen.
    • Example: 내일 비 올 걸요. (It might rain tomorrow.)

Understanding this structure’s versatility will give learners a great tool to convey various emotions and nuances in their Korean conversations. With practice, integrating “-ㄹ/을 걸요” can help sound more fluent and in-tune with native speakers.

Usage Scenarios & Context

The beauty of “-ㄹ/을 걸요” lies in its flexibility. It’s like a Swiss Army knife in the world of Korean language tools! Here are some common contexts where this expression shines:

• Making Assumptions: When you’re piecing together clues or making a gentle guess based on the information you have.
  • You see someone yawning repeatedly.
    • Sentence: 그 사람은 피곤할 걸요. (That person must be tired.)
• Expressing Regret: It’s perfect for those “Shoulda, woulda, coulda” moments we all experience.
  • You missed an amazing sale at your favourite store.
    • Sentence: 세일할 때 갔을 걸요. (I should have gone during the sale.)
• Making Soft Predictions: When you’re predicting something based on patterns or common knowledge, but you want to state it softly without sounding too sure.
  • Weather looks gloomy and dark clouds are forming.
    • Sentence: 곧 비 올 걸요. (It might rain soon.)
• Reacting to Surprises: It can be used when something unexpected happens, and you realize you had an inkling or feeling about it.
  • A friend unexpectedly announces they’re moving overseas.
    • Sentence: 뭔가 느꼈을 걸요. (I had a feeling something was up.)
• Reflecting on Personal Choices: When you’re looking back on a decision and wondering about an alternate choice.
  • You chose a dish at a restaurant, but another one looks better.
    • Sentence: 그 음식을 주문했을 걸요. (I should have ordered that dish.)
• Interacting in Social Situations: It’s a versatile phrase to use in light, informal conversations, especially when agreeing with someone’s guess or assumption.
  • A friend says it looks like it’s going to rain.
    • Sentence: 그래요. 진짜 그럴 걸요. (Yes, it really seems like it.)

Remember, the usage of “-ㄹ/을 걸요” can vary slightly based on the tone, facial expressions, and context. So, it’s always a good idea to pay attention to these factors when speaking or listening to Korean!

Sample Sentences & Breakdown

• 비가 올 걸요.
  • Translation: It might rain.
  • Breakdown: ‘비가 오다’ is the verb for “to rain.” When you attach -ㄹ 걸요 to it, the sentence becomes a prediction about the likelihood of rain.
• 그녀는 피곤할 걸요.
  • Translation: She might be tired.
  • Breakdown: ‘피곤하다’ means “to be tired.” In this context, the speaker is making an assumption about someone’s state based on some observations or prior knowledge.
• 케이크는 너무 달을 걸요
  • Translation: The cake might be too sweet.
  • Breakdown: ‘너무 달다’ describes something that’s overly sweet. Here, the speaker is making a conjecture about the taste of the cake.
• 저 사람은 학생일 걸요.
  • Translation: That person might be a student.
  • Breakdown: Here, the speaker is making an assumption about someone based on their appearance or behavior.
• 버스는 지금 가득 찼을 걸요.
  • Translation: The bus might be full by now.
  • Breakdown: The speaker is predicting the current state of the bus based on the time or other known factors.
• 이 음식은 맵게 될 걸요.
  • Translation: This food might turn out spicy.
  • Breakdown: ‘맵다’ means “to be spicy.” The speaker predicts the outcome after the food is cooked or tasted.
• 아이들은 지금 잘 걸요.
  • Translation: The kids might be sleeping now.
  • Breakdown: An assumption about the current state of the children, perhaps based on the time of day.
• 아직 안 온 걸요.
  • Translation: He might not have come yet.
  • Breakdown: A combination of an assumption and prediction based on what the speaker knows.
• 곧 춥게 될 걸요.
  • Translation: It might get cold soon.
  • Breakdown: A prediction about the imminent change in weather.

These sentences display how -ㄹ/을 걸요 can be used in the context of predictions or assumptions, which might not necessarily be based on regret or hindsight. It offers a nuanced way to express one’s thoughts and speculations in Korean.

Activity 1

Fill in the blanks.

1. 바다에 ___________. – They might have gone to the beach.
2. 내일 날씨는 ___________. – The weather might be nice tomorrow.
3. 아이들은 공원에서 ___________. – The kids might be playing in the park.
4. 아빠는 아직 회사에 ___________. – Dad might still be at the company.
5. 새로운 가게는 아직 ___________. – The new store might not have opened yet.

Activity 1 Answers

1. 바다에 갔을 걸요. – They might have gone to the beach.
2. 내일 날씨는 좋을 걸요. – The weather might be nice tomorrow.
3. 아이들은 공원에서 놀고 있을 걸요. – The kids might be playing in the park.
4. 아빠는 아직 회사에 있을 걸요. – Dad might still be at the company.
5. 새로운 가게는 아직 열리지 않았을 걸요. – The new store might not have opened yet.

Wrap up

Wowza! We’ve navigated through the delightful maze of -ㄹ/을 걸요 and emerged with newfound Korean knowledge! From understanding its roots to diving into its many usages, you’ve tackled it all. And those sample sentences? You’re now equipped with a treasure trove of expressions to whip out in conversations. Remember, language learning isn’t just about grammar and vocabulary—it’s about painting vivid pictures with words, and you’ve added some brilliant new shades to your palette today.

Now, don’t be shy! We’d love to see how creative you can get. 🎨 Leave us a comment with your own sentence using -ㄹ/을 걸요. Who knows? You might just inspire someone else on their Korean journey. 😉