안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo), Korean language enthusiasts! Today, we’re venturing into a crucial and exciting aspect of Korean grammar – the future tense, particularly the “ㄹ/을 거예요” construction. As you journey through the Korean language, understanding how to express future actions or intentions is not only essential for fluency but also enriches your ability to share plans, dreams, and predictions.
The “ㄹ/을 거예요” form is a cornerstone in Korean future tense expressions, used widely in everyday conversations. Whether you’re making plans with friends, discussing future events, or pondering life’s possibilities, mastering this form will significantly enhance your communication skills. It’s fascinating how a simple grammatical structure can open up a world of future scenarios and deepen your engagement with the language.
In this post, we’ll dive deep into the mechanics of “ㄹ/을 거예요”, exploring its formation, usage, and nuances. We’ll break down the conjugation rules for different verbs, provide context for its usage, and share insights to avoid common pitfalls. Whether you’re a beginner or have been studying Korean for a while, this guide aims to clarify and simplify the concept of future tense in Korean.
So, let’s get ready to explore the future – not with a crystal ball, but with the empowering tool of Korean grammar. By the end of this post, you’ll be more confident in expressing your future plans and aspirations in Korean!
Conjugation
VERB STEM + ㄹ/을 거예요
- Take a verb i.e. 가다
- Drop “다” i.e. 가
- Add appropriate ending based on the rules below (in this case it becomes 갈 거예요)
- If the verb stem ends with a vowel, add ㄹ 거요
- If the verb stem ends with a consonant, add 을 거예요
- If the verb stem ends with a consonant “ㄹ”, add 거예요
- 먹다 –> 먹 + 을 거예요 –> 먹을 거예요
- 보다 –> 보 + ㄹ 거예요 –> 볼 거예요
- 사다 –> 사 + ㄹ 거예요 –> 살 거예요
- 하다 –> 하 + ㄹ 거예요 –> 할 거예요
What is the ㄹ/을 거예요 Form?
The “ㄹ/을 거예요” form is a standard way to express the future tense in Korean. It is used to indicate an action or state that will take place or exist in the future. This form can be translated into English as “will” or “going to.”
Sample conjugations
- 하다 –> 하 –> 하 + ㄹ 거예요 –> 할 거예요 – I will do/ I am going to do
- 오다 –> 오 –> 오 + ㄹ 거예요 –> 올 거예요 – I will come/ I am going to come
- 가다 –> 가 –> 가 + ㄹ 거에요 –> 갈 거예요 – I will go/ I am going to go
- 있다 –> 있 –> 있 + 을 거예요 –> 있을 거예요 – I will be there/ I am going to be there
- 없다 –> 없 –> 없 + 을 거예요 –> 없을 거예요 – I won’t be there/ I am not going to be there
- 살다 –> 살 –> 살 + 거예요 –> 살 거예요 – I will live/ I am going to live
- 팔다 –> 팔 –> 팔 + 거예요 –> 팔 거예요 – I will sell/ I am going to sell
Let’s explore the usage and contextual applications of the “ㄹ/을 거예요” future tense in Korean.
Expressing Future Actions and Plans:
- The “ㄹ/을 거예요” form is commonly used to talk about future actions or plans. It conveys the speaker’s intention to perform an action or the likelihood of an event occurring.
- Example: “내일 친구를 만날 거예요.” (Naeil chingureul mannal geoyeyo.) – “I will meet a friend tomorrow.”
Expressing Intentions or Decisions:
- The “ㄹ/을 거예요” form is useful for expressing personal intentions, decisions, or resolutions about future actions.
- Example: “다이어트를 할 거예요.” (Daieteureul hal geoyeyo.) – “I am going to go on a diet.”
Formal vs. Informal Settings:
- In formal situations, you might use the “ㄹ/을 겁니다” form, while “ㄹ/을 거예요” is more common in everyday, informal conversations.
- Adjusting the level of formality depending on the context and audience is crucial in Korean communication.
Different levels of formality for the future tense
| Formality | 가다 | 먹다 | 하다 |
| Casual | 갈 거야 | 먹을 거야 | 할 거야 |
| Polite Low Formality | 갈 거예요 | 먹을 거예요 | 할 거예요 |
| Polite High Formality | 갈 겁니다 | 먹을 겁니다 | 할 겁니다 |
Sample sentences with breakdown
To help you understand the usage of the “ㄹ/을 거예요” form in Korean, let’s explore some sample sentences. These examples will illustrate how this future tense construction is used in various contexts.
Sentence: “저는 내일 친구를 만날 거예요.” (Jeoneun naeil chingureul mannal geoyeyo.)
- Translation: “I am going to meet a friend tomorrow.”
- Breakdown:
- 저는 (Jeoneun) – “I” (topic)
- 내일 (naeil) – “tomorrow”
- 친구를 (chingureul) – “a friend” (object)
- 만날 거예요 (mannal geoyeyo) – “am going to meet”; 만나다 (mannada – to meet) is conjugated to 만나 (mannal) with “ㄹ 거예요” for future tense
Sentence: “비가 올 거예요.” (Biga ol geoyeyo.)
- Translation: “It is going to rain.”
- Breakdown:
- 비가 (Biga) – “Rain” (subject)
- 올 거예요 (ol geoyeyo) – “is going to”; 오다 (oda – to come) in its future tense form
Sentence: “주말에 영화를 볼 거예요.” (Jumale yeonghwareul bol geoyeyo.)
- Translation: “I will watch a movie this weekend.”
- Breakdown:
- 주말에 (Jumale) – “on the weekend”
- 영화를 (yeonghwareul) – “a movie” (object)
- 볼 거예요 (bol geoyeyo) – “will watch”; 보다 (boda – to watch) becomes 볼 (bol) with “ㄹ 거예요”
Sentence: “내년에 한국에 갈 거예요.” (Naenyeone hanguge gal geoyeyo.)
- Translation: “I will go to Korea next year.”
- Breakdown:
- 내년에 (Nae-nyeone) – “Next year”
- 한국에 (Hanguge) – “to Korea”
- 갈 거예요 (Gal geoyeyo) – “will go”; 가다 (gada – to go) becomes 갈 (gal) with “ㄹ 거예요”
Sentence: “저는 다이어트를 할 거예요.” (Jeoneun daieoteureul hal geoyeyo.)
- Translation: “I am going to go on a diet.”
- Breakdown:
- 저는 (Jeoneun) – “I” (topic)
- 다이어트를 (Daieoteureul) – “a diet” (object)
- 할 거예요 (Hal geoyeyo) – “am going to do”; 하다 (hada – to do) in its future tense form
These examples showcase how “ㄹ/을 거예요” is used in real-life scenarios to talk about future plans, predictions, or intentions. By breaking down each sentence, you can see the structure and how the future tense is formed and used in context. This practice is essential for developing a deeper understanding and proficiency in Korean grammar.
Activity 1
Conjugate the below to the future tense.
- 도와주다
- 물어보다
- 찾다
- 열다
- 만들다
- 만나다
- 자다
Activity 2
Fill the blanks with correctly conjugated word.
- 저녁 ___________________ (저녁 – dinner) I will eat dinner
- 내일 ____________________(내일 – tomorrow) I will go tomorrow
- 엄마 ____________________(엄마 – mum) I will meet mum
- 여행 ____________________(여행 – trip) I will go on a trip
- 일찍 ____________________(일찍 – early) I will sleep early
- 영화 ____________________(영화 – movie) I will watch a movie
Activity 1 Answer
- 도와줄 거예요 – I will help
- 물어볼 거예요 – I will ask
- 찾을 거예요 – I will find
- 열 거예요 – I will open
- 만들 거예요 – I will make
- 마날 거예요 – I will meet
- 잘 거예요 – I will sleep
Activity 2 Answer
- 저녁 먹을 거예요
- 내일 갈 거예요
- 엄마 만날 거예요
- 여행 갈 거예요
- 일찍 잘 거예요
- 영화 볼 거예요
Conclusion
Congratulations on exploring the nuances of the “ㄹ/을 거예요” future tense form in Korean! This form is a key aspect of Korean grammar, allowing you to express plans, intentions, and predictions about the future. Understanding and correctly using “ㄹ/을 거예요” will not only enhance your communication skills but also deepen your connection with the language and culture.
Remember, mastering a new grammatical structure takes time and practice. Don’t be discouraged by initial challenges. Instead, view each mistake as a stepping stone towards proficiency. The more you practice, the more natural your use of the Korean future tense will become.
Call to Action:
- Keep Practicing: Incorporate the “ㄹ/을 거예요” form into your daily language practice. Try writing sentences or short paragraphs about your future plans or predictions.
- Engage with Korean Media: Listen to Korean songs, watch dramas or movies, and pay attention to how the future tense is used. Try to mimic the pronunciation and intonation.
- Leave a comment: Participating in language exchange communities, online forums, or social media groups dedicated to learning Korean. Sharing your experiences and learning from others can be incredibly beneficial.
- Take Further Lessons: If you’re eager to learn more, consider enrolling in advanced Korean language courses or working with a tutor to refine your skills.