4 · Linking clauses, further
Since it will be so: -(으)ㄹ 테니까
intention or assumption as a reason
-(으)ㄹ 테니까 gives as a reason what the speaker will do, or what will surely be the case, and asks the listener to act on it.
After a consonant the pattern is -을 테니까: 먹을 테니까, 많을 테니까. After a vowel the stem takes an l and then 테니까 as a separate word: 갈 테니까, 할 테니까; a stem in l simply adds 테니까: 만들 테니까. 테 is the bound noun 터, “expectation”, fused with 이다, so it is written apart from the verb. The short form drops the last syllable: 갈 테니.
With “I” as the subject, it offers the speaker's own plan as the basis for what the listener should do: 제가 청소할 테니까 요리는 부탁해요, “I will do the cleaning, so could you do the cooking”. It is a small deal: here is my part, now yours.
With any other subject, it offers a confident guess as the reason: 길이 막힐 테니까 지하철을 타세요, “the roads will surely be jammed, so take the underground”. For a guess about something already past, the past goes inside: 피곤했을 테니까 쉬세요, “you must have been tired, so have a rest”. The second half is usually a request, a suggestion or advice.
Next to -(으)니까, which gives a known fact as the reason, this pattern gives something that has not happened yet or that the speaker only assumes. In casual speech 갈 거니까 does a similar job. The mistake to avoid is in the spelling: 할테니까 without a space is wrong, because 테 is a word.
The form
| after a vowel | 갈 테니까, 할 테니까 |
| after a consonant | 먹을 테니까, 있을 테니까 |
| a stem ending in l | 만들 테니까 |
| a guess about the past | 피곤했을 테니까 |
| short form | 갈 테니 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
With “I” as the subject, it offers the speaker's own plan as a reason.
제가 설거지를 할 테니까 쉬세요.I will do the washing-up, so have a rest.
With another subject, it gives a confident guess as the reason.
주말에는 사람이 많을 테니까 평일에 가요.There will be crowds at the weekend, so let us go on a weekday.
The second half is usually a request, a suggestion or advice to the listener.
곧 비가 올 테니까 우산을 가져가세요.It is going to rain soon, so take an umbrella.
For a guess about the past, the past goes inside: -았/었을 테니까.
오래 기다렸을 테니까 먼저 드세요.You must have been waiting a long time, so please start eating.
A closer look
Known, expected, or simply likely
비가 오니까 우산을 가져가세요 looks out of the window: it is raining. 비가 올 테니까 우산을 가져가세요 looks at the sky and the forecast: it will rain, the speaker is sure of it. The difference is not tense but knowledge.
In everyday speech, 비가 올 거니까 is heard for the same thing. 올 테니까 is a notch more careful, and it is the usual choice in polite offers and in writing: 제가 할 테니까 쉬세요.
How to spot it
- 테니까
- 테니
- 제가
- -았을 테니까
Example sentences
제가 표를 살 테니까 저녁은 사 주세요.I will get the tickets, so you buy dinner.
지금 출발하면 늦지 않을 테니까 걱정하지 마세요.If we leave now we will not be late, so do not worry.
많이 배고플 테니까 어서 드세요.You must be very hungry, so do start eating.
제가 역까지 태워 줄 테니까 같이 가요.I will give you a lift to the station, so let us go together.
그 시간에는 길이 막힐 테니까 지하철을 타세요.The roads will be jammed at that time, so take the underground.
내일은 바쁠 테니까 오늘 미리 해 둘게요.Tomorrow will be busy, so I will get it done today.
7 more example sentences
제가 먼저 가서 자리를 맡을 테니까 천천히 오세요.I will go ahead and save us seats, so take your time.
이 길로 가면 더 빠를 테니까 따라오세요.This way will be quicker, so follow me.
아이들이 좋아할 테니까 과자도 좀 사 가요.The children will love it, so let us buy some snacks too.
오늘은 제가 낼 테니까 마음껏 드세요.I am paying today, so eat as much as you like.
많이 놀랐을 테니까 오늘은 푹 쉬세요.You must have had a real shock, so get a good rest today.
제가 다시 연락드릴 테니까 조금만 기다려 주세요.I will get back to you, so please wait a little.
밖은 추울 테니까 두꺼운 옷을 입으세요.It will be cold outside, so wear something warm.
Worth knowing (1)
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The softer cousin: 올 텐데
Built on the same bound noun, the ending in 올 텐데 and 먹을 텐데 gives the same kind of guess as background rather than as a reason. It sounds concerned rather than decisive, and often introduces a question or an offer.
비가 올 텐데 우산 있어요?It is probably going to rain — do you have an umbrella?
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
테 is a bound noun fused with 이다, and a noun is a word of its own. It stands after a space, exactly like 수 in 할 수 있어요 and 거 in 할 거예요.
Tenikka: here is what I will do, or what will surely happen — so you do this.
Your turn
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