1 · Tense and aspect
The future with -(으)ㄹ 거예요
the future of plans and guesses
The verb is turned into a modifier before 거 (thing) and the copula: 갈 거예요, "I will go" or "I am going to go".
After a stem ending in a vowel, the stem takes a final l and is followed by 거예요: 가다 → 갈 거예요, 보다 → 볼 거예요, 공부하다 → 공부할 거예요. After a consonant it is -을 거예요: 먹다 → 먹을 거예요, 읽다 → 읽을 거예요. A stem that already ends in l adds nothing: 살다 → 살 거예요, 만들다 → 만들 거예요. The space before 거예요 is part of the spelling, because 거 is a word of its own.
Taken apart, the construction says "it is a thing that will happen": the verb becomes a modifier that points forward, 거 is the spoken form of 것 (thing), and 예요 is "is". In formal speech it becomes 갈 것입니다, usually shortened to 갈 겁니다. The question is the same form with a rising voice, 갈 거예요?, or formally 갈 겁니까?.
With "I" or "you" it states a plan or an intention: 내일 집에 있을 거예요, "I'll be at home tomorrow". With anybody or anything else it is usually a guess: 내일 비가 올 거예요, "it will probably rain tomorrow"; 민수 씨도 알 거예요, "Minsu will know too, I expect". Adjectives take the same form and give a guess: 비쌀 거예요, "it is probably expensive" or "it will be expensive".
English speakers reach for this form every time they would say "will", but Korean uses the plain present for much of the near future, especially with a time word: 내일 가요 is a perfectly normal "I'm going tomorrow". The 거예요 form adds that it is a plan or a guess. Nor is it a promise to the listener: "I'll do it for you" is 제가 할게요, not 제가 할 거예요, which merely reports your plan.
The form
| after a vowel | 가다 → 갈 거예요 |
| after a consonant | 먹다 → 먹을 거예요 |
| stem already ending in l | 만들다 → 만들 거예요 |
| question | 뭐 할 거예요? |
| formal | 갈 겁니다 / 갈 것입니다 |
| negative | 안 갈 거예요 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
After a vowel the stem takes a final l; after a consonant it takes 을.
내일 친구를 만날 거예요.I am going to meet a friend tomorrow.
A stem that already ends in l adds nothing.
주말에 케이크를 만들 거예요.I am going to make a cake at the weekend.
About yourself it states a plan; about others or the weather it is a guess.
아마 내일은 눈이 올 거예요.It will probably snow tomorrow.
Adjectives take the same form and give a guess about now or later.
그 가방은 아마 비쌀 거예요.That bag is probably expensive.
In formal speech 거예요 becomes 겁니다.
회의는 세 시에 시작할 겁니다.The meeting will start at three o'clock.
A closer look
The present for the future
Korean uses the plain present for scheduled and near events far more readily than English uses "I go": 내일 시험이 있어요, "I have an exam tomorrow"; 다음 주에 이사해요, "we are moving next week". The time word does the work. Choosing the 거예요 form instead adds a note of intention or of conjecture.
Combined with the past, the same form guesses about something that has probably already happened: 지금쯤 벌써 도착했을 거예요, "she will have arrived by now". This is the everyday way to say "must have" when you are reasoning rather than seeing.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the verb belongs to the class whose final d turns into l, such as 듣다 (to listen) or 걷다 (to walk)
the stem changes before 을: 들을 거예요, 걸을 거예요.
저녁에 음악을 들을 거예요.I am going to listen to music this evening.
These verbs change their last consonant before any ending that begins with a vowel, and 을 is one. The polite present shows the same change: 들어요, 걸어요.
How to spot it
- 내일
- 다음 주
- 나중에
- 아마
- 거예요
- 겁니다
Example sentences
다음 달에 한국에 갈 거예요.I am going to Korea next month.
졸업하고 뭐 할 거예요?What are you going to do after you graduate?
오늘 저녁에는 집에서 쉴 거예요.I am going to stay in and rest this evening.
지금 출발하면 열 시에 도착할 거예요.If we leave now, we will get there at ten.
그 영화는 아마 재미있을 거예요.That film will probably be good.
저는 내년에 대학원에 들어갈 거예요.I am going to start graduate school next year.
8 more example sentences
이번 주말에 뭐 할 거예요?What are you doing this weekend?
저는 집에서 영화를 볼 거예요.I am going to watch a film at home.
내일은 아마 바쁠 거예요.I will probably be busy tomorrow.
지하철을 타면 더 빠를 거예요.It will be quicker if you take the underground.
언니는 지금 회사에 있을 거예요.My sister will be at work now.
저는 오늘부터 매일 운동할 거예요.From today I am going to exercise every day.
그 사람은 이 사실을 모를 거예요.He probably doesn't know this.
다음 주에 다시 연락할 겁니다.We will contact you again next week.
Worth knowing (1)
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A plan is not a promise
제가 할 거예요 reports what you intend to do. When you offer something to the person in front of you — "I'll do it", "I'll call you" — Korean uses 할게요 instead, which commits you to them. The 거예요 form as an offer sounds as if you were announcing a decision that has nothing to do with the listener.
제가 나중에 전화할게요.I will call you later.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
A stem that already ends in l takes nothing more: 살다 → 살 거예요. Adding 을 produces 살을, which is the noun for "flesh" with an object particle.
A plan for me, a guess for everyone else: gal geoyeyo, meogeul geoyeyo.
Your turn
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