Korean Future Tense Grammar: How to Use ~(으)ㄹ 거예요

Korean Learning Hub · Beginner Grammar

Korean Future Tense Grammar: How to Use ~(으)ㄹ 거예요

Learn how to talk about future plans, intentions, predictions, and upcoming events with one of the most useful future expressions in everyday Korean.

What You’ll Learn

Core Meaning

  • How ~(으)ㄹ 거예요 expresses “will” and “be going to”
  • How it can show plans, intentions, or predictions

Conjugation Skills

  • Vowel-ending stems: ~ㄹ 거예요
  • Consonant-ending stems: ~을 거예요
  • ㄹ-ending stems: add 거예요

Natural Usage

  • Talking about tomorrow and weekend plans
  • Asking what someone is going to do

Accuracy

  • Correct spacing and spelling of 거예요
  • How it differs from ~(으)ㄹ게요

Key Vocabulary

KoreanRomanizationMeaningFuture Form
가다gadato go갈 거예요
먹다meokdato eat먹을 거예요
보다bodato see / watch볼 거예요
읽다ikdato read읽을 거예요
만들다mandeuldato make만들 거예요
쉬다swidato rest쉴 거예요

Grammar: What Does ~(으)ㄹ 거예요 Mean?

~(으)ㄹ 거예요 is a common polite Korean expression used to describe a future plan, intention, expectation, or prediction. In English, it often translates as “will” or “be going to.”

Basic formula Verb or adjective stem + ~(으)ㄹ 거예요
내일 공부할 거예요.
Naeil gongbuhal geoyeyo.
I am going to study tomorrow.
주말에는 비가 올 거예요.
Jumareneun biga ol geoyeyo.
It will probably rain this weekend.

Rule 1: Vowel-ending stem → ~ㄹ 거예요

Remove 다. When the stem ends in a vowel, attach ㄹ 거예요.

가다 → 가 + ㄹ 거예요 → 갈 거예요
보다 → 보 + ㄹ 거예요 → 볼 거예요
마시다 → 마시 + ㄹ 거예요 → 마실 거예요

Rule 2: Consonant-ending stem → ~을 거예요

When the stem ends in a final consonant, or batchim, attach 을 거예요.

먹다 → 먹 + 을 거예요 → 먹을 거예요
읽다 → 읽 + 을 거예요 → 읽을 거예요
찾다 → 찾 + 을 거예요 → 찾을 거예요

Rule 3: Stem ending in ㄹ → add 거예요

When the stem already ends in ㄹ, do not add another ㄹ or 을. Add only 거예요.

살다 → 살 + 거예요 → 살 거예요
만들다 → 만들 + 거예요 → 만들 거예요
놀다 → 놀 + 거예요 → 놀 거예요

Visual Conjugation Comparison

가다

Stem ends in a vowel

가 + ㄹ 거예요

갈 거예요

먹다

Stem ends in batchim

먹 + 을 거예요

먹을 거예요

살다

Stem already ends in ㄹ

살 + 거예요

살 거예요

Politeness Levels

StylePattern가다먹다
Formal~(으)ㄹ 것입니다갈 것입니다먹을 것입니다
Polite everyday~(으)ㄹ 거예요갈 거예요먹을 거예요
Casual~(으)ㄹ 거야갈 거야먹을 거야

~(으)ㄹ 거예요 vs. ~(으)ㄹ게요

~(으)ㄹ 거예요

Describes a future plan, intention, or prediction.

내일 일찍 갈 거예요.

I am going to leave early tomorrow.

~(으)ㄹ게요

Often shows a promise, decision, or response involving the listener.

제가 문을 닫을게요.

I’ll close the door.

Everyday Examples

내일 친구를 만날 거예요.
Naeil chingureul mannal geoyeyo.
I am going to meet a friend tomorrow.
주말에 집에서 쉴 거예요.
Jumare jibeseo swil geoyeyo.
I will rest at home over the weekend.
저녁에 한국 음식을 먹을 거예요.
Jeonyeoge Hanguk eumsigeul meogeul geoyeyo.
I am going to eat Korean food for dinner.
이번 휴가에 무엇을 할 거예요?
Ibeon hyugae mueoseul hal geoyeyo?
What are you going to do during this vacation?
내일은 날씨가 추울 거예요.
Naeireun nalssiga chuul geoyeyo.
The weather will probably be cold tomorrow.
그 영화는 재미있을 거예요.
Geu yeonghwaneun jaemiisseul geoyeyo.
That movie will probably be interesting.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect: 먹ㄹ 거예요

Correct: 먹을 거예요

먹 ends in a consonant, so use 을 거예요.

Incorrect: 만들을 거예요

Correct: 만들 거예요

The stem already ends in ㄹ, so add only 거예요.

Incorrect: 갈거예요

Correct: 갈 거예요

The future modifier and 거예요 are written with a space.

Incorrect spelling: 거에요

Standard spelling: 거예요

거예요 is the standard contracted form of 것이에요.

Possible meaning problem: 제가 할 거예요.

Listener-focused promise: 제가 할게요.

Use ~(으)ㄹ게요 when making a promise or volunteering in response to someone.

Practice

1. Conjugate 가다.

가다 → ________

2. Conjugate 읽다.

읽다 → ________

3. Conjugate 만들다.

만들다 → ________

4. Translate into Korean.

“I am going to study Korean tomorrow.”

5. Choose the more natural ending.

You volunteer to carry a bag for someone: 들 거예요 / 들게요

Show practice answers
  1. 갈 거예요
  2. 읽을 거예요
  3. 만들 거예요
  4. 내일 한국어를 공부할 거예요.
  5. 들게요

Quick Quiz

1. What is the correct future form of 사다?
  1. 사을 거예요
  2. 살 거예요
  3. 사 거예요
2. Which sentence is correctly spaced?
  1. 먹을거예요
  2. 먹을 거예요
  3. 먹 을 거예요
3. What is the correct form of 살다?
  1. 살을 거예요
  2. 살ㄹ 거예요
  3. 살 거예요
4. Which sentence expresses a prediction?
  1. 내일 비가 올 거예요.
  2. 문을 닫을게요.
  3. 어제 비가 왔어요.
5. Which spelling is standard?
  1. 거에요
  2. 거예요
  3. 것에요
Show quiz answers
  1. B. 살 거예요
  2. B. 먹을 거예요
  3. C. 살 거예요
  4. A. 내일 비가 올 거예요.
  5. B. 거예요

Lesson Summary

  • Use ~(으)ㄹ 거예요 for future plans, intentions, expectations, and predictions.
  • Vowel-ending stems take ~ㄹ 거예요: 가다 → 갈 거예요.
  • Consonant-ending stems take ~을 거예요: 먹다 → 먹을 거예요.
  • Stems ending in ㄹ take only 거예요: 살다 → 살 거예요.
  • Write a space before 거예요, and spell it 거예요, not 거에요.
  • Use ~(으)ㄹ게요 for promises or listener-related decisions.

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