Korean grammar · Elementary (A2)
The future: -(으)ㄹ 거예요, -겠-, -(으)ㄹ게요
How to talk about plans and guesses with -(으)ㄹ 거예요, make promises with -(으)ㄹ게요, and understand -겠- in forecasts and formal speech.
-(으)ㄹ 거예요: plans and guesses
The everyday future ending is -(으)ㄹ 거예요 (-(eu)l geoyeyo). Take the stem (the dictionary form without -다). After a vowel or ㄹ, add ㄹ 거예요: (gal geoyeyo), (mandeul geoyeyo). After a consonant, add 을 거예요: (meogeul geoyeyo). Irregular verbs change as usual: (chupda) → (chuul geoyeyo), (deutda) → (deureul geoyeyo).
About yourself it means a plan, “I'm going to”. About other people, the weather or things you can't be sure of, it is a guess, “it will probably”. Negative: (an gal geoyeyo). In speech 거예요 often sounds like 거에요, with a tense ㄲ at the start, but the spelling stays the same.
In the other speech levels: (gal geomnida) in the formal style, (gal geoya) in casual speech. To an older person, add the honorific: (eonje gasil geoyeyo?), when are you going?
| Verb | Future | Why |
|---|---|---|
| (gada), to go | (gal geoyeyo) | vowel stem: ㄹ 거예요 |
| (hada), to do | (hal geoyeyo) | vowel stem |
| (meokda), to eat | (meogeul geoyeyo) | consonant stem: 을 거예요 |
| (ikda), to read | (ilgeul geoyeyo) | consonant stem |
| (salda), to live | (sal geoyeyo) | ㄹ stem: nothing added |
| (chupda), to be cold | (chuul geoyeyo) | ㅂ irregular |
| (deutda), to listen | (deureul geoyeyo) | ㄷ irregular |
| (haksaengida), to be a student | (haksaengil geoyeyo) | noun + 일 거예요 |
- 주말에 뭐 할 거예요?Jumare mwo hal geoyeyo?What are you going to do at the weekend?
- 친구하고 영화를 볼 거예요.Chinguhago yeonghwareul bol geoyeyo.I'm going to see a film with a friend.
- 내일은 비가 올 거예요.Naeireun biga ol geoyeyo.It'll probably rain tomorrow.
- 제주도는 지금 따뜻할 거예요.Jejudoneun jigeum ttatteutal geoyeyo.It's probably warm on Jeju now.
-(으)ㄹ게요: I'll do it (promises and offers)
-(으)ㄹ게요 (-(eu)lgeyo) is a promise or offer you make now, to the listener: “I'll call you”, “I'll do it”. It is only used about yourself (or “we”), never in questions and never about other people. It is built like the future: (halgeyo), (meogeulgeyo), (mandeulgeyo), (doulgeyo). It is pronounced with a tense ㄲ, but always written with ㄱ.
Compare (jega halgeyo), I'll do it (I'm offering, taking your wishes into account), with (jega hal geoyeyo), I'm going to do it (my plan, whatever you think). In casual speech, drop 요: (galge). To someone you respect, use : (jeonhwa deurilgeyo), I'll give you a call.
- 다시 전화할게요.Dasi jeonhwahalgeyo.I'll call again.
- 제가 문을 열게요.Jega muneul yeolgeyo.I'll open the door.
- 저 먼저 갈게요.Jeo meonjeo galgeyo.I'll head off first. (leaving work or a group)
- 이따가 전화할게.Ittaga jeonhwahalge.I'll call you later. (casual)
-겠-: forecasts, announcements and formal intentions
-겠- (-get-) goes straight onto the stem. In the formal style it states what will happen in forecasts and announcements: (naeireun biga ogetseumnida), it will rain tomorrow. Staff use it for what they are about to do: (hwaginhagetseumnida), I'll check.
Several fixed phrases contain it: (algetseumnida), understood, certainly; (jal meokgetseumnida), said before eating; (cheoeum boepgetseumnida), how do you do; (moreugesseoyo), I'm not sure, which is softer than (mollayo). In a question to the listener it asks politely what they want: (mwol deusigesseoyo?), what would you like?
-겠- also makes a guess from what you see or hear: (himdeulgesseoyo), that must be hard. See the page on guesses.
- 오후부터는 맑겠습니다.Ohubuteoneun malgetseumnida.It will be clear from the afternoon.
- 제가 안내해 드리겠습니다.Jega annaehae deurigetseumnida.I'll show you the way.
- 네, 알겠습니다.Ne, algetseumnida.Yes, certainly.
The present for the near future
As in English, the present tense often talks about fixed plans, especially with a time word: (naeil Busane gayo), I'm going to Busan tomorrow. This is the most natural choice for arrangements that are already made.
Quick guide: plans and guesses → -(으)ㄹ 거예요; a promise or offer to the person in front of you → -(으)ㄹ게요; forecasts, announcements and formal service → -겠습니다; a fixed arrangement → the present.
- 내일 부산에 가요.Naeil Busane gayo.I'm going to Busan tomorrow.
- 기차는 두 시에 출발해요.Gichaneun du sie chulbalhaeyo.The train leaves at two.