-겠어요 vs -(으)ㄹ 거예요 in Korean: “will: which to use”

-겠어요 (-gesseoyo) and -(으)ㄹ 거예요 (-(eu)l geoyeyo) can both mean "will," but they are not the same. -(으)ㄹ 거예요 is the everyday future for plans and general guesses, while -겠어요 shows a decision made right now or a guess based on what you see. Knowing which to pick makes your Korean sound much more natural.

How to form it

How to use it

-(으)ㄹ 거예요 is the default future: plans you already have (내일 친구를 만날 거예요) and general guesses (아마 집에 있을 거예요, he's probably home). It works for anyone: I, you, he or she.

-겠어요 shows the speaker's will at this moment ("I will, I promise") or an instant guess from what you see or hear: 맛있겠어요! (That looks delicious!). For intention, it is used for yourself, not for other people's plans.

-겠- also appears in fixed polite phrases: 알겠습니다 (I understand), 잘 먹겠습니다 (thanks for the meal), 처음 뵙겠습니다 (nice to meet you). In the formal -겠습니다 form it sounds firm and respectful, as in promises to a boss.

Examples

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Don’t mix it up with

-(으)ㄹ게요: -(으)ㄹ게요 is a promise or decision made with the listener in mind (제가 할게요, I'll do it for you). -겠어요 sounds more formal and firm.

-(으)려고 해요: -(으)려고 해요 means "I'm planning to" or "I intend to," close to -(으)ㄹ 거예요 for plans but with more focus on intention.

Common mistakes

Using -겠어요 for someone else's plans, as in 민수 씨가 내일 가겠어요. That sounds like a guess. To state their plan, say 민수 씨가 내일 갈 거예요.

Saying 맛있을 거예요 when looking at food in front of you. That sounds like a general prediction; 맛있겠어요 is the natural reaction.

Want the basics first? Read Future tense -(으)ㄹ 거예요.