Korean Future Tense: -(으)ㄹ 거예요 Made Easy
Learn the Korean future tense -(으)ㄹ 거예요: how to say "I will" and "it will probably", how to build it from any verb, and when to use -(으)ㄹ게요 instead.
Beginner7 min readTap any Korean word to see it explained
The short answer
To say “will” or “going to” in Korean, add -(으)ㄹ 거예요 to the verb stem: 가다 → 갈 거예요 (I will go), 먹다 → 먹을 거예요 (I will eat). The same form also makes a guess: 비가 올 거예요 means “it will probably rain.”
Korean has one main way to talk about the future, and it is easy to build. It covers your plans (“I’m going to see a friend”) and your guesses (“it’ll probably be cold”). Tap any word below to see what it means.
1. How to make it
Take the verb, drop 다, and look at the last letter of the stem.
- Ends in a vowel: add ㄹ to the last syllable, then 거예요. 가 → 갈 거예요
- Ends in a consonant: add 을 거예요. 먹 → 먹을 거예요
- Ends in ㄹ: just add 거예요. 만들 → 만들 거예요
| Verb | Meaning | Future (polite) | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 가다 | to go | 갈 거예요 | vowel + ㄹ |
| 보다 | to see, watch | 볼 거예요 | vowel + ㄹ |
| 공부하다 | to study | 공부할 거예요 | vowel + ㄹ |
| 먹다 | to eat | 먹을 거예요 | consonant + 을 |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽을 거예요 | consonant + 을 |
| 만들다 | to make | 만들 거예요 | ㄹ stem, no change |
| 살다 | to live | 살 거예요 | ㄹ stem, no change |
| 듣다 | to listen | 들을 거예요 | ㄷ becomes ㄹ |
| 덥다 | to be hot | 더울 거예요 | ㅂ becomes 우 |
The last two are irregular verbs. Most verbs follow the first three rules, so learn those first.
2. Talking about your plans
When you talk about yourself (or ask someone about their plans), -(으)ㄹ 거예요 means “I’m going to” or “I will.”
만들다 already ends in ㄹ, so nothing is added before 거예요.
Same form for questions. Just raise your voice at the end.
3. Guessing: “it will probably”
When the subject is something you can’t control, like the weather or another person, the same form usually sounds like a guess. English would add “probably” or “I think.”
In Korean, rain comes: 비가 오다.
It works with describing words too, not just action verbs.
4. -(으)ㄹ게요: “I’ll do it (for you)”
Korean has a second “will” that learners often mix up. -(으)ㄹ게요 is a promise or offer you make to the listener, often in reply to something they just said. Use it only about yourself, and not in questions.
A promise to the listener. 전화할 거예요 would sound more like announcing your plan.
- 내일 갈 거예요: “I’m going tomorrow.” (my plan)
- 내일 갈게요: “I’ll come tomorrow, okay?” (a promise to you)
Spelling tip: it sounds like 할께요, but the correct spelling is 할게요.
5. Casual: 거야
With close friends, drop the polite ending. 거예요 becomes 거야, and 게요 becomes 게.
Keep going
Future forms are all over song lyrics. Open a song in Hanbok Lyrics and tap a line to see each ending explained. To talk about what already happened, read the Korean past tense, and for the everyday present, see the present tense with 아요/어요.
Check yourself
Quick check · 1 of 4먹다 (to eat) in the future = ?
I will eat.
Questions learners ask
How do you say "will" in Korean?
Add -(으)ㄹ 거예요 to the verb stem. After a vowel use ㄹ 거예요 (가다 becomes 갈 거예요), after a consonant use 을 거예요 (먹다 becomes 먹을 거예요).
Is it 거예요 or 거에요?
거예요 is the correct spelling. It is short for 것이에요. Many Koreans write 거에요 online, and it sounds the same, but it is a spelling mistake.
What is the difference between -(으)ㄹ 거예요 and -(으)ㄹ게요?
-(으)ㄹ 거예요 states a plan or a guess. -(으)ㄹ게요 is a promise or offer to the person you are talking to, like "I'll do it (for you)". -(으)ㄹ게요 is only used about yourself.
How do you say "it will probably" in Korean?
The same -(으)ㄹ 거예요 form. When the subject is not you, it usually means a guess: 비가 올 거예요 means "It will probably rain."