Korean “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” Explained: Future Plans, Predictions, and Common Mistakes

When talking about the future in Korean, one grammar pattern appears everywhere: “-(으)ㄹ 거예요.”

Koreans use this expression to talk about future plans, expectations, and predictions in everyday conversation. While it is often translated as “will” in English, the way native speakers use “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is often broader and more natural than a simple future tense.

In this guide, you’ll learn how “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” works, when Koreans use it, how it differs from expressions like “겠어요” and “-(으)ㄹ게요,” and the common mistakes that can make future sentences sound unnatural.

1. What Does “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” Mean in Korean?

“-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is a Korean grammar pattern used to express future plans, predictions, and future events in everyday conversation.

The Core Meaning of “-(으)ㄹ 거예요”

Korean speakers commonly use “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” when talking about something that has not happened yet.

This expression is most often used for:

• future plans
• predictions

The exact meaning depends on the situation and what the speaker wants to express.

When Koreans Use “-(으)ㄹ 거예요”

You will hear “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” in conversations about future plans, schedules, and predictions.

Because it works in so many situations, it is one of the most common future expressions in everyday Korean.

2. Why English “Will” Does Not Fully Explain “-(으)ㄹ 거예요”

Although “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is often translated as “will,” Korean speakers do not always use it in exactly the same way English speakers use future tense forms.

Many textbooks translate “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” simply as “will,” but native speakers also use it in situations where English speakers might choose either “will” or “going to.”

Why Different Korean Sentences Become “Will” in English

English translations often make different Korean sentences look identical.

A future plan and a future prediction may both become “will” in English, even though Korean speakers do not necessarily feel them the same way.

What English Translations Often Miss

When Korean speakers use “-(으)ㄹ 거예요,” the important question is not whether the sentence means “will.”

This distinction explains why the same grammar pattern can sound natural in both plans and predictions.

3. How to Form “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” in Korean

The form of “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” depends on whether the verb stem ends with a vowel, a final consonant, or ㄹ.

Verb Stems Ending in a Vowel

Add -ㄹ 거예요 after the verb stem.

• 가다 (to go) → 갈 거예요 (will go)

• 보다 (to see/watch) → 볼 거예요 (will see/watch)

• 배우다 (to learn) → 배울 거예요 (will learn)

---

Verb Stems Ending in a Final Consonant

Add -을 거예요 after the verb stem.

• 먹다 (to eat) → 먹을 거예요 (will eat)

• 읽다 (to read) → 읽을 거예요 (will read)

• 찾다 (to find) → 찾을 거예요 (will find)

---

Verb Stems Ending in ㄹ

ㄹ final consonant → drop nothing and add 거예요

• 살다 (to live) → 살 거예요 (will live)

• 팔다 (to sell) → 팔 거예요 (will sell)

• 열다 (to open) → 열 거예요 (will open)

---

Irregular Verbs with “-(으)ㄹ 거예요”

A few Korean verbs change slightly before “-(으)ㄹ 거예요.”

• 듣다 (to listen) → 들을 거예요 (will listen)

• 돕다 (to help) → 도울 거예요 (will help)

• 걷다 (to walk) → 걸을 거예요 (will walk)

These forms follow common Korean irregular verb conjugation rules used with future expressions such as “-(으)ㄹ 거예요.”

---

Quick Rule Summary

• No final consonant → -ㄹ 거예요
• Final consonant → -을 거예요
• ㄹ final consonant → add 거예요
  
  

4. Future Plans: The Most Common Use of “-(으)ㄹ 거예요”

In everyday conversation, “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is often used to talk about future plans.

Talking About Personal Plans

Examples

• 내일 친구를 만날 거예요.
(I will meet my friend tomorrow.)

• 저녁에 피자를 먹을 거예요.
(I will eat pizza this evening.)

• 주말에 수영할 거예요.
(I will swim this weekend.)

In these examples, the speaker is talking about actions they already plan to do in the future.

The action has not happened yet, but the intention already exists.

Talking About Future Activities

“-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is also commonly used for future activities that have already been arranged or scheduled.

Examples

• 오후에 카페에 갈 거예요.
(I will go to a café this afternoon.)

• 토요일에 영화를 볼 거예요.
(I will watch a movie on Saturday.)

• 다음 주에 쇼핑할 거예요.
(I will go shopping next week.)

These examples describe future activities that the speaker already expects to do.

Because of this flexibility, “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” sounds natural in many everyday situations.

5. Predictions: Talking About What You Expect

“-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is also used when you talk about what you think will happen.

Predictions About Weather

Examples

• 오늘 밤에 비가 올 거예요.
(It will rain tonight.)

• 내일은 더울 거예요.
(It will be hot tomorrow.)

These sentences describe future expectations, not personal plans.

Predictions About Situations

Examples

• 사람이 많을 거예요.
(There will be many people.)

• 길이 막힐 거예요.
(The roads will be crowded.)

These sentences predict what a place or situation will be like.

Predictions About Other People

Examples

• 민수는 기뻐할 거예요.
(Minsu will be happy.)

• 선생님은 웃을 거예요.
(The teacher will smile.)

This pattern can also describe what you think another person will do or feel.

6. Why “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” Appears So Often in Korean Questions

Many everyday Korean questions naturally use “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” when asking about future plans.

Asking About Someone’s Plans

Examples

• 주말에 뭐 만들 거예요?
(What will you make this weekend?)

• 언제 출발할 거예요?
(When will you leave?)

• 어디에서 묵을 거예요?
(Where will you stay?)

These questions ask about actions that have not happened yet.

---

Why Native Speakers Use These Questions So Often

Questions with “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” make it easy to ask about future plans, schedules, and upcoming activities.

This is why you will hear “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” so often in everyday conversations.

---

Questions You Will Hear Every Day

Examples

• 이번 휴가에 어디를 여행할 거예요?
(Where will you travel during this vacation?)

• 몇 시에 도착할 거예요?
(What time will you arrive?)

• 새 핸드폰을 언제 바꿀 거예요?
(When will you change your phone?)

• 저녁 메뉴로 뭘 고를 거예요?
(What will you choose for dinner?)

These are the kinds of questions native speakers ask naturally in daily conversations.

7. Difference Between “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” and “겠어요” in Korean

These expressions can both refer to the future, but they often express different ideas.

In general, “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is commonly used for plans and predictions, while “겠어요” often expresses impressions and personal judgments.

How Native Speakers Choose Between “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” and “겠어요”

Expression	Typical Use
-(으)ㄹ 거예요	plans and predictions
겠어요	impressions and personal judgments

👉 Want a deeper explanation with real-life examples? See our complete guide to “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” vs “겠어요”.

8. Difference Between “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” and “-(으)ㄹ게요” in Korean

These expressions are both used to talk about the future, but they are used in different situations.

In general, “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is used for future plans and predictions, while “-(으)ㄹ게요” is often used for promises and immediate decisions.

How Native Speakers Choose Between “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” and “-(으)ㄹ게요”

Expression	Typical Use
-(으)ㄹ 거예요	future plans and predictions
-(으)ㄹ게요	promises and listener-focused decisions

👉 Want to learn when native speakers choose one expression over the other? See our complete guide to “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” vs “-(으)ㄹ게요”.

9. Common Misunderstandings About “-(으)ㄹ 거예요”

Several common misunderstandings can make “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” seem more complicated than it really is.

Misunderstanding 1: “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” Always Means “Will”

Because “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is often translated as “will,” it is easy to assume the two expressions always match perfectly.

English speakers might choose either “will” or “going to,” but Korean often uses “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” for both.

Misunderstanding 2: “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” Is Only Used for Future Plans

It is not only used for plans.

Korean speakers also use “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” when talking about what they think will happen in the future.

This is one of the biggest differences from how English future expressions are often used.

Misunderstanding 3: “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” and “-(으)ㄹ게요” Mean the Same Thing

Because both expressions are often translated into English future expressions, they can look similar at first.

However, “-(으)ㄹ게요” is often used when making a promise, offering to do something, or making a decision in response to the listener.

By contrast, “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is more commonly used for plans and predictions.

10. Korean Future Expression Practice Quiz: “-(으)ㄹ 거예요”

Choose the correct future form for each verb.

Table: Korean Future Expression Practice Quiz

#	Word	A	B
1	읽다 (to read)	읽을 거예요	읽거예요
2	쓰다 (to write)	쓸 거예요	쓸을 거예요
3	열다 (to open)	열을 거예요	열 거예요
4	닫다 (to close)	닫을 거예요	닫거예요
5	타다 (to ride)	탈 거예요	타을 거예요
6	달리다 (to run)	달릴 거예요	달리을 거예요
7	듣다 (to listen)	들을 거예요	듣을 거예요
8	찾다 (to find)	찾을 거예요	찾거예요
9	켜다 (to turn on)	켤 거예요	켜을 거예요
10	끄다 (to turn off)	끌 거예요	끄을 거예요

Answers and Explanations

1. 읽다 → 읽을 거예요 — It has a final consonant, so it takes -을 거예요.
2. 쓰다 → 쓸 거예요 — It has no final consonant, so it takes -ㄹ 거예요.
3. 열다 → 열 거예요 — It ends in ㄹ, so it takes -ㄹ 거예요.
4. 닫다 → 닫을 거예요 — It has a final consonant, so it takes -을 거예요.
5. 타다 → 탈 거예요 — It has no final consonant, so it takes -ㄹ 거예요.
6. 달리다 → 달릴 거예요 — It has no final consonant, so it takes -ㄹ 거예요.
7. 듣다 → 들을 거예요 — This is a ㄷ irregular verb, so 듣 changes to 들 before the future ending.
8. 찾다 → 찾을 거예요 — It has a final consonant, so it takes -을 거예요.
9. 켜다 → 켤 거예요 — It has no final consonant, so it takes -ㄹ 거예요.
10. 끄다 → 끌 거예요 — It has no final consonant, so it takes -ㄹ 거예요.
    
    

11. Frequently Asked Questions About “-(으)ㄹ 거예요”

Q1. Is “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” the Korean future tense?

“-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is one of the most common ways to express future meaning in Korean, even though Korean does not mark future tense exactly the same way as English.

Q2. Can I use “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” with adjectives?

Yes. Korean adjectives can also take “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” when speakers want to predict a future state, condition, or feeling.

Q3. Is “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” formal or casual?

“-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is polite and neutral, but not highly formal.

It is appropriate in most everyday situations and is one of the most common future expressions in spoken Korean.

Q4. Can “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” be used in questions?

Yes. Native speakers often use “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” in questions about future plans, schedules, or predictions.

Q5. What is the difference between “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” and “겠어요”?

In general, “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is commonly used for plans and predictions, while “겠어요” often expresses personal judgments, impressions, or guesses.

Both can refer to the future, but native speakers use them in different situations.

12. Using “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” More Naturally

“-(으)ㄹ 거예요” is one of the most useful Korean grammar patterns for talking about the future.

Native speakers use it naturally when discussing plans, predictions, and upcoming events. Once you become comfortable with “-(으)ㄹ 거예요,” you will start hearing and using it frequently in everyday Korean conversations.

13. Related Korean Grammar Guides

Continue Learning Korean Future Expressions

👉 Korean Grammar “겠어요”: Future Plans, Predictions, and How Native Koreans Really Use It

👉 Difference Between “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” and “겠어요”

👉 Difference Between “-(으)ㄹ 거예요” and “-(으)ㄹ게요”

👉 Korean Grammar “겠습니다”: Formal Intentions and Commitments

👉 Korean Grammar “-(으)려고 하다”: Talking About Intentions and Plans

Continue Learning Korean Informal Polite Speech

👉 Korean Informal Polite Speech Explained: Present, Past, Future, and Questions