The Future: -(으)ㄹ 거예요

One ending for plans and guesses

Korean has several ways to talk about the future, but the most common one in everyday speech is -(으)ㄹ 거예요. You add it to the stem of a verb or adjective. The stem is the dictionary form without -다: 가다 → 가, 먹다 → 먹.

This ending has two main jobs. First, it tells people your plan: "I will go to Busan this weekend." Second, it makes a guess about the future, especially about other people or the weather: "It will probably rain tomorrow." The context usually makes the meaning clear.

The word 거예요 comes from 것 (thing) + 이에요, but you do not need to think about that. Just remember the sound: [거예요]. In fast speech many Koreans pronounce it closer to [거에요], and that is normal.

Irregular stems: ㄷ, ㅂ and ㄹ

Most stems follow the rule above, but three groups change shape. You have probably met them already in the present tense, and they behave in the same way here.

ㄷ irregular: some verbs whose stem ends in ㄷ change ㄷ to ㄹ before a vowel. 듣다 (to listen) → 들 + 을 거예요 → 들을 거예요. 걷다 (to walk) → 걸을 거예요. Be careful: not every ㄷ verb is irregular. 받다 (to receive) is regular → 받을 거예요. 닫다 (to close) is also regular → 닫을 거예요.

ㅂ irregular: many adjectives whose stem ends in ㅂ change ㅂ to 우 before a vowel. 춥다 (cold) → 추우 + ㄹ 거예요 → 추울 거예요. 덥다 (hot) → 더울 거예요. 쉽다 (easy) → 쉬울 거예요. But 입다 (to wear) is regular → 입을 거예요.

ㄹ stems: when the stem already ends in ㄹ, the ㄹ of the ending simply joins it. 살다 → 살 거예요, 놀다 → 놀 거예요, 알다 → 알 거예요. Never write 살을 거예요.

Asking about plans

To ask a question, keep the same form and raise your voice at the end: 뭐 할 거예요? (What will you do?). Useful time words go at the start of the sentence: 내일 (tomorrow), 모레 (the day after tomorrow), 이번 주말 (this weekend), 다음 주 (next week), 다음 달 (next month), 내년 (next year).

When you ask about someone older or a customer, Koreans often add the honorific -(으)시-: 뭐 하실 거예요? You will learn this fully in the honorifics lesson. For now, it is good to recognize it.