🔮

Future Tense: (으)ㄹ 거예요

Keywords
(으)ㄹ 거예요
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Grammar
🔮
TL;DR 🦄
  • (으)ㄹ 거예요\color{purple}{\text{(으)ㄹ 거예요}} [eu-l geo-ye-yo] is the everyday polite future pattern.
  • Use 을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{을 거예요}} after a final consonant: 먹을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{먹을 거예요}} [meo-geul geo-ye-yo].
  • Use ㄹ 거예요\color{purple}{\text{ㄹ 거예요}} after a vowel: 갈 거예요\color{purple}{\text{갈 거예요}} [gal geo-ye-yo].
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Open the
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets page and compare 가요\color{purple}{\text{가요}} [ga-yo] with 갈 거예요\color{purple}{\text{갈 거예요}} [gal geo-ye-yo].
 

🌈 The Big Picture

Use (으)ㄹ 거예요\color{purple}{\text{(으)ㄹ 거예요}} when you want to say what someone will do, what is going to happen, or what you expect.
  1. Remove 다\color{purple}{\text{다}} from the dictionary form.
  1. Check whether the stem ends in a final consonant or a vowel.
  1. Add 을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{을 거예요}} after a final consonant, or ㄹ 거예요\color{purple}{\text{ㄹ 거예요}} after a vowel.

🧩 Core Pattern

  • 먹다\color{purple}{\text{먹다}} [meok-da] → 먹을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{먹을 거예요}} [meo-geul geo-ye-yo]
  • 읽다\color{purple}{\text{읽다}} [ik-da] → 읽을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{읽을 거예요}} [il-geul geo-ye-yo]
  • 가다\color{purple}{\text{가다}} [ga-da] → 갈 거예요\color{purple}{\text{갈 거예요}} [gal geo-ye-yo]
  • 공부하다\color{purple}{\text{공부하다}} [gong-bu-ha-da] → 공부할 거예요\color{purple}{\text{공부할 거예요}} [gong-bu-hal geo-ye-yo]

🛠️ How It Works

저는 학교에 갈 거예요.\color{purple}{\text{저는 학교에 갈 거예요.}} [jeo-neun hak-gyo-e gal geo-ye-yo] — I will go to school.
저는 밥을 먹을 거예요.\color{purple}{\text{저는 밥을 먹을 거예요.}} [jeo-neun ba-beul meo-geul geo-ye-yo] — I will eat a meal.
저는 한국어를 공부할 거예요.\color{purple}{\text{저는 한국어를 공부할 거예요.}} [jeo-neun han-gu-geo-reul gong-bu-hal geo-ye-yo] — I will study Korean.

🚨 Exception Rule

For stems ending in ㄹ\color{purple}{\text{ㄹ}}, do not add another ㄹ\color{purple}{\text{ㄹ}}.
살다\color{purple}{\text{살다}} [sal-da] → 살 거예요\color{purple}{\text{살 거예요}} [sal geo-ye-yo], not 살을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{살을 거예요}}.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 가을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{가을 거예요}} → ✅ 갈 거예요\color{purple}{\text{갈 거예요}}
  • ❌ 먹ㄹ 거예요\color{purple}{\text{먹ㄹ 거예요}} → ✅ 먹을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{먹을 거예요}}
  • ❌ 살을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{살을 거예요}} → ✅ 살 거예요\color{purple}{\text{살 거예요}}
 

Try this exercise

Instructions
Change each dictionary form into future tense with (으)ㄹ 거예요\color{purple}{\text{(으)ㄹ 거예요}}. Blanks use full-width marks outside the purple Korean equation so they do not create invalid equations.
1. 가다 →\color{purple}{\text{가다 →}} ＿＿＿＿
[ga-da → ＿＿＿＿] — will go
Answer
갈 거예요
2. 먹다 →\color{purple}{\text{먹다 →}} ＿＿＿＿
[meok-da → ＿＿＿＿] — will eat
Answer
먹을 거예요
3. 읽다 →\color{purple}{\text{읽다 →}} ＿＿＿＿
[ik-da → ＿＿＿＿] — will read
Answer
읽을 거예요
4. 보다 →\color{purple}{\text{보다 →}} ＿＿＿＿
[bo-da → ＿＿＿＿] — will see
Answer
볼 거예요
5. 공부하다 →\color{purple}{\text{공부하다 →}} ＿＿＿＿
[gong-bu-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿] — will study
Answer
공부할 거예요
6. 마시다 →\color{purple}{\text{마시다 →}} ＿＿＿＿
[ma-si-da → ＿＿＿＿] — will drink
Answer
마실 거예요
7. 살다 →\color{purple}{\text{살다 →}} ＿＿＿＿
[sal-da → ＿＿＿＿] — will live
Answer
살 거예요
8. 듣다 →\color{purple}{\text{듣다 →}} ＿＿＿＿
[deut-da → ＿＿＿＿] — will listen
Answer
들을 거예요
9. 사다 →\color{purple}{\text{사다 →}} ＿＿＿＿
[sa-da → ＿＿＿＿] — will buy
Answer
살 거예요
10. 쉬다 →\color{purple}{\text{쉬다 →}} ＿＿＿＿
[swi-da → ＿＿＿＿] — will rest
Answer
쉴 거예요
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • Final consonant stem → 을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{을 거예요}}
  • Vowel stem → ㄹ 거예요\color{purple}{\text{ㄹ 거예요}}
  • ㄹ stem → keep ㄹ + 거예요\color{purple}{\text{거예요}}
  • verbs → 가다, 먹다, 읽다, 보다, 공부하다, 마시다, 살다, 듣다, 사다, 쉬다
🎯
Want more reps? Visit the
Practice Hub
Practice Hub when you're ready! 🚀
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Future Tense: (으)ㄹ 거예요
 
Welcome to future-tense practice! 🔮 This hub gives you enough reps to make (으)ㄹ 거예요\color{purple}{\text{(으)ㄹ 거예요}} feel automatic. Keep the blank outside the purple Korean equation, choose the correct form, then open the Answer toggle. 🧠✨
 
📝 Instructions
Convert each prompt into future tense. Final consonant stems take 을 거예요, vowel stems take ㄹ 거예요, and ㄹ stems keep the ㄹ + 거예요.
 

Exercise 1 — Final consonant stems 🪑

A. 먹다 →\color{purple}{\text{먹다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [meok-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
먹을 거예요 — 먹- ends in final consonant ㄱ, so use 을 거예요.
B. 읽다 →\color{purple}{\text{읽다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [ik-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
읽을 거예요 — final consonant stem + 을 거예요.
C. 듣다 →\color{purple}{\text{듣다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [deut-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
들을 거예요 — irregular spelling changes, but the future ending is still 을 거예요.
D. 입다 →\color{purple}{\text{입다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [ip-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
입을 거예요 — final consonant ㅂ takes 을 거예요.
E. 찾다 →\color{purple}{\text{찾다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [chat-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
찾을 거예요 — final consonant stem.
F. 받다 →\color{purple}{\text{받다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [bat-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
받을 거예요 — final consonant stem.
G. 씻다 →\color{purple}{\text{씻다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [ssit-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
씻을 거예요 — final consonant stem.
H. 앉다 →\color{purple}{\text{앉다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [an-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
앉을 거예요 — final consonant stem.
I. 찍다 →\color{purple}{\text{찍다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [jjik-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
찍을 거예요 — final consonant stem.
J. 닫다 →\color{purple}{\text{닫다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [dat-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
닫을 거예요 — final consonant stem.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 먹다\color{purple}{\text{먹다}} → to eat
  • 읽다\color{purple}{\text{읽다}} → to read
  • 듣다\color{purple}{\text{듣다}} → to listen
  • 입다\color{purple}{\text{입다}} → to wear
  • 찾다\color{purple}{\text{찾다}} → to find
  • 받다\color{purple}{\text{받다}} → to receive
  • 씻다\color{purple}{\text{씻다}} → to wash
  • 앉다\color{purple}{\text{앉다}} → to sit
  • 찍다\color{purple}{\text{찍다}} → to take a photo / stamp
  • 닫다\color{purple}{\text{닫다}} → to close
Tip 💡 Final consonant stem → 을 거예요.

Exercise 2 — Vowel stems 🍎

A. 가다 →\color{purple}{\text{가다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [ga-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
갈 거예요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 거예요.
B. 보다 →\color{purple}{\text{보다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [bo-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
볼 거예요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 거예요.
C. 마시다 →\color{purple}{\text{마시다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [ma-si-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
마실 거예요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 거예요.
D. 사다 →\color{purple}{\text{사다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [sa-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
살 거예요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 거예요.
E. 쉬다 →\color{purple}{\text{쉬다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [swi-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
쉴 거예요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 거예요.
F. 오다 →\color{purple}{\text{오다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [o-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
올 거예요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 거예요.
G. 주다 →\color{purple}{\text{주다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [ju-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
줄 거예요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 거예요.
H. 배우다 →\color{purple}{\text{배우다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [bae-u-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
배울 거예요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 거예요.
I. 기다리다 →\color{purple}{\text{기다리다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [gi-da-ri-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
기다릴 거예요 — vowel stem + ㄹ 거예요.
J. 운동하다 →\color{purple}{\text{운동하다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [un-dong-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
운동할 거예요 — 하다 ends in a vowel stem, so use ㄹ 거예요.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 가다\color{purple}{\text{가다}} → to go
  • 보다\color{purple}{\text{보다}} → to see/watch
  • 마시다\color{purple}{\text{마시다}} → to drink
  • 사다\color{purple}{\text{사다}} → to buy
  • 쉬다\color{purple}{\text{쉬다}} → to rest
  • 오다\color{purple}{\text{오다}} → to come
  • 주다\color{purple}{\text{주다}} → to give
  • 배우다\color{purple}{\text{배우다}} → to learn
  • 기다리다\color{purple}{\text{기다리다}} → to wait
  • 운동하다\color{purple}{\text{운동하다}} → to exercise
Tip 💡 Vowel stem → attach ㄹ 거예요.

Exercise 3 — ㄹ stems 🌀

A. 살다 →\color{purple}{\text{살다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [sal-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
살 거예요 — ㄹ stem keeps ㄹ and adds 거예요.
B. 놀다 →\color{purple}{\text{놀다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [nol-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
놀 거예요 — no extra ㄹ.
C. 만들다 →\color{purple}{\text{만들다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
만들 거예요 — no extra ㄹ.
D. 열다 →\color{purple}{\text{열다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [yeol-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
열 거예요 — ㄹ stem.
E. 팔다 →\color{purple}{\text{팔다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [pal-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
팔 거예요 — ㄹ stem.
F. 울다 →\color{purple}{\text{울다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [ul-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
울 거예요 — ㄹ stem.
G. 밀다 →\color{purple}{\text{밀다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [mil-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
밀 거예요 — ㄹ stem.
H. 걸다 →\color{purple}{\text{걸다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [geol-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
걸 거예요 — ㄹ stem.
I. 알다 →\color{purple}{\text{알다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [al-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
알 거예요 — ㄹ stem.
J. 길다 →\color{purple}{\text{길다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [gil-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
길 거예요 — adjective stems can also use this future/guess pattern.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 살다\color{purple}{\text{살다}} → to live
  • 놀다\color{purple}{\text{놀다}} → to play
  • 만들다\color{purple}{\text{만들다}} → to make
  • 열다\color{purple}{\text{열다}} → to open
  • 팔다\color{purple}{\text{팔다}} → to sell
  • 울다\color{purple}{\text{울다}} → to cry
  • 밀다\color{purple}{\text{밀다}} → to push
  • 걸다\color{purple}{\text{걸다}} → to hang / call
  • 알다\color{purple}{\text{알다}} → to know
  • 길다\color{purple}{\text{길다}} → to be long
Tip 💡 ㄹ stem → keep ㄹ + 거예요.

Exercise 4 — Full sentence builder 🧱

A. 저는 학교에\color{purple}{\text{저는 학교에}} ＿＿＿＿ [jeo-neun hak-gyo-e ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
갈 거예요 — I will go to school.
B. 저는 밥을\color{purple}{\text{저는 밥을}} ＿＿＿＿ [jeo-neun ba-beul ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
먹을 거예요 — I will eat a meal.
C. 저는 한국어를\color{purple}{\text{저는 한국어를}} ＿＿＿＿ [jeo-neun han-gu-geo-reul ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
공부할 거예요 — I will study Korean.
D. 저는 커피를\color{purple}{\text{저는 커피를}} ＿＿＿＿ [jeo-neun keo-pi-reul ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
마실 거예요 — I will drink coffee.
E. 저는 책을\color{purple}{\text{저는 책을}} ＿＿＿＿ [jeo-neun chae-geul ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
읽을 거예요 — I will read a book.
F. 저는 집에서\color{purple}{\text{저는 집에서}} ＿＿＿＿ [jeo-neun ji-be-seo ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
쉴 거예요 — I will rest at home.
G. 친구를\color{purple}{\text{친구를}} ＿＿＿＿ [chin-gu-reul ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
만날 거예요 — I will meet a friend.
H. 사진을\color{purple}{\text{사진을}} ＿＿＿＿ [sa-ji-neul ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
찍을 거예요 — I will take a photo.
I. 문을\color{purple}{\text{문을}} ＿＿＿＿ [mu-neul ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
닫을 거예요 — I will close the door.
J. 음악을\color{purple}{\text{음악을}} ＿＿＿＿ [eu-ma-geul ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
들을 거예요 — I will listen to music.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 저는\color{purple}{\text{저는}} → I
  • 학교에\color{purple}{\text{학교에}} → to school
  • 밥을\color{purple}{\text{밥을}} → a meal
  • 한국어를\color{purple}{\text{한국어를}} → Korean language
  • 커피를\color{purple}{\text{커피를}} → coffee
  • 책을\color{purple}{\text{책을}} → a book
  • 친구를\color{purple}{\text{친구를}} → a friend
  • 사진을\color{purple}{\text{사진을}} → a photo
  • 문을\color{purple}{\text{문을}} → a door
  • 음악을\color{purple}{\text{음악을}} → music
Tip 💡 Build the sentence first, then attach the future form to the verb.

Exercise 5 — Mixed mastery + pitfall patrol 🛡️

A. Final consonant stem ending → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
을 거예요
B. Vowel stem ending → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
ㄹ 거예요
C. ㄹ stem ending → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
거예요 — keep the existing ㄹ, then add 거예요.
D. 하다 →\color{purple}{\text{하다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [ha-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
할 거예요
E. ❌ 가을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{가을 거예요}} → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
갈 거예요 — 가다\color{purple}{\text{가다}} has a vowel stem, so use ㄹ 거예요.
F. ❌ 먹ㄹ 거예요\color{purple}{\text{먹ㄹ 거예요}} → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹을 거예요 — 먹다\color{purple}{\text{먹다}} has a final consonant stem.
G. ❌ 살을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{살을 거예요}} → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
살 거예요 — ㄹ stem keeps ㄹ and does not add 을.
H. 공부하다 →\color{purple}{\text{공부하다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [gong-bu-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
공부할 거예요
I. 읽다 →\color{purple}{\text{읽다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [ik-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
읽을 거예요
J. 쉬다 →\color{purple}{\text{쉬다 →}} ＿＿＿＿ [swi-da → ＿＿＿＿]
Answer
쉴 거예요
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 을 거예요\color{purple}{\text{을 거예요}} → after final consonant stems
  • ㄹ 거예요\color{purple}{\text{ㄹ 거예요}} → after vowel stems
  • 거예요\color{purple}{\text{거예요}} → after ㄹ stems
  • 하다\color{purple}{\text{하다}} → to do
  • 공부하다\color{purple}{\text{공부하다}} → to study
  • 읽다\color{purple}{\text{읽다}} → to read
  • 쉬다\color{purple}{\text{쉬다}} → to rest
Tip 💡 Ask: final consonant, vowel, or ㄹ stem? That decides the ending.
 
🎉 Great work — you can now talk about future plans with (으)ㄹ 거예요\color{purple}{\text{(으)ㄹ 거예요}}. Future-you is sounding fluent. 🔮✨