🧭

Hypothetical Result: -았/었을 거예요

Keywords
과거 추측
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Intermediate Grammar
🧭
TL;DR 🦄
  • -았/었을 거예요 means would have… in a hypothetical past result.
  • It often answers an “if the past had been different” clause: 알았더라면 준비했을 거예요. — If I had known, I would have prepared.
  • It can also mean probably did / must have done when there is no “if” clause: 아마 집에 갔을 거예요. — They probably went home.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to compare 갈 거예요, 갔을 거예요, and 갔더라면 갔을 거예요. Listen for how -았/었을 거예요 sounds like a result or guess about a past timeline.
 

🌈 The Big Picture

-았/었을 거예요 is a past-looking “result/guess” ending. It says what would have happened in a different past, or what the speaker thinks probably happened.
 
Core idea:
  • -았/었 = past marker
  • -(으)ㄹ 거예요 = will / would / probably
  • -았/었을 거예요 = would have / probably did
 
Most common lesson pattern:
  • 시간이 있었더라면 갔을 거예요.
      • [si-ga-ni i-sseo-tteo-ra-myeon ga-sseul geo-ye-yo]
      If I had had time, I would have gone. ⏰
  • 미리 예약했더라면 자리가 있었을 거예요.
      • [mi-ri ye-ya-kae-tteo-ra-myeon ja-ri-ga i-sseo-sseul geo-ye-yo]
      If I had reserved in advance, there would have been a seat. 🎟️
  • 더 열심히 공부했다면 합격했을 거예요.
      • [deo yeol-ssi-mi gong-bu-hae-tta-myeon hap-gyeo-kae-sseul geo-ye-yo]
      If I had studied harder, I would have passed. 📚
 
Without an “if” clause, it can be a past guess:
  • 민수 씨는 벌써 도착했을 거예요.
      • [min-su ssi-neun beol-sseo do-cha-kae-sseul geo-ye-yo]
      Minsu probably already arrived.

🎨 The Core Hypothetical Result Family

1. Action result: “would have done”

Use this when the imagined result is an action.
  • 갔을 거예요 — would have gone
  • 먹었을 거예요 — would have eaten
  • 공부했을 거예요 — would have studied
  • 도와줬을 거예요 — would have helped
 

2. State result: “would have been”

Use it with descriptive verbs/adjectives too.
  • 좋았을 거예요 — would have been good
  • 쉬웠을 거예요 — would have been easy
  • 빨랐을 거예요 — would have been fast
  • 가능했을 거예요 — would have been possible
 

3. Existence result: “there would have been / would have had”

  • 시간이 있었을 거예요 — there would have been time / someone would have had time
  • 문제가 없었을 거예요 — there would not have been a problem
  • 기회가 있었을 거예요 — there would have been a chance
 

4. Past guess: “probably did / probably was”

Context decides whether this is hypothetical result or past conjecture.
  • 이미 먹었을 거예요. — They probably already ate.
  • 집에 갔을 거예요. — They probably went home.
  • 많이 피곤했을 거예요. — They were probably very tired.

🛠️ How It Works in Sentences

Pattern 1: -았/었다면 + -았/었을 거예요

Clear past hypothetical condition + result.
  • 그때 알았다면 다르게 행동했을 거예요.
      • [geu-ttae a-ra-tta-myeon da-reu-ge haeng-dong-hae-sseul geo-ye-yo]
      If I had known then, I would have acted differently.
 

Pattern 2: -았/었더라면 + -았/었을 거예요

More reflective, regretful, or “looking back.”
  • 그때 알았더라면 다르게 행동했을 거예요.
      • [geu-ttae a-ra-tteo-ra-myeon da-reu-ge haeng-dong-hae-sseul geo-ye-yo]
      If only I had known then, I would have acted differently.
 

Pattern 3: No “if” clause = past guess

  • 지금쯤 회의가 끝났을 거예요.
      • [ji-geum-jjeum hoe-ui-ga kkeut-na-sseul geo-ye-yo]
      The meeting has probably ended by now.

🧩 Formation Rules

A. Make the past form, then add 을 거예요

  • 가다 → 갔다 → 갔을 거예요
  • 오다 → 왔다 → 왔을 거예요
  • 먹다 → 먹었다 → 먹었을 거예요
  • 공부하다 → 공부했다 → 공부했을 거예요
 

B. 하다 verbs

하다 becomes 했을 거예요.
  • 준비하다 → 준비했을 거예요
  • 확인하다 → 확인했을 거예요
  • 연락하다 → 연락했을 거예요
  • 예약하다 → 예약했을 거예요
 

C. Common contractions

  • 보내다 → 보냈을 거예요
  • 사다 → 샀을 거예요
  • 자다 → 잤을 거예요
  • 보다 → 봤을 거예요
 

D. Irregulars to watch

Use the normal past-form rules first.
  • 듣다 → 들었을 거예요 — would have listened / probably listened
  • 걷다 → 걸었을 거예요 — would have walked / probably walked
  • 쓰다 → 썼을 거예요 — would have written / probably wrote
  • 돕다 → 도왔을 거예요 — would have helped / probably helped
  • 고르다 → 골랐을 거예요 — would have chosen / probably chose

🔍 Meaning Contrast

-(으)ㄹ 거예요

Future or prediction.
  • 갈 거예요. — I will go. / They will probably go.
 

-았/었을 거예요

Hypothetical past result or guess about the past.
  • 갔을 거예요. — I would have gone. / They probably went.
 

-았/었더라면

Past condition, not the result by itself.
  • 시간이 있었더라면... — If I had had time...
 

-았/었을 텐데요

Would have, with stronger “but / too bad / regret” feeling.
  • 갔을 거예요. — I would have gone.
  • 갔을 텐데요. — I would have gone, though / it’s too bad.
 

-았/었어야 했어요

Should have done.
  • 갔을 거예요. — would have gone / probably went.
  • 갔어야 했어요. — should have gone.

📚 Cross-check note

This lesson connects with
🕰️
Speculating on the Past: -았/었더라면,
🤔
Hypothetical Condition: -(으)ㄴ/는다면,
😬
Regret: Should have done: -았/었어야 했는데, and
🔮
Future Tense: (으)ㄹ 거예요.

🪞 Synonym & Usage Alert

  • -았/었을 거예요 — would have / probably did; neutral result or conjecture.
  • -았/었을 텐데요 — would have, but…; more regretful, wistful, or contrastive.
  • -았/었을지도 몰라요 — might have; less certain.
  • -았/었을 것 같아요 — I think probably did/was; softer and conversational.
  • -았/었어야 했어요 — should have; obligation/regret, not just result.
 
Tone note: -았/었을 거예요 is often cleaner and more neutral than -았/었을 텐데요. Use -았/었을 텐데요 when you want the “if only / too bad” emotion.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 갈 거예요 for “would have gone” → ✅ 갔을 거예요.
  • ❌ 먹을 거예요 for “would have eaten” → ✅ 먹었을 거예요.
  • ❌ 오었을 거예요 → ✅ 왔을 거예요.
  • ❌ 쓰었을 거예요 → ✅ 썼을 거예요.
  • ❌ Thinking it always means “would have” → ✅ without an “if” clause, it often means “probably did.”
  • ❌ Confusing result with regret → ✅ 갔을 거예요 = would have gone/probably went; 갔어야 했어요 = should have gone.
You now have the hypothetical-result ending: 갔을 거예요, 먹었을 거예요, 좋았을 거예요, and 있었을 거예요. Use it to complete alternate past timelines or make careful guesses about what probably happened. 🧭✨
 

Try this exercise

Instructions: Fill each blank with the correct -았/었을 거예요 form. Then say the full sentence aloud.
1. 시간이 있었다면 저도 ＿＿＿＿.
If I had had time, I would have gone too.
Answer
갔을 거예요 — 가다 → 갔을 거예요.
2. 아침을 먹었다면 배고프지 ＿＿＿＿.
If I had eaten breakfast, I would not have been hungry.
Answer
않았을 거예요 — 않다 → 않았을 거예요.
3. 더 공부했다면 시험에 ＿＿＿＿.
If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam.
Answer
합격했을 거예요 — 합격하다 → 합격했을 거예요.
4. 미리 예약했다면 자리가 ＿＿＿＿.
If I had reserved in advance, there would have been a seat.
Answer
있었을 거예요 — 있다 → 있었을 거예요.
5. 날씨가 좋았다면 산책을 ＿＿＿＿.
If the weather had been good, I would have taken a walk.
Answer
했을 거예요 — 산책을 하다 → 산책을 했을 거예요.
6. 설명을 잘 들었다면 실수하지 ＿＿＿＿.
If I had listened carefully to the explanation, I would not have made a mistake.
Answer
않았을 거예요.
7. 돈이 더 있었다면 그걸 ＿＿＿＿.
If I had had more money, I would have bought it.
Answer
샀을 거예요 — 사다 → 샀을 거예요.
8. 친구가 도와줬다면 더 빨리 ＿＿＿＿.
If my friend had helped, I would have finished faster.
Answer
끝냈을 거예요 — 끝내다 → 끝냈을 거예요.
9. 지금쯤 회의가 ＿＿＿＿.
The meeting has probably ended by now.
Answer
끝났을 거예요 — past guess: probably ended.
10. 민수 씨는 벌써 집에 ＿＿＿＿.
Minsu probably already went home.
Answer
갔을 거예요 — past guess: probably went.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 시간 → time
  • 아침 → breakfast / morning
  • 합격하다 → to pass
  • 예약하다 → to reserve
  • 자리 → seat/place
  • 산책하다 → to take a walk
  • 실수하다 → to make a mistake
  • 끝내다 → to finish
  • 지금쯤 → by now
  • 벌써 → already
Tip 💡 If there is an “if the past had been different” clause, translate it as “would have.”
🚀
Want more reps? The Practice Hub below trains hypothetical results and past guesses.
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Hypothetical Result: -았/었을 거예요
 
Welcome to the “would have / probably did” gym. 🧭 You’ll practice forming -았/었을 거예요, completing alternate past timelines, separating it from regret grammar, and recognizing past guesses.
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear the completed sentence aloud.
 
📝 Instructions: Fill each blank, say the full sentence aloud, then open the Answer toggle. Ask: “Is this a hypothetical past result or a guess about the past?”
 

Exercise 1 — Form Builder: Would Have / Probably Did 🔧

A. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
갔을 거예요
B. 오다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
왔을 거예요
C. 먹다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹었을 거예요
D. 공부하다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
공부했을 거예요
E. 확인하다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
확인했을 거예요
F. 보내다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
보냈을 거예요
G. 쓰다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
썼을 거예요
H. 듣다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
들었을 거예요
I. 돕다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
도왔을 거예요
J. 좋다 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
좋았을 거예요
📚
Form Reminder
  • 가다 → 갔다 → 갔을 거예요
  • 먹다 → 먹었다 → 먹었을 거예요
  • 하다 → 했다 → 했을 거예요
  • 듣다 → 들었다 → 들었을 거예요
Tip 💡 Past form first, then 을 거예요.
 

Exercise 2 — Complete the Hypothetical Result 😬

A. 시간이 있었다면 저도 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
갔을 거예요 — I would have gone too.
B. 일찍 출발했다면 늦지 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
않았을 거예요 — would not have been late.
C. 더 열심히 공부했다면 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
합격했을 거예요 — would have passed.
D. 미리 예약했다면 자리가 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
있었을 거예요 — there would have been a seat.
E. 우산을 가져왔다면 비를 맞지 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
않았을 거예요 — would not have gotten rained on.
F. 설명을 잘 들었다면 이해＿＿＿＿.
Answer
했을 거예요 — would have understood.
G. 조금 더 빨랐다면 기차를 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
탔을 거예요 — would have caught/taken the train.
H. 친구가 도와줬다면 더 쉽게 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
끝냈을 거예요 — would have finished more easily.
I. 문제가 없었다면 오늘 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
끝냈을 거예요 — would have finished today.
J. 날씨가 좋았다면 밖에 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
나갔을 거예요 — would have gone outside.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 늦다 → to be late
  • 합격하다 → to pass
  • 비를 맞다 → to get rained on
  • 이해하다 → to understand
  • 기차를 타다 → to take/catch a train
  • 쉽게 → easily
  • 밖에 나가다 → to go outside
Tip 💡 The first clause sets the alternate past; this ending completes the result.
 

Exercise 3 — Past Guess or Hypothetical Result? 🔍

A. 아마 집에 갔을 거예요.
Hypothetical result or past guess?
Answer
Past guess — probably went home.
B. 시간이 있었다면 집에 갔을 거예요.
Hypothetical result or past guess?
Answer
Hypothetical result — would have gone home.
C. 벌써 먹었을 거예요.
Answer
Past guess — probably already ate.
D. 아침을 먹었다면 배고프지 않았을 거예요.
Answer
Hypothetical result — would not have been hungry.
E. 지금쯤 끝났을 거예요.
Answer
Past guess — probably ended by now.
F. 더 연습했더라면 성공했을 거예요.
Answer
Hypothetical result — would have succeeded.
G. 많이 피곤했을 거예요.
Answer
Past guess — was probably very tired.
H. 날씨가 좋았다면 사람들이 많이 왔을 거예요.
Answer
Hypothetical result — many people would have come.
I. 이미 확인했을 거예요.
Answer
Past guess — probably already checked.
J. 확인했더라면 문제가 없었을 거예요.
Answer
Hypothetical result — there would not have been a problem.
🔍
Context Clue
  • With -았다면 / -었더라면 → usually “would have.”
  • With 아마, 이미, 벌써, 지금쯤 and no if-clause → usually “probably did/was.”
 

Exercise 4 — Choose the Right Ending ⚖️

A. “I will go tomorrow.”
① 갈 거예요 / ② 갔을 거예요
Answer
① — future.
B. “If I had had time, I would have gone.”
① 갔을 거예요 / ② 가야 했어요
Answer
① — hypothetical result.
C. “I should have gone.”
① 갔을 거예요 / ② 갔어야 했어요
Answer
② — should have.
D. “They probably went home.”
① 집에 갔을 거예요 / ② 집에 가야 했어요
Answer
① — past guess.
E. “If I had known, I would not have gone.”
① 알았더라면 가지 않았을 거예요 / ② 알면 가지 않을 거예요
Answer
① — alternate past timeline.
F. “If I have time, I will help.”
① 시간이 있으면 도와줄 거예요 / ② 시간이 있었다면 도와줬을 거예요
Answer
① — present/future condition.
G. “If I had had time, I would have helped.”
① 시간이 있으면 도와줄 거예요 / ② 시간이 있었다면 도와줬을 거예요
Answer
② — past hypothetical result.
H. “It would have been better.”
① 더 좋았을 거예요 / ② 더 좋아야 해요
Answer
① — would have been better.
I. “It probably was hard.”
① 힘들었을 거예요 / ② 힘들 거예요
Answer
① — past guess.
J. “It will probably be hard.”
① 힘들었을 거예요 / ② 힘들 거예요
Answer
② — future/current prediction.
⚖️
Meaning Map
  • 갈 거예요 → will go / probably goes
  • 갔을 거예요 → would have gone / probably went
  • 갔어야 했어요 → should have gone
  • 갔을 텐데요 → would have gone, but…
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. ❌ 가었을 거예요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
갔을 거예요
B. ❌ 오었을 거예요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
왔을 거예요
C. ❌ 쓰었을 거예요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
썼을 거예요
D. ❌ 시간이 있었다면 갈 거예요 (intended: would have gone)
✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
시간이 있었다면 갔을 거예요.
E. ❌ 아마 집에 갈 거예요 (intended: probably went home already)
✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
아마 집에 갔을 거예요.
F. Translate: “If I had known, I would have prepared.”
Answer
알았더라면 준비했을 거예요.
G. Translate: “If I had gone early, I would have met them.”
Answer
일찍 갔더라면 만났을 거예요.
H. Translate: “They probably already ate.”
Answer
아마 이미 먹었을 거예요.
I. Translate: “If there had been no problem, we would have finished.”
Answer
문제가 없었다면 끝냈을 거예요.
J. Translate: “It probably would have been easier.”
Answer
아마 더 쉬웠을 거예요.
🛡️
Vocabulary Box
  • 준비하다 → to prepare
  • 만나다 → to meet
  • 이미 → already
  • 문제가 없다 → there is no problem
  • 쉽다 → to be easy
  • 아마 → probably
Final Boss Rule 💡 Past result or past guess = past form + 을 거예요.
 
🎉 Practice complete. You can now use -았/었을 거예요 for both alternate past results and past guesses: 갔을 거예요, 먹었을 거예요, 좋았을 거예요, 도왔을 거예요. Timeline reasoning unlocked. 🧭✨