-(으)려고
intending to, in order to
States the intention behind an action. Broader than -(으)러 because any verb may follow — but it comes with its own restriction: no commands.
Build it
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When to use it
-(으)려고 names the goal that motivates whatever comes next: 집을 사려고 돈을 모아요 (I’m saving money in order to buy a house). The two clauses must share a subject, and that subject is normally the speaker — you can report your own intentions but not confidently assign them to others.
Attached to 하다 it forms -(으)려고 하다, which means “plan to” or “be about to”: 이제 자려고 해요. With weather and other uncontrolled events it drops the intention and just means “about to”: 비가 오려고 해요.
The restriction to remember is that no command or suggestion may follow. “Go and buy it” cannot use this ending; that is -(으)러 territory, or -(으)려면. Tense also never appears before it.
How to attach it
| Stem type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ends in a vowel | -려고 | 사다 → 사려고 |
| Ends in a consonant | -으려고 | 먹다 → 먹으려고 |
| Ends in ㄹ | -려고 | 만들다 → 만들려고 |
| Plan to, be about to | -(으)려고 하다 | 자려고 해요 |
| No command after | use -(으)러 or -(으)려면 | 사러 가세요 |
| No tense before | plain stem only | 샀으려고 does not exist |
In use
한국에 가려고 돈을 모아요.
I’m saving money to go to Korea.
시험을 보려고 열심히 공부했어요.
I studied hard to take the exam.
내일 일찍 일어나려고 해요.
I’m planning to get up early tomorrow.
선물하려고 샀어요.
I bought it to give as a present.
살을 빼려고 운동을 시작했어요.
I started exercising to lose weight.
그 말을 하려고 했는데 못 했어요.
I meant to say it, but I couldn’t.
Compared with
-(으)러
-(으)러 must be followed by a movement verb; -(으)려고 accepts anything. If someone is going somewhere for a purpose, -(으)러 is the natural pick.
빵을 사러 갔어요. (went to buy bread) / 빵을 사려고 일찍 일어났어요. (got up early to buy bread)
-(으)ㄹ 거예요
-(으)려고 하다 describes a plan taking shape or an action on the point of happening; -(으)ㄹ 거예요 states a decision already made.
가려고 해요. (I’m thinking of going) / 갈 거예요. (I’m going)
-(으)려면
Add 면 and the intention becomes a condition: “if you intend to.” This is the form that can lead into advice or a command.
사려고 돈을 모아요. (saving to buy) / 사려면 돈을 모으세요. (if you want to buy, save up)
Watch out
빵을 사려고 가세요.
빵을 사러 가세요.
No command may follow -(으)려고. With a movement verb, -(으)러 is the fix; otherwise use -(으)려면.
저녁을 만들으려고 일찍 왔어요.
저녁을 만들려고 일찍 왔어요.
A stem ending in ㄹ takes the short form, exactly as with -(으)러.
동생이 유학 가려고 해요. — asserting someone else’s plan
동생이 유학 가려고 하는 것 같아요.
Intentions belong to the person who holds them. Stating another person’s plan flatly sounds presumptuous; soften it or report the source.
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