-(으)ㄹ 거예요
will, be going to, probably
The everyday way to talk about plans and predictions. Built from the future modifier -(으)ㄹ plus 것이에요, which is why it looks longer than a tense ending.
Build it
Pick a verb
When to use it
With I or we, it states a plan: 내일 부산에 갈 거예요. With a third person or a general situation, the same form becomes a prediction: 내일은 추울 거예요 (it’ll be cold tomorrow). Nothing changes in the grammar; the subject decides how it lands.
Attachment follows the standard consonant rule, with the usual ㄹ twist: a stem ending in ㄹ keeps it and adds nothing, so 만들다 gives 만들 거예요. Note also the spacing — 거 is a noun, so it stands apart from the verb.
Two practical notes. It is pronounced [꺼예요] with a tensed consonant, though it is never written that way. And the spelling is 거예요, not 거에요 — a mistake so common that you will see it written wrongly by native speakers online.
How to attach it
| Stem type | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ends in a vowel | -ㄹ 거예요 | 가다 → 갈 거예요 |
| Ends in a consonant | -을 거예요 | 먹다 → 먹을 거예요 |
| Ends in ㄹ | nothing added | 만들다 → 만들 거예요 |
| Formal | -(으)ㄹ 겁니다 | 갈 겁니다 |
| Past guess | -았/었을 거예요 | 벌써 갔을 거예요 |
| Spelling | 거예요, not 거에요 | pronounced [꺼예요] |
In use
내일 부산에 갈 거예요.
I’m going to Busan tomorrow.
주말에 친구를 만날 거예요.
I’m going to meet a friend at the weekend.
저녁에 김치찌개를 만들 거예요.
I’ll make kimchi stew this evening.
이번 주는 좀 바쁠 거예요.
This week is going to be a bit busy.
그 사람은 벌써 집에 갔을 거예요.
He’s probably already gone home.
회의는 세 시에 시작할 겁니다.
The meeting will begin at three.
Compared with
-겠-
-겠- is formal and declarative, or an on-the-spot guess. -(으)ㄹ 거예요 is the neutral, everyday choice for plans.
제가 하겠습니다. (I volunteer, formally) / 제가 할 거예요. (that’s what I plan to do)
-(으)ㄹ게요
-(으)ㄹ게요 makes a promise to the person you are speaking to and adjusts to them. -(으)ㄹ 거예요 states a plan already fixed, regardless of the listener.
제가 도와줄게요. (I’ll help you) / 저는 집에 갈 거예요. (I’m going home)
-아요/어요
For a scheduled event, the plain present is enough and sounds more settled. Adding -(으)ㄹ 거예요 shifts it toward intention.
내일 시험이 있어요. (there’s an exam tomorrow) / 내일 공부할 거예요. (I intend to study)
Watch out
저녁을 만들을 거예요.
저녁을 만들 거예요.
A stem ending in ㄹ already supplies it, so 을 is not added. The same applies to 살 거예요, 알 거예요, 놀 거예요.
내일 학교에 갈 거에요.
내일 학교에 갈 거예요.
거 + 이에요 contracts to 거예요. 거에요 is a spelling error, though a widespread one.
그 사람은 벌써 갈 거예요. — meaning “he’s probably already gone”
그 사람은 벌써 갔을 거예요.
To guess about something already finished, the past marker goes inside: -았/었을 거예요.
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