-(으)려고 하다

Build it

When to use it

Attachment follows the standard rule with the ㄹ short form: 만들다 gives 만들려고 해요. Tense goes on 하다, never on the first verb.

With a person as subject it reports a plan you are turning over: 주말에 부산에 가려고 해요. It is softer than -(으)ㄹ 거예요, which announces something settled.

With events outside anyone’s control, the intention drops out and only the timing remains — “about to”: 비가 오려고 해요, 해가 지려고 해요.

The past form carries a particular flavour: an intention that did not come off. 전화하려고 했는데 못 했어요 — I meant to call but couldn’t.

How to attach it

In use

1. 주말에 부산에 가려고 해요.

   I’m planning to go to Busan this weekend.

2. 이제 자려고 해요.

   I’m about to go to sleep.

3. 내년에 한국어 시험을 보려고 해요.

   I’m thinking of taking the Korean exam next year.

4. 비가 오려고 하는데 우산 있어요?

   It looks like it’s about to rain — do you have an umbrella?

5. 전화하려고 했는데 너무 늦었어요.

   I meant to call, but it got too late.

6. 저녁을 만들려고 재료를 샀어요.

   I bought ingredients to make dinner.

Compared with

• -(으)ㄹ 거예요

  -(으)ㄹ 거예요 states a decision; -(으)려고 하다 reports one taking shape. For something already booked, the first is the natural choice.

  부산에 갈 거예요. (it’s arranged)  /  부산에 가려고 해요. (I’m thinking of going)

• -기로 하다

  -기로 하다 marks the moment of deciding, often jointly with someone. -(으)려고 하다 describes an intention you are holding.

  가려고 해요. (I intend to go)  /  가기로 했어요. (we’ve decided to go)

• -(으)ㄹ까 하다

  Even less settled — you are toying with the idea. The three form a scale from vague to fixed.

  갈까 해요. (maybe I’ll go) → 가려고 해요. (I intend to) → 갈 거예요. (I’m going)

Watch out

• 저녁을 만들으려고 해요.

  저녁을 만들려고 해요.

  A stem ending in ㄹ takes the short form, exactly as with plain -(으)려고 and -(으)러.

• 어제 전화했으려고 했어요.

  어제 전화하려고 했어요.

  Tense belongs on 하다 at the end. The first verb always stays in its plain stem form.

• 어제 부산에 가려고 해요.

  어제 부산에 가려고 했어요.

  With a past time word, 하다 must be in the past too — which also gives the sense that the plan did not work out.

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