Korean Verb Conjugations for Future

The future tense is essential for expressing intentions, plans, or predictions. We’ll cover three common future tense conjugations: -(으)ㄹ 거예요 ((eu)l geoyeyo), -겠어요 (-gesseoyo), and -을/를게요 (-eul/lgeyo).

1. -(으)ㄹ 거예요 ((eu)l geoyeyo):

This is the standard future tense ending and is widely used in both informal and formal contexts.

• Rules:
  • If the verb stem ends in a vowel, attach -ㄹ 거예요.
  • If the verb stem ends in a consonant, attach -(으)ㄹ 거예요.

Examples:

1. 먹다 (meokda) – to eat
   • 먹을 거예요 (meogeul geoyeyo) – I will eat.
2. 가다 (gada) – to go
   • 갈 거예요 (gal geoyeyo) – I will go.

2. -겠어요 (-gesseoyo):

Used to express assumptions, intentions, or predictions about the future.

• Rules:
  • If the verb stem ends in a vowel, attach -겠어요.
  • If the verb stem ends in a consonant, attach -을 겠어요.

Examples:

1. 먹다 (meokda) – to eat
   • 먹겠어요 (meokgesseoyo) – I will eat.
2. 가다 (gada) – to go
   • 갈 겠어요 (gal gesseoyo) – I will go.

3. -을/를게요 (-eul/lgeyo):

This is a colloquial and informal way to express the future tense, commonly used in casual conversations.

Examples:

1. 먹다 (meokda) – to eat
   • 먹을게요 (meogeulgeyo) – I will eat.
2. 가다 (gada) – to go
   • 갈게요 (galgeyo) – I will go.

Practice Sentences:

1. 공부하다 (gongbuhada) – to study
   • 공부할 거예요 (gongbuhal geoyeyo) – I will study.
   • 공부할게요 (gongbuhalgeyo) – I will study (informal).
2. 쓰다 (sseuda) – to write
   • 쓸 거예요 (sseul geoyeyo) – I will write.
   • 쓸게요 (sseulgeyo) – I will write (informal).
3. 마시다 (masida) – to drink
   • 마실 거예요 (masil geoyeyo) – I will drink.
   • 마실게요 (masilgeyo) – I will drink (informal).