For autodidact students of Korean, the future/volitional is expressed two ways. -(으)ㄹ 거예요 (-(eu)l geoyeyo) is the standard future: "will / going to." It indicates planned or expected action. 겠다 (-getda) is the modal future: intention, inference, or polite softening. 겠습니다 is the most formal speech level. Both express futurity but with different nuances: -(으)ㄹ 거예요 is factual future; -겠- is intentional or inferential.
Key Takeaways: - -(으)ㄹ 거예요: will / going to — factual future plan - -겠어요 (-gesseoyo): will / intend to — volitional/polite - 겠습니다 (-gesseumnida): formal intention — business/service - -겠다: inference — 춥겠다 (must be cold) - -ㄹ게요 (-lgeyo): I'll do it — speaker's commitment - -ㄹ까요 (-lkkayo): shall I/we? — proposal/question
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27.1 내일 (naeil) tomorrow 갈 (gal) go-FUT 거예요 (geoyeyo) thing-is-POLITE
27.2 제가 (jega) I-SUBJ 하겠어요 (hagesseoyo) will-do-POLITE
27.3 도와드리겠습니다 (dowadeurigesseumnida) will-help-HON-FORMAL
27.4 추울 (chuul) cold-FUT 것 (geot) thing 같아요 (gatayo) seems-POLITE — 춥겠다 (chupgetda) must-be-cold-INF
27.5 잘 (jal) well 할게요 (halgeyo) will-do-POLITE
27.6 같이 (gati) together 갈까요 (galkkayo) shall-go-POLITE?
27.7 언제 (eonje) when 올 (ol) come-FUT 거예요 (geoyeyo) thing-is-POLITE?
27.8 맛있겠다 (massitkgetda) must-be-delicious-INF！
27.9 연락할게요 (yeollakhalgeyo) will-contact-POLITE
27.10 힘들겠어요 (himdeulgesseoyo) must-be-hard-POLITE
27.11 열심히 (yeolsimhi) hard 하겠습니다 (hagesseumnida) will-do-FORMAL
27.12 이거 (igeo) this 맛없겠다 (maseopsgetda) must-be-tasteless-INF…
27.13 도착하면 (dochaokhamyeon) when-arrive 연락할 (yeollakhal) will-contact 거예요 (geoyeyo) thing-is-POLITE
27.14 잘 (jal) well 자겠어요 (jagesseoyo) will-sleep-POLITE。피곤해요 (pigonhaeyo) tired-POLITE
27.15 내년에는 (naenyeoneneun) next-year-TOPIC 꼭 (kkok) definitely 갈 (gal) go-FUT 거예요 (geoyeyo) thing-is-POLITE
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27.1 내일 갈 거예요. "I will go tomorrow." 27.2 제가 하겠어요. "I will do it." (polite intention) 27.3 도와드리겠습니다. "I will help you." (formal) 27.4 추울 것 같아요 — 춥겠다. "It seems like it'll be cold — must be cold." 27.5 잘 할게요. "I'll do it well." (commitment) 27.6 같이 갈까요? "Shall we go together?" 27.7 언제 올 거예요? "When will you come?" 27.8 맛있겠다! "That must be delicious!" 27.9 연락할게요. "I'll be in touch." 27.10 힘들겠어요. "That must be hard." (empathetic inference) 27.11 열심히 하겠습니다. "I will work hard." (formal) 27.12 이거 맛없겠다… "This must be tasteless…" 27.13 도착하면 연락할 거예요. "When I arrive I will contact you." 27.14 잘 자겠어요. 피곤해요. "I'll sleep well. I'm tired." 27.15 내년에는 꼭 갈 거예요. "Next year I will definitely go."
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27.1 내일 갈 거예요. 27.2 제가 하겠어요. 27.3 도와드리겠습니다. 27.4 추울 것 같아요 — 춥겠다. 27.5 잘 할게요. 27.6 같이 갈까요? 27.7 언제 올 거예요? 27.8 맛있겠다! 27.9 연락할게요. 27.10 힘들겠어요. 27.11 열심히 하겠습니다. 27.12 이거 맛없겠다… 27.13 도착하면 연락할 거예요. 27.14 잘 자겠어요. 피곤해요. 27.15 내년에는 꼭 갈 거예요.
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-(으)ㄹ 거예요 — factual/planned future: The standard future for events that will happen: plans, expectations, scheduled actions. 내일 갈 거예요 (I'll go tomorrow — it's planned). Neutral — no particular emotional coloring.
-겠- — modal marker (intention/inference/politeness):
Intention: 제가 하겠어요 (I will do it — I intend to). More deliberate than -(으)ㄹ 거예요. Formal commitment: 열심히 하겠습니다 (I will work hard — formal speech level). Used in job interviews, official settings. Inference: 춥겠다 (must be cold — I infer this), 맛있겠다 (must be delicious — I can tell from looking). -겠- + sensory/experiential adjective = inference from evidence. Politeness softener: 모르겠어요 (I don't know — softer than 몰라요), 알겠어요 (I understand — acknowledgement).
-ㄹ게요 — speaker's commitment: 할게요 (I'll do it — my commitment to you). First-person only. The -(으)ㄹ 거예요 of social commitment — you can count on this.
-ㄹ까요 — proposal/invitation: 갈까요? (Shall we go? / Should I go?). Invites the listener into the decision. First-person proposal or second-person suggestion.
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열심히 하겠습니다 (I will work hard — formal) is one of the most important phrases in Korean professional life. Said at the start of a new job, after a performance review, when accepting responsibility. The -겠습니다 ending is the highest formal speech level — used in business, military, customer service. 도와드리겠습니다 (I will help you) is the standard customer service opener in every Korean shop and restaurant. Learning these -겠습니다 forms is learning the language of Korean institutional life.
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김소월 (Kim Sowol), 《먼 후일》— Far Future Day, 1922
먼 훗날 당신이 찾으시면 / 그때에 내 말이 "잊었노라" // 당신이 속으로 나무라면 / "무척 그리다가 잊었노라"
F-A: Interlinear (key phrase) — 잊었노라 (ijeonnora): will-have-forgotten — archaic literary future perfect.
F-B: Translation — "On some far future day, if you should seek me / My words then will be 'I had forgotten' // If you should blame me inwardly / 'I had greatly missed you, then forgotten.'"
F-C: Original — 먼 훗날 당신이 찾으시면, 그때에 내 말이 "잊었노라"
F-D: Notes — 잊었노라: archaic form combining past (었) with literary assertion (노라). The archaic future-of-having-forgotten — Kim Sowol performs the forgetting in advance, narrating a future that has not happened. The poem's entire structure is future: 먼 훗날 (some far future day).
F-E: Commentary — The Korean future in poetry is often the future of the imagined emotional self — not a calendar event but a hypothetical inner state. 먼 훗날 당신이 찾으시면 (if on some far future day you should seek me) — the conditional future of longing. Learning -ㄹ 거예요 and -겠- gives you the grammar; Kim Sowol gives you the depth they can reach.
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Two people planning their weekend — every future form across the full register range.
27.16 민준: 이번 (ibeon) this 주말에 (jumaRe) weekend-AT 뭐 (mwo) what 할 (hal) do-FUT 거야 (geoya) thing-is-INF?
27.17 지수: 토요일에는 (toyoiReneun) Saturday-TOPIC 집에서 (jibeseo) home-AT 쉴 (swil) rest-FUT 거야 (geoya) thing-is-INF。일요일에는 (iryoiReneun) Sunday-TOPIC 친구 (chingu) friend 만날 (mannal) meet-FUT 것 (geot) thing 같아 (gata) seems-INF
27.18 민준: 나는 (naneun) I-TOPIC 토요일에 (toyoiRe) Saturday-AT 등산 (deungsan) hiking 갈 (gal) go-FUT 거야 (geoya) thing-is-INF。같이 (gati) together 갈래 (gallae) want-to-go-INF?
27.19 지수: 등산이요 (deungsaniyo) hiking-POLITE? 힘들겠다 (himdeulgetda) must-be-hard-INF…
27.20 민준: 괜찮아 (gwaenchanha) okay-INF。경치가 (gyeongchiga) scenery-SUBJ 좋을 (joeul) good-FUT 거야 (geoya) thing-is-INF。내가 (naega) I-SUBJ 다 (da) all 준비할게 (junbihalge) will-prepare-INF
27.21 지수: 그럼 (geureum) then 생각해볼게 (saenggakhaebolge) will-think-about-INF。몇 (myeot) what 시에 (sie) time-AT 출발할 (chulbalhal) depart-FUT 거야 (geoya) thing-is-INF?
27.22 민준: 아침 (achim) morning 여섯 (yeoseot) six 시에 (sie) time-AT 출발하겠어 (chulbalhagesseo) will-depart-INF。일찍 (iljjik) early 가야 (gaya) must-go 돼 (dwae) okay-INF
27.23 지수: 여섯 시요 (yeoseot siyo) six-o'clock-POLITE? 너무 (neomu) too 일찍 (iljjik) early 일어나야 (ireonaya) must-wake-up 하겠다 (hAgettda) will-have-to-INF…
27.24 민준: 갈 (gal) go-FUT 거야 (geoya) thing-is-INF，말 (mal) no-INF 거야 (geoya) thing-is-INF? 빨리 (ppalli) quickly 결정해 (gyeoljeonghae) decide-INF!
27.25 지수: 알았어 (arasseo) okay-INF，갈게 (galge) will-go-INF！재미있겠다 (jaemiitgetda) must-be-fun-INF
27.26 민준: 잘 됐다 (jal dwaetda) well-became-INF！맛있는 (massinneun) delicious 도시락도 (dosirakdo) lunchbox-also 싸갈게 (ssagalge) will-pack-and-go-INF
27.27 지수: 와 (wa) wow，기대된다 (gidaedoenda) looking-forward-to-PLAIN！뭐 (mwo) what 만들 (mandeul) make-FUT 거야 (geoya) thing-is-INF?
27.28 민준: 김밥이랑 (gimbappirang) gimbap-AND 과일 (gwail) fruit 가져갈게 (gajeogalge) will-bring-INF。맛있겠지 (massitkgetji) must-be-delicious-right-INF?
27.29 지수: 당연하지 (dangyeonhaji) of-course-INF！좋은 (joeun) good 하루 (haru) day 될 (doel) become-FUT 것 (geot) thing 같아 (gata) seems-INF
27.30 민준: 나도 (nado) I-also 그렇게 (geureoke) like-that 생각해 (saenggakhae) think-INF。토요일에 (toyoiRe) Saturday-AT 봐 (bwa) see-INF！
27.16 「이번 주말에 뭐 할 거야?」 "'What will you do this weekend?'" 27.17 「토요일에는 집에서 쉴 거야. 일요일에는 친구 만날 것 같아.」 "'Saturday I'll rest at home. Sunday I'll probably meet a friend.'" 27.18 「나는 토요일에 등산 갈 거야. 같이 갈래?」 "'I'm going hiking Saturday. Want to come?'" 27.19 「등산이요? 힘들겠다…」 "'Hiking? That must be hard…'" 27.20 「괜찮아. 경치가 좋을 거야. 내가 다 준비할게.」 "'It's fine. The scenery will be good. I'll prepare everything.'" 27.21 「그럼 생각해볼게. 몇 시에 출발할 거야?」 "'Then I'll think about it. What time will you depart?'" 27.22 「아침 여섯 시에 출발하겠어. 일찍 가야 돼.」 "'I'll depart at 6 in the morning. We need to go early.'" 27.23 「여섯 시요? 너무 일찍 일어나야 하겠다…」 "'Six o'clock? I'll have to wake up very early…'" 27.24 「갈 거야, 말 거야? 빨리 결정해!」 "'Are you going or not? Decide quickly!'" 27.25 「알았어, 갈게! 재미있겠다.」 "'Okay, I'll go! That sounds fun.'" 27.26 「잘 됐다! 맛있는 도시락도 싸갈게.」 "'Great! I'll pack a delicious lunch too.'" 27.27 「와, 기대된다! 뭐 만들 거야?」 "'Wow, I'm looking forward to it! What will you make?'" 27.28 「김밥이랑 과일 가져갈게. 맛있겠지?」 "'I'll bring gimbap and fruit. Must be delicious, right?'" 27.29 「당연하지! 좋은 하루 될 것 같아.」 "'Of course! I think it'll be a good day.'" 27.30 「나도 그렇게 생각해. 토요일에 봐!」 "'I think so too. See you Saturday!'"
27.16 「이번 주말에 뭐 할 거야?」 27.17 「토요일에는 집에서 쉴 거야. 일요일에는 친구 만날 것 같아.」 27.18 「나는 토요일에 등산 갈 거야. 같이 갈래?」 27.19 「등산이요? 힘들겠다…」 27.20 「괜찮아. 경치가 좋을 거야. 내가 다 준비할게.」 27.21 「그럼 생각해볼게. 몇 시에 출발할 거야?」 27.22 「아침 여섯 시에 출발하겠어. 일찍 가야 돼.」 27.23 「여섯 시요? 너무 일찍 일어나야 하겠다…」 27.24 「갈 거야, 말 거야? 빨리 결정해!」 27.25 「알았어, 갈게! 재미있겠다.」 27.26 「잘 됐다! 맛있는 도시락도 싸갈게.」 27.27 「와, 기대된다! 뭐 만들 거야?」 27.28 「김밥이랑 과일 가져갈게. 맛있겠지?」 27.29 「당연하지! 좋은 하루 될 것 같아.」 27.30 「나도 그렇게 생각해. 토요일에 봐!」
갈 거야, 말 거야? — "Going or not?": 갈 거야 (going) vs 말 거야 (not going — from 말다, stop/don't). This is Korean's binary "will you or won't you?" — 가다 vs 말다 as the two poles. 할 거야, 말 거야? (Are you doing it or not?). Impatient, direct.
기대된다 (gidaedoenda) — "I'm looking forward to it": 기대 (expectation/anticipation) + 되다 (become) = "anticipation is arising." Korean expresses looking forward to something as an arising state, not an active feeling. 기대돼요 (polite) / 기대된다 (plain).
싸가다 (ssagada) — "pack and bring / pack to take": 싸다 (pack/wrap) + 가다 (go) = pack something and take it with you. Compound verb of preparation-and-movement. 도시락을 싸가다 (pack a lunchbox and bring it).
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-겠어요 (-gesseoyo) — IPA: /ges.sʌ.jo/ — Three syllables. The ㅆ is fortis/tense. 겠 is /ges̬/ with the final ㄷ unreleased before ㅅ, creating the tense onset of 어.
-ㄹ 거예요 (-l geoyeyo) — IPA: /-l kʌ.je.jo/ — The ㄹ attaches to the preceding verb stem. 거 /kʌ/ + 예 /je/ + 요 /jo/. In fast speech: /-l gʌjo/.
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