-(으)ㄹ 거예요: Korean Future and Plans

-(으)ㄹ 거예요 is one of the most useful ways to talk about the future in Korean. It can express plans, intentions, expectations, and predictions.

내일 공부할 거예요. → I am going to study tomorrow.
주말에 친구를 만날 거예요. → I will meet a friend this weekend.
비가 올 거예요. → It is going to rain.

Use Chamelingo’s free -(으)ㄹ 거예요 reference for interactive examples.

How to form it

The ending changes according to the verb stem.

vowel-ending stem → -ㄹ 거예요
most consonant-ending stems → -을 거예요

Examples:

Verb	Future form
가다	갈 거예요
보다	볼 거예요
먹다	먹을 거예요
읽다	읽을 거예요
공부하다	공부할 거예요

Do not attach the ending to the full dictionary form. Work from the stem.

Plans and intentions

Use it for something you plan or expect yourself to do:

오늘 일찍 잘 거예요. → I am going to sleep early today.
내년에 한국에 갈 거예요. → I am going to Korea next year.
저녁에 운동할 거예요. → I will exercise in the evening.

The time expression often makes the future meaning even clearer.

Review Korean time expressions if you want more schedule vocabulary.

Predictions

The same form can describe what you think will happen:

내일 추울 거예요. → It will probably be cold tomorrow.
사람이 많을 거예요. → There will probably be many people.
시험이 어려울 거예요. → The exam will probably be difficult.

Context tells you whether it is a personal plan or a prediction.

Ask about someone’s plans

주말에 뭐 할 거예요? → What are you going to do this weekend?
어디에 갈 거예요? → Where are you going to go?
언제 공부할 거예요? → When are you going to study?

These questions are excellent speaking practice because the answer reuses the same ending.

Desire is not the same as a plan

Compare:

한국에 가고 싶어요. → I want to go to Korea.
한국에 갈 거예요. → I am going to Korea.

The first describes desire. The second presents a future plan or expectation.

Read -고 싶어요 for the contrast.

Common mistakes

Adding a separate “will” word

Korean does not need an English-style auxiliary before the verb. The future meaning is built into the ending and context.

Forgetting the space

Write 갈 거예요, not 갈거예요, in standard spacing.

Treating every future statement as certainty

The form can carry expectation or prediction rather than an absolute promise. Tone and context matter.

Mini practice

Make future sentences:

먹다 → 먹을 거예요.
가다 → 갈 거예요.
운동하다 → 운동할 거예요.
읽다 → 읽을 거예요.

Then answer: 내일 뭐 할 거예요?

Continue learning

Once you can separate want, have to, and plan to, your Korean starts expressing much more than simple present-tense facts.

Frequently asked questions

What does -(으)ㄹ 거예요 mean?

It commonly expresses a future plan, intention, expectation, or prediction and often translates as will or going to.

When do I use 을 versus ㄹ?

Use -을 거예요 after most consonant-ending stems and -ㄹ 거예요 after vowel-ending stems. Stems ending in ㄹ follow their own contraction pattern.

Is -(으)ㄹ 거예요 the only Korean future tense?

No. Korean future meaning can be expressed with several endings and with context. This is one of the most useful beginner forms.

What is the difference between -고 싶어요 and -(으)ㄹ 거예요?

-고 싶어요 expresses desire, while -(으)ㄹ 거예요 expresses a plan, intention, or prediction.

Ready to practice what you just read?

Pro keeps your lessons, saved progress, review, and speaking practice together in one course.

Want the full curriculum? Subscribe to Pro

Free demo + free tools first. 7-day money-back guarantee. Cancel anytime.