Future -(으)ㄹ 거예요

What it means

-(으)ㄹ 거예요 talks about the future, like "will" or "be going to". When you talk about yourself (or ask "you"), it is usually a plan. When you talk about other people, things or the weather, or use it with adjectives, it is often a guess: "probably".

How to make it

• Stem ends in a vowel → add ㄹ 거예요: 가다 → 갈 거예요, 하다 → 할 거예요
• Stem ends in a consonant → add 을 거예요: 먹다 → 먹을 거예요, 있다 → 있을 거예요
• Stem ends in ㄹ → just add 거예요: 놀다 → 놀 거예요, 만들다 → 만들 거예요
• Some irregular stems change: 춥다 → 추울 거예요 (ㅂ → 우), 듣다 → 들을 거예요 (ㄷ → ㄹ)
• Pronunciation: 거 sounds like 꺼 → 갈 거예요 sounds like [갈 꺼예요]

When to use it

• Your plans: 다음 달에 한국에 갈 거예요. (I'm going to Korea next month.)
• Asking about plans: 이번 주말에 뭐 할 거예요? (What are you going to do this weekend?)
• Predictions, often with adjectives: 내일은 날씨가 추울 거예요. (It will probably be cold tomorrow.)
• Guesses about other people (often with 아마 "probably"): 민수 씨는 아마 집에 있을 거예요. (Minsu is probably at home.)

Compare

• -(으)ㄹ 거예요 → a simple plan or prediction: 내일 청소할 거예요. (I'm going to clean tomorrow.)
• -(으)ㄹ게요 → a promise or offer to the listener, used only for "I": 제가 청소할게요. (I'll clean it, for you.) It is not used to ask "you" questions.

Common mistakes

• ❌ 먹 거예요 → ✅ 먹을 거예요 (a consonant stem needs 을)
• ❌ 놀을 거예요 → ✅ 놀 거예요 (ㄹ stems just add 거예요)
• ❌ 춥을 거예요 → ✅ 추울 거예요 (ㅂ changes to 우)