In the last lesson, you learned how to talk about plan using the future tense (으)ㄹ 것이다 1. Today, you'll learn another use of this 을 것이다. You can express your guess with it.
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1. 을 거예요 Grammar
Meaning
(으)ㄹ 것이다2 to show your guess about something or someone. You can attach it to a verb stem, ad adjective stem, 이다, and 아니다.
것이다 part is supposed to be 것이에요. It's because 이다 is attached to the word 것 which has the final consonant. However, in daily conversation, people say the contracted 거예요 form more often.
I think/guess...: (으)ㄹ 것이에요. = (으)ㄹ 거예요.
This ending is used when describing someone else. So, it is only used as a statement. No question, suggestion, or command!
Basis of speculation
It expresses a supposition based on a basis directly heard, seen, or experienced. It has a strong conviction based on general facts, objective thoughts, or experiences.
민지는 오늘 결석할 거예요. Minji won't come to school today.
(I heard Minji is sick or she went to travel or something. It's an assumption with a basis.)
저 사람은 아마 민수 친구일 거예요. That man is probably Minsu's friend.
(I saw they were together before.)
Comparison
을 거예요 1 | 을 거예요 2 |
In a statement, it shows the speaker's will and intention. | As a statement, it shows the speaker's guess about someone or something. |
Subject(topic): first person(나/저/우리/저희) | Subject(topic): Other than 1st person |
In a question, you can ask the listener's intention or plan. | No question. |
It can be only attached to a verb stem. | It can be attached to a verb, an adjective stem, 이다, and 아니다. |
나중에 먹을 거예요. I'll eat it later. | 준 씨가 먹을 거예요. (I think) June will eat it. |
2. Conjugation Rules
I showed you verb conjugation examples with 을 거예요 1 lesson. So, I'll focus on adjectives and 이다/아니다 in this lesson.
Regular Conjugation Rules
1) 받침 O: +을 거예요.
If a stem ends with the final consonant, simply attach 을 거예요 to it.
많다 to be many/much
The stem is 많. → It has the final consonant ㄶ. Attach 을 거예요. → 먹을 거예요.
좋다 to be good
The stem is 좋 and it has the final consonant. → 좋을 거예요.
2) 받침 X: +ㄹ 거예요
When the stem ends with a vowel (without a final consonant), you will attach ㄹ as if the new final consonant and add 거예요.
예쁘다 to be pretty
The stem is 예쁘. → The last syllable is what we need to check; 쁘. → It doesn't have the final consonant. Let's add ㄹ under the 쁘. → 예쁠 거예요.
건강하다 to be healthy
The stem is 건강하. → The last syllable 하 doesn't have the final consonant. Add ㄹ under 하. → 건강할 거예요.
The stem of 하다 words (verbs/adjectives) are always 하. So, you can use no final consonant rule for those words!
3) ㄹ 받침: +거예요
Even though the stem ends with the final consonant, if it is ㄹ, you can simply attach 거예요. Well, ㄹ is already there!
길다 to be long
The stem is 길. → It already has ㄹ. → So, just add 거예요. → 길 거예요.
힘들다 to be hard
The stem is 힘들. → The last syllable is 들. It ends with ㄹ! Then simply attach 거예요 after a space. → 힘들 거예요.
Irregular Conjugation Rules
I'll show you irregular adjective rules here. If you are curious about the irregular verb rules, please check out 을 거예요 1 post.
1) ㅅ 받침: Erase ㅅ + 을 거예요
There is only one irregular ㅅ adjective. You can conjugate just like a verb. Erase ㅅ and attach 을 거예요.
낫다 to be better
The stem is 낫. → Erase the final consonant ㅅ. →나 → Add 을 거예요. → 나을 거예요.
2) ㅂ 받침: Erase ㅂ + 울 거예요
For irregular ㅂ verbs, you will erase ㅂ and then add 울 거예요. Watch out for spelling! You don't attach 을 거예요 like other rules for this one!
덥다 to be hot
The stem is 덥. → Erase ㅂ. → 더 → We need the spcial ㅂ form; 울 거예요 not 을 거예요 this time. → 더울 거예요.
3) ㅎ 받침: Erase ㅎ + ㄹ 거예요
For irregular ㅎ words, you'll get rid of that ㅎ first. Then, add ㄹ where ㅎ was before. Put a space and add 거예요.
파랗다 to be blue
The stem is 파랗. → Erase ㅎ. → 파라 → Add ㄹ under it. → 파랄 → Add 거예요. → 파랄 거예요.
By the way, do you remember 좋다 from the regular rule example? 좋다 is the only ㅎ adjective that is regular.
이다 / 아니다
We can conjugate 이다(to be) and 아니다 (to be not) with 을 거예요 2. For example, you can state your guesses like "He is probably a teacher." or "She is probably not a singer."
1. 이다 → 일 거예요
The stem of 이다 is 이. It doesn't have the final consonant. So, you can use ㄹ 거예요.
그는 선생님이다 → 그는 선생님일 거예요. (I think) he is a teacher.
그녀는 의사이다 → 그녀는 의사일 거예요. (I think) she is a doctor.
2. 아니다 → 아닐 거예요
The stem of 아니다 is 아니. The last syllable 니 doesn't have 받침. So, let's add ㄹ 거예요. By the way, you have to use this word as the expression "이/가 아니다." If you are not sure what I mean, please click here to read my other lesson.
그는 의사가 아니다 → 그는 의사가 아닐 거예요. (I think) he is not a doctor.
그녀는 선생님이 아니다. → 그녀는 선생님이 아닐 거예요. (I think) she is not a teacher.
3. Sentence Information
Pairing Words
This grammar is to show your assumption. So, it is often used with adverbs that have a guessing meaning.
probably, maybe, likeyly, perhaps, possibly |
그는 아마 선생님일 거예요. He is probably a teacher.
그녀가 아마 올 거예요. She probably will come.
Other Endings
Since I started the grammar with (으)ㄹ 것이다 I'll show you other conjugation. It's for more than a beginner. If you are following my course, you'll eventually learn these other endings.
(으)ㄹ 것이다 | |
Formal Ending | (으)ㄹ 것입니다. |
Informal Ending | (으)ㄹ 것이에요. = (으)ㄹ 거예요. |
Casual Ending | (으)ㄹ 것이야. = (으)ㄹ 거야. |
4. Examples
1
민수는 내일 학교에 갈 거예요. Minsu will go to school tomorrow.
The sentence is about Minsu. It's about whether he "will" go to school in the future. However, it is not technically future tense in Korean. It's my guess that Minsu will go to school tomorrow.
2
줄리안 씨는 아마 해산물을 좋아할 거예요. Julian proably likes seafood.
When you assume using the "을 거예요" ending, you usually have good, solid ground. You probably saw Julian eat seafood well before or heard about it.
3
저녁에는 사람이 많을 거예요. In the evening, there will be a lot of people.
Again, you are showing your guess. You probably experienced there were many people before.
4
Q: 윤지 씨는 애인이 있어요? Is Yoon-ji in a relationship?
A: 손에 반지가 있어요. 아마 애인이 있을 거예요. She has a ring. So, probably she is.
여자친구 is a girlfriend and 남자친구 is a boyfriend. 애인 is a boyfriend or girlfriend in a relationship.
5
이 옷이 아마 나을 거예요. This outfit is probably better.
옷 is clothes. 이 is the demonstrative pronoun which means this(these). 나을 거예요 came from the adjective 낫다 (to be better).
5. Wrap-up & Worksheet: Guess Ending
In this lesson, you learned 을 거예요 2 grammar. It wasn't too difficult, right? Let's review!
(으)ㄹ 것이다 is used to show the your guess or assumption.
을 것이다 is conjugatied 을 것이에요. But 을 거예요. is more commonly used.
You can attach it to a verb, an adjective, 이다, and 아니다.
Let's review what you learned with the worksheet! It's free and printable! 도움이 될 거예요. (It'll be helpful.)
If you have any questions, please scroll down and leave a comment. In the next lesson, you'll learn how to suggest doing something together!