The Dialogue from this lesson contained the following sentence:
- 네, 이번 구월에 쉰 살이 되실 거예요.
Yes. He’s going to be (become) fifty this September.
The most usual way to make a future tense in Korean is to add -(으)ㄹ 거예요 to the Plain or Honorific Base of any verb, processive or descriptive. It can also be added to the Past Base to mean probably VERBed, must have VERBed. We will look at this past usage later on in the section. First of all, here is the construction on a plain base.
먹을거에요 is going to eat, will probably eat있을 거예요 is going to have, probably will have넥타이를 맬 거예요is going to wear a tie, will probably wear a tie추울 거예요is going to be cold, will probably be cold들을 거예요 is going to listen, will probably listen살 거예요 is going to live, will probably live바쁠 거예요is going to be busy, will probably be busy빠를 거예요is going to be quick, will probably be quick
As can be seen from the examples above, ㄷ-ㄹ verbs retain the ㄹ as the base-final consonant, as is always the case when the base is followed by a two-shape ending. The w -ㅂ verb base also ends in a consonant (w), but the w + 으 of the ending combine to give 우, so w – ㅂ verb bases when combined with two shape endings always change to 우. L-extending bases attach this ending in their unextended shape: 사-ㄹ- live > 사- + -ㄹ거에요 > 살 거예요.
You will also see the spelling -을 거예요 for this form, because the 예요 portion is actually the copula (-이에요, squished to -예요), but people pronounce -을 거에요.
In origin, this ending is complex, built on the prospective modifier -(으)ㄹ plus 것 thing; fact plus the copula. For now, you need not worry about the Prospective Modifier (wait until Lesson 23). Simply keep in mind that it is the -(으)ㄹ here which lends the future or forward-looking meaning to the construction (and which tenses up the ㄱ of 거 (것)). What you are really saying is it is a prospective case/matter of VERBing. Since the last element is just the copula, you can change this to other styles, or put other endings on it:
| 먹을 겁니다 | is going to eat, will probably eat (FORMAL) |
You can also undo the rather colloquial contraction of 것 to 거:
| 먹을 것입니다 | is going to eat, will probably eat (FORMAL) |
| 먹을 것이에요 | is going to eat, will probably eat (POLITE) |
Note, however, that if you wish to use an honorific, this must appear on the verb base, and not on the copula involved in the Probably Future ending:
| 넥타이를 매실 거예요 [NOT *맬 거세요!] |
is going to wear a tie, will probably wear a tie |
Often, especially with the copula, forms in -(으)ㄹ 거예요 can mean a probable present:
- 그 미국 사람이 군인일 거예요.
That American must be a soldier. - 그것이 크리스씨의 집이 아닐 거예요.
That surely wouldn’t be Chris’ house.
Here are more examples of the probable future:
- 내일은 비가 올 거예요.
It will (probably) rain tomorrow. - 내년에 졸업을 할 거예요.
He will (probably) graduate next year. - 밤에 추울 거예요.
It will (probably) be cold at night . - 박 선생님은 부산에서 살고 계실 거예요.
Mr. Pak is probably living in Pusan.
The following examples show the way in which you can add the . . .(으)ㄹ 거예요 form to a past base to make a probable future perfect (likely will have done) or a probable past (must have done):
- 영국으로 떠났을 거예요.
He must have departed for England. - 한국에서 영어를 좀 배우셨을 거예요.
He probably studied some English in Korea.