The Future Tense in Korean: A Clear Guide
The future tense in Korean is used to express actions that will happen later. It is formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem. There are also alternative ways to express future intentions, such as using 'going to'.
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The rule
To form the future tense in Korean, you typically add '-ㄹ 것이다' (for verbs ending in a consonant) or '-을 것이다' (for verbs ending in a vowel) to the verb stem. This construction indicates a future action or intention. An alternative way to express future plans is by using '가다' (to go) with the verb, which conveys a sense of intention, as in 'going to do something'.
The Future Tense at a glance
| Verb Stem | Future Tense Form |
|---|---|
| 가다 | 갈 것이다 |
| 먹다 | 먹을 것이다 |
| 하다 | 할 것이다 |
| 자다 | 잘 것이다 |
| 보다 | 볼 것이다 |
| 읽다 | 읽을 것이다 |
| 만나다 | 만날 것이다 |
Future tense conjugation for common verbs
Examples you can say out loud
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Frequently asked questions
How do I know which ending to use for future tense?
Use '-ㄹ 것이다' for verbs ending in a consonant and '-을 것이다' for verbs ending in a vowel.