-(으)ㄹ 걸
I Should Have, I Bet
-ㄹ 걸 has two main uses: expressing regret ('I should have...') and making a guess ('I bet...'). The meaning is determined by context and intonation.
How It Works
-ㄹ 걸 is a versatile sentence ending with two primary meanings that are distinguished by context and intonation.
1. Regret (후회): "I should have..."
This is a very common usage. It expresses regret about something you did not do in the past, but wish you had. It's often used when talking to oneself or muttering a thought aloud.
- It attaches directly to the verb/adjective stem or 이다/아니다.
- The full, more explicit form is -ㄹ/을 걸 그랬다, but in casual speech, it's often shortened to just -ㄹ 걸.
- The intonation for this meaning is typically falling.
Example:
A: 시험 잘 봤어? (Did you do well on the exam?)
B: 아니, 공부 좀 더 할 걸... (No, I should have studied a bit more...)
2. Supposition / Guess (추측): "I bet..." / "Probably..."
This usage expresses the speaker's guess or assumption about a present or future situation. It implies that the speaker isn't 100% certain but has a strong feeling.
- This is used in conversation with others, not just as a monologue.
- The intonation can be either rising or falling, depending on whether you're making a statement or asking for confirmation.
- It can imply a mild contradiction to what the other person might think.
Example:
A: 지금 전화하면 지수 씨가 받을까? (If I call now, do you think Jisu will answer?)
B: 아마 자고 있을 걸. (She's probably sleeping, I bet.)
Conjugation Rules:
- Verb/Adjective stem ends in a vowel or ㄹ: + -ㄹ 걸 (e.g., 가다 → 갈 걸, 예쁘다 → 예쁠 걸, 만들다 → 만들 걸)
- Verb/Adjective stem ends in a consonant (except ㄹ): + -을 걸 (e.g., 먹다 → 먹을 걸, 좋다 → 좋을 걸)
- Nouns with 이다/아니다: + -일 걸 / 아닐 걸 (e.g., 학생이다 → 학생일 걸, 의사가 아니다 → 의사가 아닐 걸)
Examples (4)
- 우산을 가져올 걸. 비가 오네.
I should have brought an umbrella. It's raining.
Word by Word: Umbrella bring should have. Rain is coming.
This is an expression of regret. The speaker didn't bring an umbrella and now wishes they had.
- 그 영화는 이미 끝났을 걸.
That movie has probably ended by now, I bet.
Word by Word: That movie already ended I bet.
This is a supposition about a current situation. The speaker is guessing that the movie is over.
- 진작 말할 걸. 기회를 놓쳤어.
I should have said something sooner. I missed the chance.
Word by Word: Sooner say should have. Chance missed.
This shows regret for not taking an action (speaking up) in the past.
- 민수 씨는 지금 회의 중일 걸.
Minsu is probably in a meeting right now.
Word by Word: Minsu now meeting in the middle of I bet.
This is a guess about what Minsu is currently doing. It attaches to a noun + 이다 pattern (회의 중이다 → 회의 중일 걸).
Common Mistakes
Using -ㄹ 걸 to express a simple future intention.
Different Meaning내일 일찍 일어날 걸.Better내일 일찍 일어날게. / 내일 일찍 일어날 거야.-ㄹ 걸 is for regret or supposition, not for stating a plan or promise. The incorrect sentence sounds like you are already regretting not waking up early tomorrow, which is illogical. Use -ㄹ게 for a promise or -ㄹ 거야 for a general future plan.
Forgetting to use a negative form when regretting an action you did.
Different Meaning어제 그 말을 할 걸.Better어제 그 말을 하지 말 걸.-ㄹ 걸 expresses regret for something you didn't do. To regret an action you did perform, you must negate the verb, typically using -지 말다. The example '어제 그 말을 할 걸' is grammatically correct, but it means 'I should have said that yesterday.' If you want to express regret for saying it, you must say '어제 그 말을 하지 말 걸' (I shouldn't have said that yesterday).
Learn This First
To express regret/assumptions 'I should have/I bet', you need modifier forms.
Related Patterns
- -(으)ㄹ걸 그랬다I Should Have Done
This is the full, more explicit version of the regret meaning of -ㄹ 걸. While -ㄹ 걸 is a common abbreviation in speech, -ㄹ걸 그랬다 clearly and unambiguously expresses 'I should have done...'
- -았/었으면 좋겠다I Wish, I Hope
Both express a desire for a different reality. -았/었으면 좋겠다 means 'I wish I had...', which is very close in feeling to the regret of -ㄹ 걸 ('I should have...').
- -나 보다It Seems/looks Like
Both are used for making a guess. -나 보다 ('it seems/looks like') is often used when you have some visual or sensory evidence for your guess. -ㄹ 걸 is more of a personal supposition or hunch that isn't necessarily based on direct evidence.
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 텐데I Expect, It's Likely to
Both can express an assumption about a situation. -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 텐데 ('it's likely that..., so/but...') often sets up a background situation for a following clause, while -ㄹ 걸 is a standalone sentence ending that simply states the guess.
- -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다Almost Did
-ㄹ 뻔하다 means 'almost did something'. It's related to regret because you often use -ㄹ 걸 after it. For example, '시험에 떨어질 뻔했다. 공부 좀 더 할 걸.' ('I almost failed the test. I should have studied more.')