-(으)ㄹ 것
Future Tense Noun Modifier
-ㄹ/을 is a future tense noun modifier. It's attached to a verb stem and placed before a noun to describe it. For example, '먹을 음식' means 'food that (someone) will eat' or 'food to eat'.
How It Works
The -ㄹ/을 ending is a fundamental way to talk about the future in relation to nouns. It allows you to create descriptive clauses like 'the book I will read' or 'the place we will go'.
Conjugation Rules:
- Vowel stems: Attach -ㄹ directly to the stem.
- 보다 (to see) → 볼 (that will be seen)
- 공부하다 (to study) → 공부할 (that will be studied) - Consonant stems: Attach -을 to the stem.
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹을 (that will be eaten)
- 찾다 (to find) → 찾을 (that will be found) - ㄹ irregular stems: For verbs ending in ㄹ, you just drop 다. The -ㄹ is already there.
- 살다 (to live) → 살 (that will be lived in)
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들 (that will be made)
While it's often used with the noun 것 (thing), it can modify any noun. For example:
- 먹을 것: something to eat
- 갈 곳: a place to go
- 만날 사람: a person to meet
- 할 일: work to do
This structure is the foundation for many other important grammar patterns, such as -ㄹ 거예요 (will do) and -ㄹ 수 있다/없다 (can/cannot do). In these cases, '거' (a contraction of 것) and '수' are the nouns being modified.
Examples (5)
- 제가 내일 먹을 음식은 비빔밥이에요.
The food I will eat tomorrow is bibimbap.
Word by Word: I tomorrow will eat food-is bibimbap.
먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹을 to modify 음식 (food), indicating the food that 'will be eaten'.
- 주말에 볼 영화를 골랐어요?
Have you chosen a movie to watch this weekend?
Word by Word: Weekend-on to watch movie-obj did you choose?
보다 (to see/watch) becomes 볼 to describe 영화 (movie).
- 회의에서 이야기할 주제가 뭐예요?
What is the topic to talk about at the meeting?
Word by Word: Meeting-at to talk about topic-subj what is it?
- 한국에서 살 집을 찾고 있어요.
I'm looking for a house to live in in Korea.
Word by Word: Korea-in to live house-obj am looking for.
This shows the ㄹ irregular rule. 살다 (to live) becomes 살 to modify 집 (house).
- 이따가 친구에게 줄 선물을 샀어요.
I bought a gift to give to my friend later.
Word by Word: Later friend-to to give gift-obj bought.
Common Mistakes
Using -ㄹ/을 for a present action.
Different Meaning지금 읽을 책이 재미있어요.Better지금 읽는 책이 재미있어요.-ㄹ/을 is for future actions ('the book I will read'). For an action happening right now, you must use the present tense modifier -는 ('the book I am reading').
Incorrectly conjugating verbs ending in ㄹ.
Not Quite만들을 케이크Better만들 케이크For verb stems already ending in ㄹ, like 만들다, you just drop 다. You don't add another 을. The correct form is 만들.
Learn This First
To nominalize future actions, you need modifier forms and nominalizer knowledge.
Related Patterns
- -ㄴ/은Adjective Noun Modifier
This is the past tense verb modifier, equivalent to -ㄹ/을 for the future. Comparing them is key: 먹은 빵 (bread I ate), 먹는 빵 (bread I am eating), 먹을 빵 (bread I will eat).
- -는/ㄹVerb Noun Modifier
This is the present tense verb modifier. Understanding the difference between -는 (present) and -ㄹ (future) is crucial for correct noun modification.
- -(으)ㄹ 거(예요/야)Will, Probably
This common future tense ending is a direct application of -ㄹ 것. It combines 'the thing that will be' (-ㄹ 것) with the verb 이다 (to be), forming a complete sentence.
- -(으)ㄹ 수 있다/없다Can/cannot
This pattern for ability ('can/cannot') also uses -ㄹ/을 to modify the noun 수 (way/ability). This shows how -ㄹ/을 can modify nouns other than 것.