-겠-
Will, (I) Intend to
-겠- is an infix added to verb or adjective stems. Its meaning changes depending on the subject. With 'I' (first person), it expresses strong will or intention. With 'you' or 'they' (second/third person), it expresses a guess or assumption. It's also used in set phrases to sound more polite.
How It Works
-겠- is a versatile infix that attaches directly to a verb or adjective stem. Its meaning is highly dependent on the context and the subject of the sentence.
There are three main uses to learn:
1. First-Person Will or Intention (I / We)
When the subject is 'I' or 'we', -겠- expresses a strong will, a firm decision, or a formal intention. It's often used in formal settings like presentations, meetings, or when making a serious commitment. It's stronger and more formal than -ㄹ 거예요.
- 제가 하겠습니다. (I will do it.)
- 내일 다시 오겠습니다. (I will come again tomorrow.)
2. Second/Third-Person Supposition or Conjecture (You / He / She / It / They)
When the subject is not the speaker, -겠- is used to express a guess, assumption, or inference based on some evidence or observation. It's not about the subject's will, but the speaker's guess about the subject's state or a situation.
- 피곤하겠어요. (You must be tired.)
- 그 소식을 들으면 부모님께서 기뻐하시겠어요. (Your parents will surely be happy when they hear that news.)
- 와, 저 케이크 맛있겠다! (Wow, that cake must be delicious!)
3. Politeness and Set Expressions
In many situations, -겠- is used to make a statement or question sound softer, more polite, and less direct. It's a key component of many fixed expressions in formal or service situations.
- 처음 뵙겠습니다. (Nice to meet you for the first time.)
- 알겠습니다. / 모르겠습니다. (I understand. / I don't know.) - Here, it's not about the future, but a polite way of stating one's current knowledge.
- 도와주시겠어요? (Could you please help me?)
How to conjugate:
Simply attach -겠- to the verb or adjective stem, regardless of whether it ends in a vowel or consonant.
- 가다 (to go) → 가 + 겠 + 습니다 → 가겠습니다
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹 + 겠 + 어요 → 먹겠어요
- 알다 (to know) → 알 + 겠 + 습니다 → 알겠습니다
Examples (4)
- 제가 발표하겠습니다.
I will do the presentation.
Word by Word: I presentation will do.
This shows the speaker's strong will and intention in a formal context.
- 와, 저 음식 맛있겠다!
Wow, that food looks delicious!
Word by Word: Wow, that food delicious must be!
The speaker is making a supposition based on seeing the food. It's a guess about the taste, not an intention.
- 시험이 끝나서 기분이 좋겠어요.
You must feel great since the exam is over.
Word by Word: Exam finished so feeling must be good.
The speaker is guessing or assuming the listener's feelings.
- 알겠습니다. 내일까지 끝내겠습니다.
I understand. I will finish it by tomorrow.
Word by Word: I understand. By tomorrow will finish.
The first part, '알겠습니다', uses -겠- for politeness. The second part, '끝내겠습니다', uses it to express a firm intention.
Common Mistakes
Using -겠- for a simple future fact instead of -ㄹ 거예요.
Not Quite일기예보에서 내일 비가 오겠다.Better일기예보에서 내일 비가 올 거라고 했어요.-겠- implies the speaker's personal judgment or guess. For reporting a future fact like a weather forecast, it's more natural to use a quoting form or the general future tense -ㄹ 거예요. Saying '비가 오겠다' sounds like you are personally looking at the sky and making a strong guess.
Using -겠- to state another person's intention.
Not Quite제 친구가 내일 도서관에 가겠다.Better제 친구가 내일 도서관에 갈 거예요.You cannot state another person's will or intention using -겠-. It can only be used for the speaker's intention (1st person) or to guess about another person's feelings or situation (e.g., 'He must be tired'). To talk about another person's plans, use -ㄹ 거예요 or -려고 해요.
Learn This First
To use this future marker, you need conjugation knowledge and time concepts.
Related Patterns
- -(으)ㄹ 거(예요/야)Will, Probably
Both express the future. -겠- is for strong, often formal, intention (1st person) or supposition. -ㄹ 거예요 is a more neutral and common way to talk about future plans or predictions.
- -(으)려고 하다Intend to, Plan to
Both express intention. -겠- is often for an on-the-spot decision or a formal declaration of will. -려고 하다 is used for a pre-existing plan or intention that you've already thought about.
- -(으)ㄹ게Will Do
Both express the speaker's will. -겠- is more formal and can be used in any context. -ㄹ게 is informal and is often used as a promise or a reaction to what someone else has said.
- -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 것 같다Seems Like, Looks Like
Both can express a guess or assumption. -겠- usually implies a stronger, more direct judgment based on immediate evidence ('That must be delicious!'). -ㄴ/는/ㄹ 것 같다 is a softer, more general expression meaning 'it seems like' or 'I think that'.
- -(으)ㄹ 거예요 / -겠어요 / -(으)ㄹ게요Future Expressions
Compare different ways to express future/intention in Korean.
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.