Usage
i) Conjecture
내일은 날씨가 아주 덥겠습니다.
Tomorrow will be very hot.
ii) Intention
다음에는 실수하지 않겠어요.
I won’t make mistakes next time.
Conjugation
| Type | Example | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| AV (vowel) | 하다 | 하겠다 |
| AV (cons.) | 듣다 | 듣겠다 |
| DV (vowel) | 빠르다 | 빠르겠다 |
| DV (cons.) | 어둡다 | 어둡겠다 |
Where:
AV = action verb / processive verb.
DV = descriptive verb / ‘adjective’.
Contents
Introduction
i) Conjecture
ii) Intention
Shared understanding with 겠
겠다 VS ㄹ 것이다
Common forms
Additional details
Associated grammar
See also
Bibliography
User examples
Introduction
Modal suffix 겠 has two primary functions: expressing conjecture and indicating intention. In its conjectural use, it signals the speaker’s reasoning process is based on evidence. In its intentional use, it shows the speaker’s willingness to carry out future actions.
Beyond these core meanings, 겠 can be used to show empathy or manage conversational dynamics.
i) Conjecture
In this usage, 겠 allows speakers to make predictions based on observable evidence or general knowledge. Speakers use 겠 when they think something is moderate to highly likely.
내일은 날씨가 아주 덥겠습니다.
Tomorrow will be very hot.
This example, a weather report, expresses the speaker’s level of certainty based on evidence (meteorological data). Here 겠 indicates a moderate to high degree of certainty, while also acknowledging that weather can be unpredictable and there is still some uncertainty.
와! 이 딸기 케이크가 정말 달겠다.
Wow! This strawberry cake must be really sweet.
Here 겠 is used with an expectation about the taste of the cake based on visual evidence (seeing the cake’s strawberries and cream).
대학교에 합격한 따님이 기쁘시겠어요.
You must be happy about your daughter getting into university.
Here the speaker is making an expression of inference. The speaker makes a natural assumption based on how parents typically feel about their children’s success.
Beyond conjecture, 겠 is used to show and elicit understanding.
Showing empathy
Dialogue: (Adapted from Suh & Kim 1993)
Context: K who is not wearing his glasses, is talking to his friend C about how he broke his glasses.
K: 그 대신 학교에서 집에 오면 아무것도 못 해. 책도 못 읽고 티비도 못 보고.
K: … instead, once I get home from school, I can’t do anything. I can’t even read a book or watch TV.
C: 꽤 답답하시겠다.
C: You must feel very uncomfortable.
Here, C isn’t just acknowledging facts about K’s broken glasses – he’s expressing genuine empathy for K’s emotional state. The use of 겠 here is an empathetic conjecture, which signals C’s emotional attunement. This helps create emotional intimacy between speakers.
Eliciting sympathy
Dialogue: (Adapted from Suh & Kim 1993)
Context: Four graduate students are chatting after lunch. K has brought up L’s attendance at a conference.
J: 오늘 보니까 걱정되는지 사색이 되가지고 handout도 아직 안 만들고 뭐.
J: When I saw him (L) today, he seemed very worried. I noticed the anxiety on his face. And (he said) he hasn’t made the handout yet.
C: 어디래니?
C: (Have you heard about) where (the conference is to be held)?
K: Texas의 El Paso 같은데.
K: I think it’s in El Paso, Texas.
…
K: 그런 것은 약과지. 클래스메이트가 유수한 저널에 막 publish를.
K: That’s nothing. (Imagine) your classmate is publishing (quite often) in prestigious journals. S: publish를 하면 신경질나 죽겠어.
S: The thought of them publishing their papers drives me crazy.
Here, S uses 겠 to express feelings of inadequacy compared to L. This invites the others to provide emotional support and share their feelings of inadequacy. The use of 겠 is a conjectural statement expressing an extreme emotional reaction. This elicits a sympathetic response, creating group solidarity through shared academic struggles.
More examples:
쓰겠어.
That must be bitter.
안이 덥겠어요.
It must be hot inside.
내가 말해도 되겠니?
Is it okay if I say something?
아빠가 기다리시겠다.
Dad must be waiting for us.
스트레스 받아 미치겠다.
I’m stressed out of my mind.
(I must be going crazy)
그런 것은 삼척동자도 알겠다.
Even a child would know that.
정말 골치가 아프시겠어요.
That must be a real headache.
지훈이가 학교에 있겠어.
I’ll bet Jihoon is at school.
지금 떠나면 새벽에 도착하겠구나.
If you leave now, you will arrive at dawn.
아 목이 쉬어서 노래를 못 하겠어.
My throat is so sore that I can’t sing.
이 음식이 냉장고에 아직도 있겠지요.
This food is still probably in the fridge, right?
갑자기 정전이 되어서 많이 불편했겠어요.
You must have been very inconvenienced when the power suddenly went out.
ii) Intention
The intentional usage of 겠 expresses the speaker’s willingness or determination to future action. When using 겠 this way, the speaker is expressing their personal volition rather than making a simple statement about the future.
다음에는 실수하지 않겠어요.
I won’t make mistakes next time.
Here 겠 expresses strong determination to avoid mistakes, showing personal commitment. The speaker is making a firm resolution about their future behaviour. Thus, this usage emphasizes commitment to future conduct.
이제 집에 가야겠어요.
I should go home now.
In this example, the speaker is expressing both intention and necessity. The combination of 야 (must/should) with 겠 shows the speaker has made a personal determination about what needs to be done. The speaker isn’t just stating they will go home, but expressing what they need to do.
동생은 낚시하러 가겠다고 한다.
My younger sibling says he will go fishing.
Here the speaker’s sibling has expressed their intention to go fishing, and 겠 indicates their personal willingness.
Beyond signalling intention, 겠 is used for signalling conversation transition.
Transition device
Dialogue: (Adapted from Suh & Kim 1993)
Context: Four graduate students are talking about their research.
H: 그렇게 하려고 하고 싶었는데.
H: I intended to, I mean I really want to do it that way.
…
L: 그러니까 in-depth로 하려면 한이 없고.
L: So if you try to do your research in-depth, there will be no end in sight.
…
H: pick-up 하러 가야겠다.
H: I have to go and pick up (my daughter).
K: 아.
K: I see.
H: 아이, 이거 뭐 항상 아침에도 말이지, 숙영이 학교 데려다 주느라고 거기는…
H: Shoot, (it’s a bit of a pain) to take 숙영 to school every morning…
K: 그렇겠네.
K: {empathetic conjecture} (I guess) that’s the case.
H: 저 가볼게요. 다음에 보아요.
H: I’m gonna leave now. See you later.
K: 네. 안녕히 가세요.
K: O.K. Good-bye.
When H says 가야겠다, they are expressing their need to leave and 겠 specifically marks their intention to do so. Notice that H doesn’t say just abruptly say 나 간다 (I’m going). By using 겠, they’re attempting to soften the impact of departure while acknowledging that suddenly leaving might disrupt the social harmony. This is further evidenced in the following line where H explains the burden of picking up his daughter. Here we see that 겠 is not only a marker of intention, it’s also a tool for managing social implications.
More examples:
잘 먹겠습니다.
I will eat well.
나는 시인이 되겠다.
I will become a poet.
도와드리겠습니다.
I will help you.
그렇다면, 제가 맡겠습니다.
If that’s the case, I’ll take charge of it.
지금 발표를 시작하겠습니다.
I’m going to start the presentation now.
도서관 입구에서 만나겠습니다.
I’ll meet you at the library entrance.
잠시 후 기차가 출발하겠습니다.
The train will depart shortly.
이번 달까지 목표치를 달성하겠다.
I will achieve my goal by the end of this month.
선생님, 내일 숙제를 제출하겠습니다.
Teacher, I will submit my homework tomorrow.
도와는 드리겠지만, 책임은 못 지겠습니다.
I’ll help, but I won’t take responsibility.
Shared understanding with 겠
Besides the “conjecture and intention” interpretation of 겠, another perspective says that speakers use 겠 to reach a shared understanding with the hearer. For example, if I say “비가 오겠다” (It looks like rain), I’m not just making a conjecture – I’m pointing out evidence (like dark clouds) that both of us can observe. This shared observation then becomes a basis for joint action, like finding shelter or changing plans.
Shared attention as ground for action
Dialogue: (Adapted from Suh & Kim 2000)
Context: Phone conversation between student and professor.
P: 아, 아마 12일은 좀 (그렇다).
P: Oh uh, I don’t think the 12th is the right time.
…
S: 응, 그럼 매우 바쁘시겠구나. 그러면 19일쯤.
S: I see. Then you’ll probably be busy. Then around the 19th.
P: 그렇게 할까?
P: Shall we meet then?
…
S: 음, 뭐 그 전에 뭐 미리 연락을 못 드리겠네요.
S: Hmm, I probably won’t be able to reach you before then.
P: 어, 그땐 그렇겠구나. 그 주는.
P: Oh yeah, you’re probably right. Not that week.
S: 그러면은 아싸리 3월 21일 쯤에…
S: Then how about this. Around March 21st…
In this dialogue, the three uses of 겠 are:
Student: 바쁘시겠구나 “you’ll probably be busy”
Here the student uses 겠 to express a collaborative and empathetic attitude toward her professor. In using 겠, she displays that she came to this conclusion based on their shared understanding of his schedule. This shared attention provides a common ground for the speakers to engage in subsequent action (finding the right day).
Student: 연락을 못 드리겠네요 “I probably won’t be able to reach you”
The student uses 겠 again to cancel the proposal made earlier. This is based on their shared understanding of the situation – that the professor will be away.
Professor: 그렇겠구나 “you’re probably right”
The professor uses 겠 to affirm the student’s judgement, and this makes the cancelling of the proposal a collaborative act.
In each case, 겠 marks a judgment based on information that both speakers understand in their conversation.
Note that ㄹ 것 cannot be used in these three examples because, with ㄹ 것, the source of information must exclusively belong to the speaker’s own knowledge.
Evoking action
Dialogue: (Adapted from Suh & Kim 2000)
Context: A group are in a hurry to leave.
늦겠다.
(hurrying up) We’ll be late.
Here the speaker uses 겠 to make their assessment of the situation (needing to hurry) the focus of shared attention. The use of 겠 is an indirect warning framed as a conjecture so that the group take new action (immediate departure).
Note that if ㄹ 것 were used here, it would make the sentence an information-giving statement. That is, one that does not evoke action (immediate departure).
Acknowledgements
Dialogue: (Adapted from Suh & Kim 2000)
Context: Military general (A) has been receiving orders from his superior (B).
B: 다시 한번 확인을 해주세요.
B: Please confirm it one more time.
A: 그렇게 하겠습니다.
A: I will do as you have directed.
… 50 lines omitted …
B: 내 말 가지고도 안 됩니다.
B: You can’t override it, not even with my order.
A: 알겠습니다.
A: I understand.
B: 그것만 확인 해주세요.
B: Please make sure that you confirm the order no matter what.
A: 들어가겠습니다.
A: I’ll go in (and hang up now).
B: O.K.
A: 들어가십시오.
A: Please go in.
B: Thank you.
A: 예.
A: Yes.
In these three instances, the speaker uses 겠 to acknowledge the order and show his intention to undertake it. More specifically, 겠 shows his intention to act is the outcome of collaboration (shared awareness). In examples like this, speakers use 겠 to display compliance to commands by providing reassurance of the shared awareness (collaborative intention).
For additional understanding, compare:
B: 내 말 가지고도 안 됩니다.
B: You can’t override it, not even with my order.
A1: 알겠습니다.
A2: *알 겁니다.
A3: 알았습니다.
A: I understand.
Note that:
A2: ㄹ 것 is not possible in this context where the speaker acknowledges information provided by the other speaker.
A3: The perfective 았 could be used, but this simply registers the piece of information as understood. There is no display of adjustment in his cognitive state or collaborative orientation towards his superior’s order.
A1: Only 겠 has a sense that the speaker is committed to undertaking the action as directed.
겠다 VS ㄹ 것이다
The key difference between 겠 and ㄹ 것 lies in the basis for prediction. These patterns are sometimes called “future tense markers,” but that’s not quite accurate – they’re more about the speaker’s level of certainty and evidence. ㄹ 것 is used when making predictions based on hard evidence, facts, or logical reasoning. It signals that the speaker has concrete knowledge to back up their statement.
For example:
오늘 일찍 잘 거예요.
I’ll go to bed early today.
(I have an important test tomorrow)
Here, the speaker uses ㄹ 거 because they have factual knowledge – they know about the test tomorrow.
겠 is used when making predictions based on immediate observations, feelings, or intuition.<.p>
For instance:
저 학생 피곤해 보이겠어요.
That student looks tired.
Here, the speaker is making a judgment based on what they observe in the moment.
Compare the following:
와! 이 딸기 케이크가 정말 달겠다.
Wow! This strawberry cake must be really sweet.
이 딸기 케이크가 달 거예요.
This strawberry cake will be sweet.
(I’ve tried it before)
In the first example, 겠 is used because the speaker is making a judgment based on what they can see – perhaps the visible strawberries and icing suggest sweetness. Their prediction comes from immediate visual observation. In the second example, ㄹ 거 is used because the speaker has direct experience – they’ve actually tasted the cake before. Their prediction is based on firsthand knowledge. This shows how ㄹ 거 is used for evidence-based predictions, while 겠 expresses judgments based on immediate observations or intuition.
Uniquely, 겠 has several special uses that ㄹ 거 cannot replace:
Expressing sympathy or concern:
많이 힘드시겠어요.
You must be having a hard time.
Polite requests:
커피 한잔 하시겠어요?
Would you like to have a cup of coffee?
Formal promises:
곧 연락 드리겠습니다.
I will contact you soon.
Common forms
겠다 can occur with the following forms:
시겠다
회의실이 어디에 있는지 가르쳐 주시겠어요?
Would you be so kind as to tell me where the conference room is?
어서 죽겠다
배가 고파서 죽겠어!
I’m starving!
어야겠다
영화가 재미있어 보이니까 꼭 봐야겠다.
The movie looks interesting. I’ll definitely have to watch it.
면 좋겠다
기타를 잘 치면 좋겠어요.
I wish I could play the guitar well.
면 고맙겠다
조금만 덜 시끄러우면 고맙겠어.
I’d appreciate it if you could be a little quieter.
알겠다/모르겠다
왜 이렇게 싫은지 모르겠어.
I don’t know why I hate it this much.
느니 (차라리)… 겠다
기다리느니 포기하겠다.
I’d rather give up than wait.
는 게 좋겠다
바로 녹음을 시작하는 게 좋겠네요.
I’d best start recording right away.
Additional details
Origin
겠 originated from the causative form 게 하였다.
As in:
도리깨를 만들어야 타작을 하게 하였다.
We made it so that threshing could be done after making a flail.
This shortened to become:
도리깨를 만들어야 타작을 하겠다.
We made it so that threshing could be done after making a flail.
From this original meaning of “making something happen”, 겠 developed two key modern uses:
Conjecture (from likelihood):
내일 비가 오겠다.
It will probably rain tomorrow.
Intention (from will/shall):
제가 이 일을 한 시까지 끝내겠습니다.
I will finish this work by 1 o’clock.
Associated grammar
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See also
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Bibliography
Affiliate links help support uK.
— 박은정. (2006). 구어말뭉치를 통해 살펴본 ‘-겠-’의 실현양상 －한국어 교재에 제시된 ‘-겠-’의 의미기능과의 비교를 중심으로－. 언어와 문화, 3, 39-65.
— Choo, M., & Kwak, H. (2008). Using Korean: A Guide to Contemporary Usage. New York: Cambridge University Press.
— Kingdom, L. (2015). Essential Korean Grammar: Your Essential Guide to Speaking and Writing Korean Fluently!. Singapore: Tuttle Publishing.
— King, R., & Yeon, J., (2000). Elementary Korean. Boston: Tuttle Publishing.
— 김민주. (2008). The Emergence of the Korean Modal -keyss-: From Causative to Epistemic and Volitive Modal. 담화와 인지, 15, 1–27.
— 국립국어원 표준국어대사전, [s.v. -겠-].
— NIKL 사전, [s.v. -겠-].
— Sohn, H. (1999). The Korean Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
— Suh, K., & Kim, K. (1993). The Korean Modal Marker Keyss as a Marker of Affect: An Interactional Perspective. Japanese/Korean Linguistics, 2, 98–114.
— Suh, K., & Kim, K. (2000). The Korean modal marker keyss revisited: a marker of achieved state of intersubjectivity. The Korean modal marker keyss revisited: a marker of achieved state of intersubjectivity. In: Proceedings of the Twenty-Sixth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society: General Session and Parasession on Aspect, 271–282.
— Yeon, J., & Brown, L. (2008). Korean: A Comprehensive Grammar. New York: Routledge.
— You, C., & Cho, E. (2002). Intermediate College Korean. Berkeley: University of California Press.
— 윤주형. (2020). Evidentiality and Modality?: Analysis of Korean -keyss. 언어과학연구, 93, 93–119.