INT 3 | Intention ~(으)려고

MEANING

Shows the speaker’s intention: plans, goals, objectives

CONJUGATION

C+으려고
먹다 to eat : 먹으려고
있다 to exist, stay : 있으려고

V+려고
하다 to do : 하려고
배우다 to learn: 배우려고

Irregular: ㄹ+려고
살다 to live: 살려고
돈을 벌다 to earn money: 돈을 벌려고

Irregular: ㄷ+으려고 = ㄹ+으려고 (not all the verbs, mostly the following two)
듣다 to listen, to hear: 들으려고
걷다 to walk: 걸으려고

Irregular: ㅂ+으려고 = 우려고 (not all the verbs)
돕다 to help : 도우려고
굽다 to grill : 구우려고

USAGE

1. At the end of a sentence as “~(으)려고 하다”: plan, intention
   • 배고파서 지금 아침 먹으려고 해요.
     I’m hungry, so I’m about to eat breakfast.
     
     저는 오늘 피곤해서 집에서 쉬려고 해요.
     I am tired today, so I am going to (I intend to) rest at home.
     
2. At the end of a sentence as “~(으)려고(요).”: often as a response and answer
   • 친구: 오늘 뭐 해?
     나: 어, 숙제하려고.
     친구: 나는 오늘 쇼핑 가려고. 같이 갈래?
     나: 아니야. 오늘 이거 다 하려고.
     
   • 선생님: 왜 한국어 배워요?
     학생: 한국에서 일하려고요. To work in Korea.
     
3. As a connective ending: [goal/objective/intention]~(으)려고 + current action(s)
   • 저는 한국에 가려고 한국어 공부해요.
     I study Korean in order to go to Korea.
     
     요즘 살 빼려고 운동하고 있어요.
     Nowadays, I am working out in order to lose weight.
     
     라면 끓이려고 물 올려 놨어요.
     To make(boil) Ramyeon, I put the water on (the stove).

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ~(으)려고 AND ~(으)러

~(으)러 + 가다/오다

Whereas ~(으)려고 can be followed by any actions, ~(으)러 is only used with directional verbs such as 가다(to go) and 오다(to come).

[Intention]~(으)러 가다/오다: to go/come in order to~

쇼핑하러 가요. I am going shopping. [= purpose (intention) of going there is to shop]
점심 먹으러 갈까? Shall we go eat lunch? [= purpose (intention) of going somewhere is to eat lunch]
밥 먹으러 와! Come to eat! [= purpose (intention) of coming here is to eat]
여기 뭐 하러 왔어? What brought you here? [= asking the purpose (intention) of coming here]

TIP: You cannot use ~(으)러요 to generally state your plans.
I am intending to clean today.
저는 오늘 청소하려고요. (O)
저는 오늘 청소하러요. (X)