BEG 7 | Future Tense? Probability!

There is NO future tense in Korean! WHAAAA?

Linguistically speaking, Korean grammar only has two tenses: past and present.
Does this sound crazy? Actually, it is the same in English! Let me show you.\

I am not saying Koreans do not know what future means or there is no way to talk about future in Korean. What I mean is Korean and English only has past and present tenses that have designated, fixed grammatical conjugation rules. Think about these:

1. In both Korean and English, you MUST conjugate the verbs to talk about the past.
   쇼핑해요. I shop (am shopping).
   쇼핑했어요. I shopped yesterday.
   
   ~었/았/ㅆ~ is the designated past tense suffix in Korean
   ~ed the designated for the past tense in English
   
2. In both Korean and English, present tense is used to talk about the future as well.
   지금 쇼핑해요. I am shopping now. ⭕️
   내일 쇼핑해요. I am shopping tomorrow. ⭕️
   어제 쇼핑해요. I am shopping yesterday. ❌
   ⚠️ You can use the present tense ending for future but not for the past. You must conjugate to the past tense.
   
3. In both languages, there are grammatical expressions that are used for future but also for other meanings. Not designated, fixed only for the future “tense”.
   내일 쇼핑할 거예요. I will probably shop tomorrow.
   ⚠️ English “will” not only is used for future but also for promise, willingness, etc. It is not designated only for future tense and has multiple meanings.
   ⚠️ Similarly, ~(으)ㄹ 거예요 not only is used to talk about future plans but about present and even past when you are not 100% certain: “probably”.
   
4. In sum, there are past and present tenses grammatically speaking, but not future.

What is ~(으)ㄹ 거예요?

It indicates probability, it is probably true but not 100% certain. Future plans are probable but could always change, right? That is why it is used to talk about the future!

BUT

~(으)ㄹ 거예요 can be used for the present and even past tense if you want to indicate you’re not 100% certain but it is probable.

Now, watch the video and see examples in all three tenses!!!

CONJUGATION

C+을 거야(non-polite) / 거예요(polite).
먹다 to eat 먹을 거야 / 거예요. “…will eat.” or “…probably eat(s).”
있다 to be (location) 있을 거야 / 거예요. “…will be there.” or “…probably is/am/are.”
없다 to not be (location) 없을 거야 / 거예요. “…won’t be there.” or “…probably is/am/are not.”
닫다 to close 닫을 거야 / 거예요. “…will close.” or “…probably close(s).”

좋다 to be good, nice 좋을 거야 / 거예요. “…will be good.” or “…probably am/are/is good.”
많다 to be many / much 많을 거야 / 거예요. “…will be many.” or “…probably am/are/is many.”

V+ㄹ 거야(non-polite) / 거예요(polite).
가다 to go 갈 거야 / 거예요. “…will go.” or “…probably go(es).”
하다 to do 할 거야 / 거예요. “…will do.” or “…probably do(es).”

크다 to be big 클 거야 / 거예요. “…will be big.” or “…probably am/are/is big.”
아니다 to be not 아닐 거야 / 거예요. “…will not be + N.” or “…probably am/are/is not…”

ㄹ Irregular: DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING (ㄹ drops and you treat it like vowel)
살다 to live 살 거야 / 거예요. “…will live.” or “…probably live(s).”
알다 to know 알 거야 / 거예요. “…will know.” or “…probably know(s).”
열다 to open 열 거야 / 거예요. “…will open.” or “…probably open(s).”

멀다 to be far 멀 거야 / 거예요. “…will be far.” or “…probably am/are/is far.”
길다 to be long 길 거야 / 거예요. “…will be long.” or “…probably am/are/is long.”

ㅂ Irregular: ㅂ BECOMES 우 + ㄹ 거야/거예요
덥다 to be hot (weather) 더울 거야 / 거예요. “It will be hot.” or “It is probably hot.”
춥다 to be cold (weather) 추울 거야 / 거예요. “It will be cold.” or “It is probably cold.”

ㄷ Irregular: ㄷ BECOMES ㄹ + 을 거야/거예요 (Almost only these two are irregular)
듣다 to listen 들을 거야 / 거예요. “…will listen.” or “…probably listen(s).”
걷다 to walk 걸을 거야 / 거예요. “…will walk.” or “…probably walk(s).”