How to use 을/ㄹ게 in Korean

Real-world examples

• ⭕

  내일 일찍 올게.

  nae-il il-jjik ol-ge., nae il il jjik ol ge.

  Natural expression where first-person promises the listener.

• ⭕

  너 기다릴게.

  neo gi-da-ril-ge., neo gi da ril ge.

  Correct sentence expressing intention with consideration for listener.

• ⭕

  내가 할게.

  nae-ga hal-ge., nae ga hal ge.

  Typical example of gently expressing one’s intention.

• ❌

  내일 비가 올게.

  nae-il bi-ga ol-ge., nae il bi ga ol ge.

  Subject is third-person; -(으)ㄹ게 is only for first-person subjects.

• ⭕

  나는 먹을게.

  na-neun meok-eul-ge., na neun meok eul ge.

  Appropriate sentence expressing intention with first-person subject.

• ⭕

  우리 집에 갈게.

  u-ri jip-e gal-ge., u ri jip e gal ge.

  Natural sentence informing listener of speaker’s intention.

• ❌

  너는 할게.

  neo-neun hal-ge., neo neun hal ge.

  -(으)ㄹ게 is only used with first-person subjects, not second-person.

1. Which sentence correctly uses -(으)ㄹ게?

   다음 중 -(으)ㄹ게를 올바르게 쓴 문장은?(da-eumjung-(eu)ㄹge-reulol-ba-reu-gesseunmun-jang-eun?, daeumjung(eu)ㄹgereulolbareugesseunmunjangeun?)
   • 내가 도와줄게.(nae-gado-wa-jul-ge., naegadowajulge.)
   • 네가 도와줄게.(ne-gado-wa-jul-ge., negadowajulge.)
   • 비가 올게.(bi-gaol-ge., bigaolge.)
   • 그가 올게.(geu-gaol-ge., geugaolge.)

2. What is the main use of -(으)ㄹ게?

   -(으)ㄹ게의 주된 용도는?(-(eu)ㄹge-uiju-doenyong-do-neun?, (eu)ㄹgeuijudoenyongdoneun?)
   • 상대방에게 약속이나 의지를 표현한다.(sang-dae-bang-e-geyak-sok-i-naui-ji-reulpyo-hyeon-han-da., sangdaebangegeyaksokinauijireulpyohyeonhanda.)
   • 사실을 진술한다.(sa-sil-euljin-sul-han-da., sasileuljinsulhanda.)
   • 명령을 한다.(myeong-ryeong-eulhan-da., myeongryeongeulhanda.)
   • 질문을 한다.(jil-mun-eulhan-da., jilmuneulhanda.)

3. Which sentence is incorrect?

   다음 중 틀린 문장은?(da-eumjungteul-rinmun-jang-eun?, daeumjungteulrinmunjangeun?)
   • 내가 갈게.(nae-gagal-ge., naegagalge.)
   • 너는 갈게.(neo-neungal-ge., neoneungalge.)
   • 내가 먹을게.(nae-gameok-eul-ge., naegameokeulge.)
   • 내가 기다릴게.(nae-gagi-da-ril-ge., naegagidarilge.)