Pattern: -(았/었)을 거
-(았/었)을 거 (-(ass, (ass, eoss)eulgeo)
-(았/었)을 거 expresses past assumptions or guesses in Korean.
When and how native speakers actually use it.
Used to express assumptions or guesses about past events.
When to use
guessing past events, responding to others' statements, explaining past situations
The nuance
Attach -(았/었)을 거 to the past stem of verbs or adjectives to express assumptions about past events. It is mainly used when guessing that something probably happened based on context or someone’s statement.
어제 비가 많이 왔을 거예요.
eo-je bi-ga man-i wass-eul geo-ye-yo., eo je bi ga man i wass eul geo ye yo.
Correctly expresses a guess about heavy rain in the past.
그 사람은 벌써 집에 갔을 거야.
geu sa-ram-eun beol-sseo jip-e gass-eul geo-ya., geu sa ram eun beol sseo jip e gass eul geo ya.
Naturally expresses assumption that the person went home in the past.
나는 그 영화를 봤을 거야.
na-neun geu yeong-hwa-reul bwass-eul geo-ya., na neun geu yeong hwa reul bwass eul geo ya.
Appropriate for speaker’s own past assumption.
어제 친구가 왔을 거 아니야?
eo-je chin-gu-ga wass-eul geo a-ni-ya?, eo je chin gu ga wass eul geo a ni ya?
Natural question form expressing past guess.
나는 그 일을 할 거야.
na-neun geu il-eul hal geo-ya., na neun geu il eul hal geo ya.
-(았/었)을 거 cannot be used for future tense.
그는 지금 집에 갔을 거예요.
geu-neun ji-geum jip-e gass-eul geo-ye-yo., geu neun ji geum jip e gass eul geo ye yo.
‘Now’ conflicts with past assumption, making sentence unnatural.
Which sentence expresses a past assumption?
What is the correct use of -(았/었)을 거?
Which sentence is incorrect?
