🔮

Describing Nouns with Actions (Future): -(으)ㄹ N

Keywords
-(으)ㄹ
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Grammar
🔮
TL;DR 🦄
  • 🔮 -(으)ㄹ N describes a noun connected to a future, planned, or intended action: 읽을 책 = a book someone will read.
  • 🧱 Use 을 after many consonant-ending action stems: 먹다 = to eat → 먹을 밥 = a meal someone will eat.
  • ☀️ Use ㄹ after many vowel-ending action stems: 보다 = to watch → 볼 영화 = a movie someone will watch.
  • 🚨 Some verbs need special attention: 듣다 = to listen → 들을 음악 = music someone will listen to; 만들다 = to make → 만들 빵 = bread someone will make.
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Open
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets and listen to 먹을 밥, 읽을 책, 볼 영화, and 들을 음악. These phrases should feel like “noun with a plan attached.” 🗓️
 

🌈 The Big Picture

Korean can describe a noun with an action that has not happened yet.
 
In English, you might say:
  • “the book someone will read”
  • “the coffee someone will drink”
  • “the movie someone will watch”
 
In Korean, the future/planned-action phrase comes before the noun:
  • 읽을 책 = a book someone will read 📚
  • 마실 커피 = coffee someone will drink ☕
  • 볼 영화 = a movie someone will watch 🎬
 
This pattern can also feel like “intended for” or “to be used for”: 마실 물 = water to drink / water someone will drink. Tiny grammar calendar, very organized. 📅
 

🧩 Core Pattern

Start with the dictionary form, remove 다, then choose the future-action ending.
 
Often use 을 after consonant-ending action stems:
  • 먹다 = to eat → 먹을 = will eat / to eat
  • 읽다 = to read → 읽을 = will read / to read
  • 닫다 = to close → 닫을 = will close / to close
  • 받다 = to receive → 받을 = will receive / to receive
 
Often use ㄹ after vowel-ending action stems:
  • 보다 = to see/watch → 볼 = will see/watch
  • 마시다 = to drink → 마실 = will drink
  • 공부하다 = to study → 공부할 = will study
  • 일하다 = to work → 일할 = will work
  • 가다 = to go → 갈 = will go
  • 오다 = to come → 올 = will come
  • 쉬다 = to rest → 쉴 = will rest
  • 자다 = to sleep → 잘 = will sleep
 

🛠️ How They Work in a Phrase

The future-action form goes directly before the noun it describes.
 
  • 먹을 밥 = a meal someone will eat 🍚
  • 읽을 책 = a book someone will read 📖
  • 볼 영화 = a movie someone will watch 🎬
  • 마실 물 = water someone will drink 💧
  • 갈 학교 = a school someone will go to 🏫
 

🧭 Useful Extra: Present, completed, and future action

This pattern points forward. Compare it with the two action-modifier patterns from recent lessons:
 
  • 읽는 책 = a book someone reads / is reading
  • 읽은 책 = a book someone read
  • 읽을 책 = a book someone will read
 
  • 보는 영화 = a movie someone watches / is watching
  • 본 영화 = a movie someone watched
  • 볼 영화 = a movie someone will watch
 
One noun, three timelines. Korean grammar just installed a tiny time machine. 🕰️
 

🚨 Special Forms and Irregular Notes

Some future-action forms change the visible stem or behave differently from the simplest examples. When practicing, the blank must allow the correct final form.
 

1. ㄷ-irregular action verbs

Some verbs ending in ㄷ change ㄷ to ㄹ before this vowel-starting ending.
 
Common ㄷ-irregular verbs:
  • 듣다 = to listen → 들을 음악 = music someone will listen to 🎵
  • 걷다 = to walk → 걸을 길 = a road someone will walk 🛣️
  • 묻다 = to ask → 물을 질문 = a question someone will ask ❓
  • 싣다 = to load/carry → 실을 짐 = luggage someone will load/carry 🧳
 
But not every ㄷ-ending verb is irregular:
  • 닫다 = to close → 닫을 문 = a door someone will close 🚪
  • 받다 = to receive → 받을 선물 = a gift someone will receive 🎁
 

2. ㄹ-ending action verbs

Action verb stems already ending in ㄹ do not take another 을 or extra ㄹ here. The stem can directly describe the noun.
 
Common natural examples:
  • 만들다 = to make → 만들 빵 = bread someone will make 🍞
  • 살다 = to live → 살 집 = a house someone will live in 🏠
  • 놀다 = to play / hang out → 놀 시간 = time someone will play / hang out ⏰
 

📚 Cross-check note

The future/planned-action modifier -(으)ㄹ N was checked against Korean grammar references from korean.go.kr, including guidance that verb adnominal forms use future-oriented -(으)ㄹ and that ㄷ-irregular verbs such as 듣다 can change before vowel-starting endings. ✅
 

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 먹ㄹ 밥 → ✅ 먹을 밥 = a meal someone will eat — consonant-ending stem needs 을.
  • ❌ 보다을 영화 → ✅ 볼 영화 = a movie someone will watch — vowel-ending stem takes ㄹ.
  • ❌ 듣을 음악 → ✅ 들을 음악 = music someone will listen to — 듣다 is ㄷ-irregular.
  • ❌ 만들을 빵 → ✅ 만들 빵 = bread someone will make — 만들다 already ends in ㄹ.
  • ❌ 마시을 커피 → ✅ 마실 커피 = coffee someone will drink — 마시다 becomes 마실.
 
🎉 Future-action descriptions unlocked: your Korean nouns now have plans, appointments, and a tiny clipboard. 📋
 

Try this exercise

Instructions
Complete each phrase with the correct future-action form. Read the full phrase aloud, then open the Answer toggle. 🔮
1. 먹다 → ＿＿＿＿ 밥
[meok-da → ＿＿＿＿ bap]
meal someone will eat 🍚
Answer
먹을 밥 = meal someone will eat — consonant-ending stem + 을.
2. 읽다 → ＿＿＿＿ 책
[ik-da → ＿＿＿＿ chaek]
book someone will read 📚
Answer
읽을 책 = book someone will read — consonant-ending stem + 을.
3. 듣다 → ＿＿＿＿ 음악
[deut-da → ＿＿＿＿ eu-mak]
music someone will listen to 🎵
Answer
들을 음악 = music someone will listen to — 듣다 is ㄷ-irregular.
4. 보다 → ＿＿＿＿ 영화
[bo-da → ＿＿＿＿ yeong-hwa]
movie someone will watch 🎬
Answer
볼 영화 = movie someone will watch — vowel-ending stem + ㄹ.
5. 마시다 → ＿＿＿＿ 커피
[ma-si-da → ＿＿＿＿ keo-pi]
coffee someone will drink ☕
Answer
마실 커피 = coffee someone will drink — 마시다 becomes 마실.
6. 걷다 → ＿＿＿＿ 길
[geot-da → ＿＿＿＿ gil]
road someone will walk 🛣️
Answer
걸을 길 = road someone will walk — 걷다 is ㄷ-irregular.
7. 닫다 → ＿＿＿＿ 문
[dat-da → ＿＿＿＿ mun]
door someone will close 🚪
Answer
닫을 문 = door someone will close — 닫다 is regular, so ㄷ stays.
8. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 빵
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ ppang]
bread someone will make 🍞
Answer
만들 빵 = bread someone will make — 만들다 already ends in ㄹ.
9. 살다 → ＿＿＿＿ 집
[sal-da → ＿＿＿＿ jip]
house someone will live in 🏠
Answer
살 집 = house someone will live in — 살다 already ends in ㄹ.
10. 자다 → ＿＿＿＿ 방
[ja-da → ＿＿＿＿ bang]
room where someone will sleep 🛏️
Answer
잘 방 = room where someone will sleep — 자다 becomes 잘.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 먹다 → to eat
  • 읽다 → to read
  • 듣다 → to listen
  • 보다 → to see / watch
  • 마시다 → to drink
  • 걷다 → to walk
  • 닫다 → to close
  • 만들다 → to make
  • 살다 → to live
  • 자다 → to sleep
  • 밥 → rice / meal
  • 책 → book
  • 음악 → music
  • 영화 → movie
  • 커피 → coffee
  • 길 → road
  • 문 → door
  • 빵 → bread
  • 집 → house / home
  • 방 → room
Tip 💡 If the form changes a lot, blank the full future modifier.
 
🚀
Want more practice? When you’re ready, continue to the Practice Hub below for more -(으)ㄹ N future-action practice.
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Describing Nouns with Actions (Future): -(으)ㄹ N
 
Welcome to future-action modifier practice! 🔮 These phrases describe nouns through actions that are planned or coming later. Tiny grammar time machine: installed. 🕰️
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear each phrase.
 
📝 How to use: Fill each blank with the future-action form, say the phrase aloud, then open the Answer toggle. Watch for verbs whose stems visibly change or already end in ㄹ.
 

Exercise 1 — Regular Future Actions

A. 먹다 → ＿＿＿＿ 밥
[meok-da → ＿＿＿＿ bap]
meal someone will eat 🍚
Answer
먹을 밥 = meal someone will eat.
B. 읽다 → ＿＿＿＿ 책
[ik-da → ＿＿＿＿ chaek]
book someone will read 📖
Answer
읽을 책 = book someone will read.
C. 보다 → ＿＿＿＿ 영화
[bo-da → ＿＿＿＿ yeong-hwa]
movie someone will watch 🎬
Answer
볼 영화 = movie someone will watch.
D. 마시다 → ＿＿＿＿ 커피
[ma-si-da → ＿＿＿＿ keo-pi]
coffee someone will drink ☕
Answer
마실 커피 = coffee someone will drink.
E. 공부하다 → ＿＿＿＿ 책
[gong-bu-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿ chaek]
book someone will study 📚
Answer
공부할 책 = book someone will study.
F. 일하다 → ＿＿＿＿ 사람
[il-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿ sa-ram]
person who will work 💼
Answer
일할 사람 = person who will work.
G. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿ 학교
[ga-da → ＿＿＿＿ hak-gyo]
school someone will go to 🏫
Answer
갈 학교 = school someone will go to.
H. 오다 → ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[o-da → ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend who will come 👋
Answer
올 친구 = friend who will come.
I. 쉬다 → ＿＿＿＿ 집
[swi-da → ＿＿＿＿ jip]
home where someone will rest 🏠
Answer
쉴 집 = home where someone will rest.
J. 자다 → ＿＿＿＿ 방
[ja-da → ＿＿＿＿ bang]
room where someone will sleep 🛏️
Answer
잘 방 = room where someone will sleep.
 

Exercise 2 — ㄷ-Irregular vs Regular ㄷ

A. 듣다 → ＿＿＿＿ 음악
[deut-da → ＿＿＿＿ eu-mak]
music someone will listen to 🎵
Answer
들을 음악 = music someone will listen to — 듣다 is ㄷ-irregular.
B. 걷다 → ＿＿＿＿ 길
[geot-da → ＿＿＿＿ gil]
road someone will walk 🛣️
Answer
걸을 길 = road someone will walk — 걷다 is ㄷ-irregular.
C. 묻다 → ＿＿＿＿ 질문
[mut-da → ＿＿＿＿ jil-mun]
question someone will ask ❓
Answer
물을 질문 = question someone will ask — 묻다 meaning “to ask” is ㄷ-irregular.
D. 싣다 → ＿＿＿＿ 짐
[sit-da → ＿＿＿＿ jim]
luggage someone will load/carry 🧳
Answer
실을 짐 = luggage someone will load/carry — 싣다 is ㄷ-irregular.
E. 닫다 → ＿＿＿＿ 문
[dat-da → ＿＿＿＿ mun]
door someone will close 🚪
Answer
닫을 문 = door someone will close — 닫다 is regular.
F. 받다 → ＿＿＿＿ 선물
[bat-da → ＿＿＿＿ seon-mul]
gift someone will receive 🎁
Answer
받을 선물 = gift someone will receive — 받다 is regular.
G. 듣다 → ＿＿＿＿ 음악을 좋아해요.
[deut-da → ＿＿＿＿ eu-ma-geul jo-a-hae-yo]
I like the music someone will listen to 🎧
Answer
들을 음악을 좋아해요. = I like the music someone will listen to.
H. 걷다 → ＿＿＿＿ 길을 봐요.
[geot-da → ＿＿＿＿ gi-reul bwa-yo]
I see the road someone will walk 🛣️
Answer
걸을 길을 봐요. = I see the road someone will walk.
I. 닫다 → ＿＿＿＿ 문을 봐요.
[dat-da → ＿＿＿＿ mu-neul bwa-yo]
I see the door someone will close 🚪
Answer
닫을 문을 봐요. = I see the door someone will close.
J. 받다 → ＿＿＿＿ 선물을 봐요.
[bat-da → ＿＿＿＿ seon-mu-reul bwa-yo]
I see the gift someone will receive 🎁
Answer
받을 선물을 봐요. = I see the gift someone will receive.
 

Exercise 3 — ㄹ-Ending Future Actions

A. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 빵
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ ppang]
bread someone will make 🍞
Answer
만들 빵 = bread someone will make — no extra 을 is needed.
B. 살다 → ＿＿＿＿ 집
[sal-da → ＿＿＿＿ jip]
house someone will live in 🏠
Answer
살 집 = house someone will live in — the stem already ends in ㄹ.
C. 놀다 → ＿＿＿＿ 시간
[nol-da → ＿＿＿＿ si-gan]
time someone will play / hang out ⏰
Answer
놀 시간 = time someone will play / hang out.
D. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 커피
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ keo-pi]
coffee someone will make ☕
Answer
만들 커피 = coffee someone will make.
E. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 질문
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ jil-mun]
question someone will make ❓
Answer
만들 질문 = question someone will make.
F. 살다 → 서울에 ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[sal-da → seo-u-re ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend who will live in Seoul 🏙️
Answer
서울에 살 친구 = friend who will live in Seoul.
G. 놀다 → 학교에서 ＿＿＿＿ 학생
[nol-da → hak-gyo-e-seo ＿＿＿＿ hak-saeng]
student who will play at school 🏫
Answer
학교에서 놀 학생 = student who will play at school.
H. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 선물
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ seon-mul]
gift someone will make 🎁
Answer
만들 선물 = gift someone will make.
I. 살다 → 집에 ＿＿＿＿ 사람
[sal-da → ji-be ＿＿＿＿ sa-ram]
person who will live at home 🏠
Answer
집에 살 사람 = person who will live at home.
J. 놀다 → ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[nol-da → ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend someone will hang out with 🧑‍🤝‍🧑
Answer
놀 친구 = friend someone will hang out with.
 

Exercise 4 — Sentence Builder

A. 읽다 → ＿＿＿＿ 책을 봐요.
[ik-da → ＿＿＿＿ chae-geul bwa-yo]
I see the book someone will read 📚
Answer
읽을 책을 봐요. = I see the book someone will read.
B. 보다 → ＿＿＿＿ 영화를 좋아해요.
[bo-da → ＿＿＿＿ yeong-hwa-reul jo-a-hae-yo]
I like the movie someone will watch 🎬
Answer
볼 영화를 좋아해요. = I like the movie someone will watch.
C. 마시다 → ＿＿＿＿ 커피를 봐요.
[ma-si-da → ＿＿＿＿ keo-pi-reul bwa-yo]
I see the coffee someone will drink ☕
Answer
마실 커피를 봐요. = I see the coffee someone will drink.
D. 듣다 → ＿＿＿＿ 음악을 좋아해요.
[deut-da → ＿＿＿＿ eu-ma-geul jo-a-hae-yo]
I like the music someone will listen to 🎵
Answer
들을 음악을 좋아해요. = I like the music someone will listen to.
E. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 빵을 먹어요.
[man-deul-da → ＿＿＿＿ ppang-eul meo-geo-yo]
I eat the bread someone will make 🍞
Answer
만들 빵을 먹어요. = I eat the bread someone will make.
F. 받다 → ＿＿＿＿ 선물을 봐요.
[bat-da → ＿＿＿＿ seon-mu-reul bwa-yo]
I see the gift someone will receive 🎁
Answer
받을 선물을 봐요. = I see the gift someone will receive.
G. 닫다 → ＿＿＿＿ 문을 봐요.
[dat-da → ＿＿＿＿ mu-neul bwa-yo]
I see the door someone will close 🚪
Answer
닫을 문을 봐요. = I see the door someone will close.
H. 공부하다 → ＿＿＿＿ 책을 봐요.
[gong-bu-ha-da → ＿＿＿＿ chae-geul bwa-yo]
I see the book someone will study 📚
Answer
공부할 책을 봐요. = I see the book someone will study.
I. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿ 학교를 봐요.
[ga-da → ＿＿＿＿ hak-gyo-reul bwa-yo]
I see the school someone will go to 🏫
Answer
갈 학교를 봐요. = I see the school someone will go to.
J. 자다 → ＿＿＿＿ 방을 봐요.
[ja-da → ＿＿＿＿ bang-eul bwa-yo]
I see the room where someone will sleep 🛏️
Answer
잘 방을 봐요. = I see the room where someone will sleep.
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol

A. ❌ 먹ㄹ 밥 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹을 밥 = meal someone will eat — consonant stem needs 을.
B. ❌ 보다을 영화 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
볼 영화 = movie someone will watch — do not attach 을 to 보다.
C. ❌ 듣을 음악 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
들을 음악 = music someone will listen to — 듣다 is ㄷ-irregular.
D. ❌ 만들을 빵 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
만들 빵 = bread someone will make — 만들다 already ends in ㄹ.
E. ❌ 마시을 커피 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
마실 커피 = coffee someone will drink — 마시다 becomes 마실.
F. 읽는 책 vs 읽을 책 — Which means “book someone will read”? → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
읽을 책 = book someone will read. 읽는 책 means “book someone reads/is reading.”
G. 받다 → ＿＿＿＿ 선물
[bat-da → ＿＿＿＿ seon-mul]
gift someone will receive 🎁
Answer
받을 선물 = gift someone will receive.
H. 걷다 → ＿＿＿＿ 길
[geot-da → ＿＿＿＿ gil]
road someone will walk 🛣️
Answer
걸을 길 = road someone will walk.
I. 오다 → ＿＿＿＿ 친구
[o-da → ＿＿＿＿ chin-gu]
friend who will come 👋
Answer
올 친구 = friend who will come.
J. Choose the natural future-action phrase: ① 볼 영화 / ② 본 영화 → ＿＿＿＿
Answer
① 볼 영화 = movie someone will watch — future/planned action uses -(으)ㄹ.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • -(으)ㄹ N → noun described by a future/planned action
  • 먹다 → to eat
  • 읽다 → to read
  • 듣다 → to listen
  • 걷다 → to walk
  • 묻다 → to ask
  • 싣다 → to load / carry
  • 닫다 → to close
  • 받다 → to receive
  • 보다 → to see / watch
  • 마시다 → to drink
  • 공부하다 → to study
  • 일하다 → to work
  • 가다 → to go
  • 오다 → to come
  • 쉬다 → to rest
  • 자다 → to sleep
  • 만들다 → to make
  • 살다 → to live
  • 놀다 → to play / hang out
  • 밥 → rice / meal
  • 책 → book
  • 영화 → movie
  • 커피 → coffee
  • 물 → water
  • 음악 → music
  • 친구 → friend
  • 학생 → student
  • 사람 → person
  • 길 → road
  • 질문 → question
  • 짐 → luggage / load
  • 문 → door
  • 선물 → gift
  • 빵 → bread
  • 집 → house / home
  • 방 → room
  • 시간 → time
  • 서울 → Seoul
Tip 💡 Future-action forms point forward: 보다 → 볼, 듣다 → 들을, 만들다 → 만들.
 
 
🎉
Great work! Future-action modifiers mastered — your Korean nouns now know what they’re doing next. 🔮