Expressing Intent: -(으)ㄹ게요

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TL;DR 🦄

🙋 제가 할게요 [je-ga hal-ge-yo] — "I'll do it"

🏃 금방 갈게요 [geum-bang gal-ge-yo] — "I'll be there soon"

📞 제가 연락할게요 [je-ga yeol-la-kal-ge-yo] — "I'll contact you"

🍽️ 조금만 기다려 주세요, 곧 가져다 드릴게요 [jo-geum-man gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo, got ga-jeo-da deu-ril-ge-yo] — "Please wait a moment, I'll bring it right away"

💳 이건 제가 계산할게요 [i-geon je-ga gye-sa-nal-ge-yo] — "I'll pay for this one"

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🎧 Iru Helper Note: Hear every phrase in this lesson spoken aloud and practice your pronunciation with the Iru Helper Widgets.

🌈 The Big Picture

-(으)ㄹ게요 [-(eu)l-ge-yo] is how you express a promise, offer, or decision you're making right now, on the spot — "I'll do it" or "I will." It's directed at the listener, almost like a small commitment you're handing over to them. It's extremely common in service settings (waiters, clerks) and everyday favors.

제가 할게요 — "I'll do it (so you don't have to)"

금방 갈게요 — "I'll be right there"

Because it signals a decision made at the moment of speaking, it feels spontaneous and considerate — you're responding to the situation in front of you.

🎭 -(으)ㄹ게요 vs. -(으)ㄹ 거예요: Promise vs. Plan

-(으)ㄹ 거예요 [-(eu)l geo-ye-yo] describes a plan or intention decided beforehand, regardless of the listener — "I'm going to..." -(으)ㄹ게요, by contrast, is a promise to the listener, made in the moment.

저는 내일 부산에 갈 거예요 — "I'm going to Busan tomorrow" (a plan, stated as fact)

제가 짐 들어 드릴게요 — "I'll carry your bag (for you)" (an offer, made right now)

A good test: if you're making an offer, promise, or considerate gesture toward the person you're talking to, -(으)ㄹ게요 is almost always the right choice.

🧳 Essential Phrase Kit

제가 할게요 [je-ga hal-ge-yo] — "I'll do it"

금방 갈게요 [geum-bang gal-ge-yo] — "I'll be there soon"

제가 연락할게요 [je-ga yeol-la-kal-ge-yo] — "I'll contact you"

곧 가져다 드릴게요 [got ga-jeo-da deu-ril-ge-yo] — "I'll bring it right away"

이건 제가 계산할게요 [i-geon je-ga gye-sa-nal-ge-yo] — "I'll pay for this one"

제가 짐 들어 드릴게요 [je-ga jim deu-reo deu-ril-ge-yo] — "I'll carry your bag"

다음엔 제가 살게요 [da-eu-men je-ga sal-ge-yo] — "Next time it's on me"

조금만 기다려 주세요 [jo-geum-man gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo] — "Please wait just a moment"

제가 다시 전화할게요 [je-ga da-si jeon-hwa-hal-ge-yo] — "I'll call you back"

알겠습니다, 그렇게 할게요 [al-get-sseum-ni-da, geu-reo-ke hal-ge-yo] — "Understood, I'll do it that way"

🛠️ Putting Together

A: 이 자료 정리하는 거 시간이 좀 걸릴 것 같아요.

B: 괜찮아요, 제가 도와줄게요. 반 나눠서 같이 해요.

A: "Organizing this material seems like it'll take a while." B: "It's okay, I'll help you. Let's split it in half and do it together."

🦄 Grammar note: 도와줄게요 — "I'll help (you)" — is an offer made on the spot, responding to A's situation.

A: 저기, 주문한 음식이 너무 늦게 나오는 것 같아요.

B: 죄송합니다, 손님. 지금 바로 확인하고 곧 가져다 드릴게요.

A: "Excuse me, the food I ordered seems to be taking too long." B: "I'm sorry, sir/ma'am. I'll check right now and bring it to you right away."

🦄 Grammar note: 가져다 드릴게요 — the humble form 드리다 + -(으)ㄹ게요 — a polite promise of service.

A: 오늘 커피는 제가 살게요. 지난번에 사 주셨잖아요.

B: 어, 정말요? 감사합니다! 그럼 다음엔 제가 살게요.

A: "I'll buy coffee today. You bought it last time, right?" B: "Oh, really? Thank you! Then I'll buy it next time."

🦄 Grammar note: Both speakers use -(으)ㄹ게요 to make a back-and-forth exchange of small promises — a very natural rhythm in Korean friendships.

🗣️ Speaking Practice: Mini Dialogue

민수: 지은 씨, 이 상자들 옮기는 거 도와드릴까요?

[ji-eun ssi, i sang-ja-deul om-gi-neun geo do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo?]

"Jieun, should I help you move these boxes?"

지은: 어, 괜찮아요. 근데 이거 너무 무거우면 부탁드릴게요.

[eo, gwaen-cha-na-yo. geun-de i-geo neo-mu mu-geo-u-myeon bu-tak-deu-ril-ge-yo]

"Oh, it's okay. But if it's too heavy, I'll ask for your help."

민수: 네, 그럼 제가 이쪽 상자는 들어 드릴게요.

[ne, geu-reom je-ga i-jjok sang-ja-neun deu-reo deu-ril-ge-yo]

"Okay, then I'll carry this box over here for you."

지은: 감사합니다! 다 끝나면 제가 커피 살게요.

[gam-sa-ham-ni-da! da kkeun-na-myeon je-ga ko-pi sal-ge-yo]

"Thank you! When we're done, I'll buy coffee."

민수: 좋아요! 끝나고 연락할게요.

[jo-a-yo! kkeun-na-go yeol-lak-hal-ge-yo]

"Sounds good! I'll contact you when it's done."

지은: 네, 기다리고 있을게요.

[ne, gi-da-ri-go i-sseul-ge-yo]

"Okay, I'll be waiting."

🧭 Speaking Tip

-(으)ㄹ게요 attaches directly to the verb stem: stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ take -ㄹ게요 (갈게요, 살게요), while stems ending in a consonant take -을게요 (먹을게요, 도와줄게요... wait, helper verbs follow their own stem). The key feeling to capture is warmth — you're not just stating a fact about the future, you're making a small commitment to the person in front of you. Saying it with a gentle, falling tone makes it sound reassuring rather than abrupt.

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

❌ Using -(으)ㄹ게요 to describe someone else's future actions — it's strictly first-person ("I will"), never "he/she will."

❌ Using -(으)ㄹ게요 for plans that don't involve the listener at all (e.g., "I'm going to Busan tomorrow") — use -(으)ㄹ 거예요 instead for plain plans.

❌ Confusing -(으)ㄹ게요 (a statement/promise) with -(으)ㄹ까요? (a question/suggestion, "shall I...?") — they look similar but serve very different functions.

❌ Forgetting that -(으)ㄹ게 (without 요) is the casual/banmal form — drop the 요 only with close friends or those younger/equal in status.

You've got the tools to make warm promises and offers — 약속할게요! 🤲✨

Try this exercise

Instructions: For each prompt, write your response in Korean using the patterns from this lesson. Then check the toggle below for a sample answer.

1. Say "I'll do it."

Answer

제가 할게요. (I'll do it.)

2. Say "I'll be there soon."

Answer

금방 갈게요. (I'll be there soon.)

3. Say "I'll contact you."

Answer

제가 연락할게요. (I'll contact you.)

4. Say "I'll bring it right away."

Answer

곧 가져다 드릴게요. (I'll bring it right away.)

5. Say "I'll pay for this one."

Answer

이건 제가 계산할게요. (I'll pay for this one.)

6. Say "I'll carry your bag."

Answer

제가 짐 들어 드릴게요. (I'll carry your bag.)

7. Say "Next time it's on me."

Answer

다음엔 제가 살게요. (Next time it's on me.)

8. Say "Please wait just a moment."

Answer

조금만 기다려 주세요. (Please wait just a moment.)

9. Say "I'll call you back."

Answer

제가 다시 전화할게요. (I'll call you back.)

10. Say "Understood, I'll do it that way."

Answer

알겠습니다, 그렇게 할게요. (Understood, I'll do it that way.)

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Vocabulary Box

도와주다 — to help (someone)

옮기다 — to move (something)

상자 — box

무겁다 — to be heavy

들다 — to carry, hold

부탁하다 — to ask a favor

기다리다 — to wait

계산하다 — to pay, calculate

자료 — material, data

정리하다 — to organize

Pitfalls 💡

-(으)ㄹ게요 = first-person promise only.

-(으)ㄹ 거예요 = plain plan, not directed at listener.

-(으)ㄹ까요? = a question, not a promise.

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Want more reps? Head to the Practice Hub below for three full exercise sets!

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🎯 Practice Hub — Expressing Intent: -(으)ㄹ게요

Work through these three exercises to practice making promises and offers with -(으)ㄹ게요. Try answering out loud before checking each answer — and use the Iru Helper Widgets above if you want to hear the pronunciation again.

Exercise 1 — Making Promises and Offers 🤲

A. Say "I'll do it."

Answer

제가 할게요. [je-ga hal-ge-yo]

B. Say "I'll be there soon."

Answer

금방 갈게요. [geum-bang gal-ge-yo]

C. Say "I'll help you."

Answer

제가 도와줄게요. [je-ga do-wa-jul-ge-yo]

D. Say "I'll carry this box for you."

Answer

이 상자는 들어 드릴게요. [i sang-ja-neun deu-reo deu-ril-ge-yo]

E. Say "I'll pay for this one."

Answer

이건 제가 계산할게요. [i-geon je-ga gye-sa-nal-ge-yo]

F. Say "I'll bring it right away."

Answer

곧 가져다 드릴게요. [got ga-jeo-da deu-ril-ge-yo]

G. Say "I'll contact you."

Answer

제가 연락할게요. [je-ga yeol-la-kal-ge-yo]

H. Say "I'll call you back."

Answer

제가 다시 전화할게요. [je-ga da-si jeon-hwa-hal-ge-yo]

I. Say "Next time it's on me."

Answer

다음엔 제가 살게요. [da-eu-men je-ga sal-ge-yo]

J. Say "I'll be waiting."

Answer

기다리고 있을게요. [gi-da-ri-go i-sseul-ge-yo]

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Quick Reference

-(으)ㄹ게요 — I'll... (promise/offer)

도와주다 — to help

들어 드리다 — to carry (for someone)

가져다 드리다 — to bring (for someone)

계산하다 — to pay

Exercise 2 — Promise vs. Plan ⚖️

A. Say "I'm going to Busan tomorrow" (plain plan).

Answer

저는 내일 부산에 갈 거예요.

B. Say "I'll carry your bag (for you)" (offer).

Answer

제가 짐 들어 드릴게요.

C. Say "Please wait just a moment."

Answer

조금만 기다려 주세요.

D. Say "I'll check right now and bring it to you right away."

Answer

지금 바로 확인하고 곧 가져다 드릴게요.

E. Say "It's okay, I'll help you. Let's split it in half and do it together."

Answer

괜찮아요, 제가 도와줄게요. 반 나눠서 같이 해요.

F. Say "Oh, really? Thank you! Then I'll buy it next time."

Answer

어, 정말요? 감사합니다! 그럼 다음엔 제가 살게요.

G. Say "Understood, I'll do it that way."

Answer

알겠습니다, 그렇게 할게요.

H. Say "Should I help you move these boxes?" (a question, not -게요)

Answer

이 상자들 옮기는 거 도와드릴까요?

I. Say "But if it's too heavy, I'll ask for your help."

Answer

근데 이거 너무 무거우면 부탁드릴게요.

J. Say "When we're done, I'll buy coffee."

Answer

다 끝나면 제가 커피 살게요.

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Quick Reference

-(으)ㄹ게요 — promise to listener

-(으)ㄹ 거예요 — plain future plan

-(으)ㄹ까요? — shall I...? (question)

무겁다 — heavy

끝나다 — to finish

Exercise 3 — Full Conversations 💬

A. "이 상자들 옮기는 거 도와드릴까요?" — What does this mean?

Answer

"Should I help you move these boxes?"

B. Respond with "Oh, it's okay. But if it's too heavy, I'll ask for your help."

Answer

어, 괜찮아요. 근데 이거 너무 무거우면 부탁드릴게요.

C. Say "Okay, then I'll carry this box over here for you."

Answer

네, 그럼 제가 이쪽 상자는 들어 드릴게요.

D. Say "Thank you! When we're done, I'll buy coffee."

Answer

감사합니다! 다 끝나면 제가 커피 살게요.

E. Say "Sounds good! I'll contact you when it's done."

Answer

좋아요! 끝나고 연락할게요.

F. Say "Okay, I'll be waiting."

Answer

네, 기다리고 있을게요.

G. Say "Excuse me, the food I ordered seems to be taking too long."

Answer

저기, 주문한 음식이 너무 늦게 나오는 것 같아요.

H. Say "I'm sorry, sir/ma'am. I'll check right now and bring it to you right away."

Answer

죄송합니다, 손님. 지금 바로 확인하고 곧 가져다 드릴게요.

I. Say "I'll buy coffee today. You bought it last time, right?"

Answer

오늘 커피는 제가 살게요. 지난번에 사 주셨잖아요.

J. Say "Oh, really? Thank you! Then I'll buy it next time."

Answer

어, 정말요? 감사합니다! 그럼 다음엔 제가 살게요.

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Cheat Sheet

-(으)ㄹ게요 — I'll... (promise/offer to listener)

도와줄게요 — I'll help

가져다 드릴게요 — I'll bring it (to you)

연락할게요 — I'll be in touch

기다리고 있을게요 — I'll be waiting

🎉 잘했어요! You can now make warm promises and offers naturally in Korean!