TL;DR
- The future noun modifier -ㄹ/을 turns verbs into descriptive phrases that modify nouns, expressing future actions or intentions 🔮
- Add -ㄹ after verb stems ending in a vowel, and -을 after verb stems ending in a consonant ✨
- This form describes "the noun that will do something" or "the something that will be done" 🎯
What is it? 🤔
The future noun modifier -ㄹ/을 attaches to verb stems to create descriptive phrases that modify nouns 💫
It's like saying "the thing that will..." in English! 🌟
Think of it as turning a future action into an adjective 🎨
When do we use it? 🕐
Use -/을 when you want to describe a noun with a future action or state 🚀
It expresses plans, intentions, or things that haven't happened yet! ⏰
How to form it 🔧
The rule is super simple! 😊
Vowel stems → add -ㄹ 🎵
→ 가다 (to go) → 갈 사람 (a person who will go)
→ 마시다 (to drink) → 마실 물 (water to drink)
→ 보다 (to see) → 볼 영화 (a movie to watch)
Consonant stems → add -을 🎶
→ 먹다 (to eat) → 먹을 것 (something to eat)
→ 읽다 (to read) → 읽을 책 (a book to read)
→ 입다 (to wear) → 입을 옷 (clothes to wear)
Common patterns 💡
Here are some super useful patterns you'll see everywhere! 🌈
-ㄹ/을 것 = something/thing to (do) 📦
→ 먹을 것이 없어요. (There's nothing to eat.)
→ 할 것이 많아요. (There are many things to do.)
-ㄹ/을 사람 = a person who will (do) 👤
→ 갈 사람 손 들어요! (People who will go, raise your hands!)
→ 도와줄 사람이 필요해요. (I need someone who will help.)
-ㄹ/을 예정 = a plan to (do) 📅
→ 내일 만날 예정이에요. (I plan to meet tomorrow.)
More examples 🌟
Let's see it in action! 💪
→ 내일 만날 친구 (a friend I'll meet tomorrow)
→ 다음 주에 떠날 여행 (a trip I'll leave for next week)
→ 살 집을 찾고 있어요. (I'm looking for a house to buy.)
→ 쓸 펜이 없어요. (I don't have a pen to use.)
→ 탈 버스가 곧 와요. (The bus I'll ride is coming soon.)
→ 입을 옷을 골라 주세요. (Please pick out clothes for me to wear.)
→ 줄 선물을 샀어요. (I bought a gift to give.)
Exceptions ⚠️
Watch out for ㄹ-dropping verbs! 🎭
Verbs with stems ending in ㄹ drop the final ㄹ before adding -ㄹ 🔄
→ 만들다 (to make) → 만들 + ㄹ → 만들 음식 (food to make)
→ 살다 (to live) → 살 + ㄹ → 살 곳 (a place to live)
→ 팔다 (to sell) → 팔 + ㄹ → 팔 물건 (things to sell)
Irregular verbs follow their usual patterns! 🌪️
→ 듣다 → 들을 노래 (a song to listen to)
→ 걷다 → 걸을 길 (a road to walk)
→ 짓다 → 지을 집 (a house to build)
You've got this! 🎉 The future noun modifier is your new best friend for talking about plans and intentions! 🌸
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -ㄹ/을 to modify the noun with a future meaning. 📝
- 내일 _ 영화가 재미있을 것 같아요.
Answer
볼
- 다음 주에 _ 사람들이 많이 올 거예요.
Answer
만날
- 이번 주말에 _ 음식을 미리 준비해야 해요.
Answer
먹을
- 오늘 밤에 _ 책이 침대 옆에 있어요.
Answer
읽을
- 내년에 _ 나라는 어디예요?
Answer
여행할
- 곧 _ 손님들을 위해 방을 청소했어요.
Answer
올
- 내일 _ 옷을 오늘 세탁해야 돼요.
Answer
입을
- 다음 달에 _ 집을 지금 찾고 있어요.
Answer
이사할
- 저녁에 _ 친구가 지금 버스를 타고 있어요.
Answer
만날
- 다음 학기에 _ 수업을 미리 등록했어요.
Answer
들을
Vocabulary
보다 - to watch, to see
만나다 - to meet
먹다 - to eat
읽다 - to read
여행하다 - to travel
오다 - to come
입다 - to wear
이사하다 - to move (house)
듣다 - to listen, to take (a class)
영화 - movie
사람 - person
음식 - food
책 - book
나라 - country
손님 - guest
옷 - clothes
집 - house
친구 - friend
수업 - class
Common mistakes ⚠️
- 🚫 Forgetting that ㄹ-irregular verbs (like 만들다, 살다) drop the ㄹ before adding -ㄹ/을 (e.g., 만들 + ㄹ = 만들 ❌ → 만들 ✓)
- 🚫 Confusing the future noun modifier -ㄹ/을 with the present modifier -는 or past modifier -(으)ㄴ
- 🚫 Adding -을 after verb stems ending in a vowel or ㄹ (should be just -ㄹ)
- 🚫 Using -ㄹ/을 with adjectives to express future meaning (adjectives don't have a separate future modifier form — they use -(으)ㄴ)