Probability -을걸요

Category
Intermediate Grammar
Keyword #
주관적 추측, probably

TL;DR

  • -을걸요 expresses a subjective guess or probability based on your personal feeling or intuition 🔮
  • Add -을걸요 after verb stems (use -을걸요 after consonants, -ㄹ걸요 after vowels) 📝
  • It's softer and more personal than other guessing patterns, often used when giving advice or gentle predictions ✨

What is -을걸요? 🤔

-을걸요 is how you express "probably" or "I think" in Korean when you're making a gentle guess based on your gut feeling 💭
It's super common in casual conversations when you're sharing your personal opinion about what might happen or what might be true 🌟

How to Use It 🎯

The conjugation is simple! Just look at the verb stem 👀
After consonants: Add -을걸요 ✅
→ 먹다 → 먹을걸요 (will probably eat)
→ 읽다 → 읽을걸요 (will probably read)
After vowels or ㄹ: Add -ㄹ걸요 ✅
→ 가다 → 갈걸요 (will probably go)
→ 오다 → 올걸요 (will probably come)
→ 만들다 → 만들걸요 (will probably make)

Example Sentences 💬

→ 비가 올걸요 ☔
(It'll probably rain)
→ 지수는 집에 있을걸요 🏠
(Jisoo is probably at home)
→ 그 영화 재미있을걸요 🎬
(That movie will probably be fun)
→ 늦을걸요, 빨리 가세요! 🏃
(You'll probably be late, hurry up!)
→ 이거 맛있을걸요 😋
(This will probably be delicious)

The Vibe Check 💫

-을걸요 has a gentle, personal feeling to it 🌸
It's often used when:
1. Giving soft advice or suggestions 💡
→ 그냥 사과하는 게 나을걸요 🙏
(It would probably be better to just apologize)
2. Making a guess about someone else's situation 🔍
→ 민수는 아직 자고 있을걸요 😴
(Minsoo is probably still sleeping)
3. Expressing regret about your own choice 😅
→ 그걸 살걸요... 💸
(I should have bought that...)

Exceptions ⚠️

Past tense regrets: When talking about what you should have done in the past, you'll often see -을걸 (without 요) in casual speech 🤷
→ 진작 말할걸... 😔
(I should have said it earlier...)
This is a slightly different usage expressing regret rather than prediction! 💔

Quick Tips 🌟

✨ -을걸요 is softer than -을 거예요 (another way to say "will probably")
✨ It sounds more like you're sharing your personal hunch rather than stating a fact 🎲
✨ Native speakers use this ALL the time in daily conversation 🗣️
✨ The 요 makes it polite, but you can drop it with close friends! 👯
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -을걸요/-ㄹ걸요 to express your probable guess. 💭
 
  • 비가 많이 와서 콘서트가 .
      • Answer
      취소될걸요
 
 
  • 오늘 교통이 복잡해서 그 사람 .
      • Answer
      늦을걸요
 
 
  • 이 식당 음식이 맛있어서 사람들이 .
      • Answer
      많을걸요
 
 
  • 그 영화 재미있어서 친구도 .
      • Answer
      좋아할걸요
 
 
  • 날씨가 추워서 호수가 .
      • Answer
      얼었을걸요
 
 
  • 시험이 어려워서 학생들이 .
      • Answer
      힘들어할걸요
 
 
  • 그 가게가 유명해서 벌써 .
      • Answer
      문을 닫았을걸요
 
 
  • 주말이라서 공원에 사람이 .
      • Answer
      많을걸요
 
 
  • 그 분은 경험이 많아서 이 문제를 .
      • Answer
      알걸요
 
 
  • 피곤해 보여서 집에 가면 바로 .
      • Answer
      잘걸요
 
Vocabulary
비 - rain
콘서트 - concert
취소되다 - to be canceled
교통 - traffic
복잡하다 - to be crowded/complicated
늦다 - to be late
식당 - restaurant
영화 - movie
재미있다 - to be fun/interesting
춥다 - to be cold
호수 - lake
얼다 - to freeze
시험 - exam/test
어렵다 - to be difficult
힘들어하다 - to have a hard time
유명하다 - to be famous
벌써 - already
문을 닫다 - to close (a door/shop)
주말 - weekend
공원 - park
경험 - experience
문제 - problem
피곤하다 - to be tired
Common mistakes
  • 🚫 Using -을걸요 with statements of certainty instead of probability — remember this ending expresses a subjective guess, not a fact
  • 🚫 Forgetting that -을걸요 requires a verb stem ending in a consonant, while -ㄹ걸요 is used after vowels
  • 🚫 Confusing -을걸요 (probable guess) with -을걸 (regret about past), which has a different meaning entirely
  • 🚫 Using -을걸요 in formal situations — this ending is conversational and works best in casual speech