TOPIK I: Tense Review - 았/었 vs (으)ㄹ 거예요

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TOPIK I Prep
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TL;DR
  • Use V/A-았/었어요 for completed past actions or past states.
  • Use V-(으)ㄹ 거예요 for future plans, intentions, or predictions.
  • TOPIK I often tests tense through time words like 어제, 지난주, 내일, 다음 주, and 주말에.
🎧
🎧 Helper Note: Read the Korean examples aloud in time-word pairs: 어제 갔어요 / 내일 갈 거예요, 먹었어요 / 먹을 거예요. TOPIK I listening often gives the answer through one tense ending.

🔑 The Big Picture

Tense tells you when something happens. In TOPIK I, tense questions usually check whether you understand:
  • Past: something already happened
  • Future: something will happen later
  • Time clues: yesterday, last week, tomorrow, next month
The two most important forms in this lesson are:
  • V/A-았/었어요 = did / was / were
  • V-(으)ㄹ 거예요 = will / am going to
If you can connect the tense ending with the time word, many TOPIK I grammar, listening, and reading questions become much easier.

🧩 Core Concepts / Patterns

1) Past tense: V/A-았/었어요

Use -았/었어요 for past actions and past states.
Stem vowel
Pattern
Example
Meaning
ㅏ or ㅗ
-았어요
가다 → 갔어요
went
Other vowels
-었어요
먹다 → 먹었어요
ate
하다 verbs
-했어요
공부하다 → 공부했어요
studied
Common examples:
  • 어제 친구를 만났어요. = I met a friend yesterday.
  • 지난주에 영화를 봤어요. = I watched a movie last week.
  • 아침에 빵을 먹었어요. = I ate bread in the morning.
  • 주말에 청소했어요. = I cleaned on the weekend.

2) Past tense with adjectives

Adjectives also use -았/었어요 for past states.
  • 좋다 → 좋았어요 = was good
  • 많다 → 많았어요 = there were many / was a lot
  • 맛있다 → 맛있었어요 = was delicious
  • 재미있다 → 재미있었어요 = was fun/interesting
Examples:
  • 영화가 재미있었어요. = The movie was interesting.
  • 음식이 맛있었어요. = The food was delicious.
  • 사람이 많았어요. = There were many people.

3) Future tense: V-(으)ㄹ 거예요

Use V-(으)ㄹ 거예요 for future plans or predictions.
Verb type
Pattern
Example
Meaning
Stem ends in a vowel
V-ㄹ 거예요
가다 → 갈 거예요
will go
Stem ends in a consonant
V-을 거예요
먹다 → 먹을 거예요
will eat
Stem ends in ㄹ
V-ㄹ 거예요
만들다 → 만들 거예요
will make
Common examples:
  • 내일 학교에 갈 거예요. = I will go to school tomorrow.
  • 주말에 영화를 볼 거예요. = I will watch a movie on the weekend.
  • 저녁에 김밥을 먹을 거예요. = I will eat gimbap in the evening.
  • 다음 달에 한국에 갈 거예요. = I will go to Korea next month.

4) Past vs future time words

Past time words
Future time words
어제 = yesterday
내일 = tomorrow
지난주 = last week
다음 주 = next week
지난달 = last month
다음 달 = next month
작년 = last year
내년 = next year
아까 = a little while ago
나중에 = later

5) Quick contrast pairs

  • 어제 공부했어요. = I studied yesterday.
  • 내일 공부할 거예요. = I will study tomorrow.
  • 지난주에 친구를 만났어요. = I met a friend last week.
  • 다음 주에 친구를 만날 거예요. = I will meet a friend next week.
  • 아침에 커피를 마셨어요. = I drank coffee in the morning.
  • 저녁에 차를 마실 거예요. = I will drink tea in the evening.

✅ Exam Strategy

What TOPIK I usually checks

  1. Time word + tense match
      • 어제 → 갔어요, 먹었어요, 봤어요
      • 내일 → 갈 거예요, 먹을 거예요, 볼 거예요
  1. Verb form recognition
      • 하다 → 했어요 / 할 거예요
      • 보다 → 봤어요 / 볼 거예요
      • 먹다 → 먹었어요 / 먹을 거예요
  1. Dialogue logic
      • “어제 뭐 했어요?” needs a past answer.
      • “내일 뭐 할 거예요?” needs a future answer.
  1. Schedule and plans
      • 다음 주, 주말에, 방학에 often signal future plans.
  1. Past experience
      • 어제, 지난주, 작년 often signal something already completed.

Fast solving method

  • Step 1: Find the time word.
  • Step 2: Decide past or future.
  • Step 3: Check the verb ending.
  • Step 4: Choose the answer that matches both meaning and tense.

⚠️ Pitfalls

Pitfall 1: Choosing future tense with past time words

Incorrect:
  • 어제 학교에 갈 거예요.
Correct:
  • 어제 학교에 갔어요.

Pitfall 2: Choosing past tense with future time words

Incorrect:
  • 내일 친구를 만났어요.
Correct:
  • 내일 친구를 만날 거예요.

Pitfall 3: Forgetting 하다 changes to 했어요

  • 공부하다 → 공부했어요
  • 운동하다 → 운동했어요
  • 전화하다 → 전화했어요

Pitfall 4: Forgetting the 으 in future tense after consonants

Correct:
  • 먹을 거예요
  • 읽을 거예요
Incorrect:
  • 먹ㄹ 거예요
  • 읽ㄹ 거예요

Pitfall 5: Confusing 봤어요 and 볼 거예요

  • 봤어요 = watched/saw
  • 볼 거예요 = will watch/see
This pair appears often in TOPIK I.
🧪
Practice Hub: Tense Review Drill — 50 TOPIK I-style Questions

Exercise 1 — Choose the correct tense

Choose the best answer to complete each sentence.
  1. 어제 친구를 ___.
      2. 1) 만날 거예요 2) 만났어요 3) 만나요 거예요 4) 만날 수 있어요
  1. 내일 학교에 ___.
      2. 1) 갔어요 2) 갈 거예요 3) 가봤어요 4) 갔을 거예요
  1. 지난주에 영화를 ___.
      2. 1) 볼 거예요 2) 봤어요 3) 보세요 4) 볼 수 있어요
  1. 다음 주에 여행을 ___.
      2. 1) 했어요 2) 할 거예요 3) 해요었어요 4) 했을 거예요
  1. 아침에 빵을 ___.
      2. 1) 먹었어요 2) 먹을 거예요 3) 먹겠어요 4) 먹는 거예요
  1. 저녁에 김밥을 ___.
      2. 1) 먹었어요 2) 먹을 거예요 3) 먹어 봤어요 4) 먹지 않았어요
  1. 작년에 한국어를 ___.
      2. 1) 배울 거예요 2) 배웠어요 3) 배우세요 4) 배울 수 있어요
  1. 내년에 한국에 ___.
      2. 1) 갔어요 2) 갈 거예요 3) 가 봤어요 4) 갔습니다
  1. 어제 숙제를 ___.
      2. 1) 했어요 2) 할 거예요 3) 해요 거예요 4) 하세요
  1. 내일 운동을 ___.
      2. 1) 했어요 2) 할 거예요 3) 했습니다 4) 해 봤어요
Answer
1) 2 — 어제 requires past tense: 만났어요.
2) 2 — 내일 requires future tense: 갈 거예요.
3) 2 — 지난주에 requires past tense: 봤어요.
4) 2 — 다음 주에 signals future: 할 거예요.
5) 1 — 아침에 here describes a completed past action.
6) 2 — 저녁에 can signal a later plan in this sentence.
7) 2 — 작년에 is past: 배웠어요.
8) 2 — 내년에 is future: 갈 거예요.
9) 1 — 어제 requires past: 했어요.
10) 2 — 내일 requires future: 할 거예요.

Exercise 2 — Meaning check

Choose the best English meaning.
  1. 어제 영화를 봤어요.
      2. 1) I will watch a movie tomorrow. 2) I watched a movie yesterday. 3) I want to watch a movie. 4) I can watch a movie.
  1. 내일 영화를 볼 거예요.
      2. 1) I watched a movie tomorrow. 2) I will watch a movie tomorrow. 3) I watched a movie yesterday. 4) I cannot watch a movie.
  1. 지난달에 제주도에 갔어요.
      2. 1) I went to Jeju Island last month. 2) I will go to Jeju Island next month. 3) I want to go to Jeju Island. 4) I can go to Jeju Island.
  1. 다음 달에 제주도에 갈 거예요.
      2. 1) I went to Jeju Island last month. 2) I will go to Jeju Island next month. 3) I went yesterday. 4) I live on Jeju Island.
  1. 음식이 맛있었어요.
      2. 1) The food will be delicious. 2) The food was delicious. 3) I will eat food. 4) I want food.
  1. 주말에 청소할 거예요.
      2. 1) I cleaned on the weekend. 2) I will clean on the weekend. 3) I cannot clean. 4) I cleaned yesterday.
  1. 어제 전화했어요.
      2. 1) I called yesterday. 2) I will call tomorrow. 3) I want to call. 4) I can call.
  1. 나중에 전화할 거예요.
      2. 1) I called earlier. 2) I will call later. 3) I called yesterday. 4) I called last year.
  1. 사람이 많았어요.
      2. 1) There will be many people. 2) There were many people. 3) I will meet many people. 4) I want many people.
  1. 친구를 만날 거예요.
      2. 1) I met a friend. 2) I will meet a friend. 3) I cannot meet a friend. 4) I met a friend yesterday.
Answer
11) 2 — 봤어요 is past tense, and 어제 means yesterday.
12) 2 — 볼 거예요 is future tense.
13) 1 — 지난달 means last month; 갔어요 is past.
14) 2 — 다음 달 means next month; 갈 거예요 is future.
15) 2 — 맛있었어요 means was delicious.
16) 2 — 청소할 거예요 means will clean.
17) 1 — 전화했어요 means called.
18) 2 — 나중에 means later; 전화할 거예요 means will call.
19) 2 — 많았어요 means there were many.
20) 2 — 만날 거예요 means will meet.

Exercise 3 — Dialogue completion

Choose the best response.
  1. A: 어제 뭐 했어요?
    B: ___.
      2. 1) 친구를 만났어요 2) 친구를 만날 거예요 3) 친구를 만나고 싶어요 4) 친구를 만날 수 있어요
  1. A: 내일 뭐 할 거예요?
    B: ___.
      2. 1) 공부했어요 2) 공부할 거예요 3) 공부했었어요 4) 공부했어요?
  1. A: 지난주에 어디에 갔어요?
    B: ___.
      2. 1) 부산에 갈 거예요 2) 부산에 갔어요 3) 부산에 가고 싶어요 4) 부산에 갈 수 있어요
  1. A: 다음 주말에 뭐 할 거예요?
    B: ___.
      2. 1) 영화를 봤어요 2) 영화를 볼 거예요 3) 영화가 재미있었어요 4) 영화를 봐요?
  1. A: 음식이 어땠어요?
    B: ___.
      2. 1) 맛있었어요 2) 맛있을 거예요 3) 먹을 거예요 4) 먹었어요?
  1. A: 내일도 일해요?
    B: 네, 내일도 ___.
      2. 1) 일했어요 2) 일할 거예요 3) 일했었어요 4) 일했습니까
  1. A: 어제 숙제를 했어요?
    B: 네, ___.
      2. 1) 했어요 2) 할 거예요 3) 해요 거예요 4) 하고 싶어요
  1. A: 방학에 뭐 할 거예요?
    B: 한국어를 ___.
      2. 1) 배웠어요 2) 배울 거예요 3) 배웠었어요 4) 배우고 있어요?
  1. A: 어제 영화가 어땠어요?
    B: 아주 ___.
      2. 1) 재미있었어요 2) 재미있을 거예요 3) 볼 거예요 4) 봐요
  1. A: 내년에 어디에 갈 거예요?
    B: 한국에 ___.
      2. 1) 갔어요 2) 갈 거예요 3) 가 봤어요 4) 갔습니다
Answer
21) 1 — The question asks about yesterday, so past tense is needed.
22) 2 — The question asks about tomorrow, so future tense is needed.
23) 2 — 지난주에 is past, so 갔어요 fits.
24) 2 — 다음 주말에 signals a future plan.
25) 1 — 어땠어요 asks about a past state; 맛있었어요 fits.
26) 2 — 내일도 signals future work.
27) 1 — The answer confirms the completed homework.
28) 2 — 방학에 asks about a future vacation plan here.
29) 1 — The movie was interesting: 재미있었어요.
30) 2 — 내년에 requires future: 갈 거예요.

Exercise 4 — Grammar transformation

Choose the correct Korean sentence.
  1. “I ate lunch yesterday.”
      2. 1) 어제 점심을 먹었어요. 2) 내일 점심을 먹을 거예요. 3) 어제 점심을 먹을 거예요. 4) 점심을 먹고 싶어요.
  1. “I will eat lunch tomorrow.”
      2. 1) 어제 점심을 먹었어요. 2) 내일 점심을 먹을 거예요. 3) 내일 점심을 먹었어요. 4) 점심을 먹었어요.
  1. “I studied Korean last year.”
      2. 1) 작년에 한국어를 공부했어요. 2) 내년에 한국어를 공부할 거예요. 3) 작년에 한국어를 공부할 거예요. 4) 한국어를 공부하고 싶어요.
  1. “I will study Korean next year.”
      2. 1) 작년에 한국어를 공부했어요. 2) 내년에 한국어를 공부할 거예요. 3) 내년에 한국어를 공부했어요. 4) 한국어를 공부했어요.
  1. “The weather was good.”
      2. 1) 날씨가 좋았어요. 2) 날씨가 좋을 거예요. 3) 날씨를 볼 거예요. 4) 날씨가 좋아요?
  1. “I will make dinner.”
      2. 1) 저녁을 만들었어요. 2) 저녁을 만들 거예요. 3) 저녁을 먹었어요. 4) 저녁이 맛있었어요.
  1. “I called a friend.”
      2. 1) 친구에게 전화했어요. 2) 친구에게 전화할 거예요. 3) 친구를 만날 거예요. 4) 친구가 전화할 거예요.
  1. “I will read a book.”
      2. 1) 책을 읽었어요. 2) 책을 읽을 거예요. 3) 책이 재미있었어요. 4) 책을 샀어요.
  1. “The movie was fun.”
      2. 1) 영화가 재미있었어요. 2) 영화를 볼 거예요. 3) 영화가 재미있을 거예요. 4) 영화를 봐요.
  1. “I will buy shoes.”
      2. 1) 신발을 샀어요. 2) 신발을 살 거예요. 3) 신발을 신었어요. 4) 신발이 작았어요.
Answer
31) 1 — Yesterday + ate = 어제 먹었어요.
32) 2 — Tomorrow + will eat = 내일 먹을 거예요.
33) 1 — 작년에 is past; 공부하다 becomes 공부했어요.
34) 2 — 내년에 is future; 공부하다 becomes 공부할 거예요.
35) 1 — 좋다 in past tense is 좋았어요.
36) 2 — 만들다 ends in ㄹ, so 만들 거예요.
37) 1 — 전화하다 in past tense is 전화했어요.
38) 2 — 읽다 has a consonant stem, so 읽을 거예요.
39) 1 — 재미있다 in past tense is 재미있었어요.
40) 2 — 사다 in future tense is 살 거예요.

Exercise 5 — TOPIK-style reading and logic

Read each sentence and choose what is true.
  1. 유나 씨는 어제 도서관에서 공부했습니다.
      2. 1) 유나 씨 will study tomorrow. 2) 유나 씨 studied yesterday. 3) 유나 씨 wants to study. 4) 유나 씨 cannot study.
  1. 민수 씨는 다음 주에 새 가방을 살 겁니다.
      2. 1) Minsu bought a bag last week. 2) Minsu will buy a new bag next week. 3) Minsu has no bag. 4) Minsu sold a bag.
  1. 저는 지난달에 부산에 갔습니다. 다음 달에는 제주도에 갈 겁니다.
      2. 1) The speaker went to Jeju Island last month. 2) The speaker will go to Busan next month. 3) The speaker went to Busan and will go to Jeju Island. 4) The speaker will not travel.
  1. 어제는 날씨가 추웠습니다. 오늘은 따뜻합니다.
      2. 1) Yesterday was cold. 2) Today was cold. 3) Tomorrow will be cold. 4) It is cold every day.
  1. 수미 씨는 아침에 우유를 마셨습니다. 저녁에는 차를 마실 겁니다.
      2. 1) Sumi drank tea in the morning. 2) Sumi will drink milk in the evening. 3) Sumi drank milk and will drink tea. 4) Sumi does not drink tea.
  1. 저는 작년에 한국어를 배웠습니다. 내년에는 중국어를 배울 겁니다.
      2. 1) The speaker learned Chinese last year. 2) The speaker will learn Korean next year. 3) The speaker learned Korean and will learn Chinese. 4) The speaker does not study languages.
  1. 지훈 씨는 어제 운동을 하지 않았습니다. 내일 운동할 겁니다.
      2. 1) Jihun exercised yesterday. 2) Jihun will exercise tomorrow. 3) Jihun cannot exercise tomorrow. 4) Jihun exercises every day.
  1. 어제 본 영화는 재미있었습니다.
      2. 1) The movie watched yesterday was fun. 2) The speaker will watch a fun movie tomorrow. 3) The movie is not fun. 4) The speaker cannot watch movies.
  1. 다음 주 시험은 어려울 겁니다.
      2. 1) Last week’s test was hard. 2) Next week’s test will be hard. 3) The test was easy yesterday. 4) There is no test.
  1. 저는 아까 점심을 먹었습니다. 나중에 커피를 마실 겁니다.
      2. 1) The speaker will eat lunch later. 2) The speaker ate lunch and will drink coffee later. 3) The speaker drank coffee earlier. 4) The speaker did not eat lunch.
Answer
41) 2 — 어제 and 공부했습니다 show a past action.
42) 2 — 다음 주에 and 살 겁니다 show a future plan.
43) 3 — 지난달에 갔습니다 is past; 다음 달에는 갈 겁니다 is future.
44) 1 — 어제는 추웠습니다 means yesterday was cold.
45) 3 — 마셨습니다 is past; 마실 겁니다 is future.
46) 3 — The speaker learned Korean last year and will learn Chinese next year.
47) 2 — 내일 운동할 겁니다 means will exercise tomorrow.
48) 1 — 어제 본 영화 means the movie watched yesterday.
49) 2 — 다음 주 and 어려울 겁니다 show a future prediction.
50) 2 — 아까 먹었습니다 is past; 나중에 마실 겁니다 is future.

🧭 Final Review

Before choosing an answer, always connect the time word with the verb ending:
  • 어제 / 지난주 / 작년 → -았/었어요
  • 내일 / 다음 주 / 내년 → -(으)ㄹ 거예요
For TOPIK I, tense accuracy often depends on one small clue. Find the clue first, then choose the form.