Middle School - Grade 6
Lesson 8: "I will..." (-(으)ㄹ게요)
Making Promises & Responsive Intentions
The ending -(으)ㄹ게요 is used to express the speaker's will or promise, usually in response to something. It means "I will..." and implies that you're doing it for or in consideration of the listener.
The Pattern
| Verb Stem | Ending | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 하 | ㄹ게요 | 할게요 |
| 가 | ㄹ게요 | 갈게요 |
| 먹 | 을게요 | 먹을게요 |
| 기다리 | ㄹ게요 | 기다릴게요 |
| 도와주 | ㄹ게요 | 도와줄게요 |
Common Situations
Promises & Offers
- 제가 할게요 = I'll do it
- 내일 전화할게요 = I'll call you tomorrow
- 여기 기다릴게요 = I'll wait here
- 곧 올게요 = I'll come soon
Responses to Offers
- 네, 알게요 = Yes, I understand
- 잠깐만 볼게요 = I'll take a quick look
- 다시 생각해볼게요 = I'll think again
- 저는 이걸로 할게요 = I'll go with this
-(으)ㄹ게요 vs -(으)ㄹ래요 vs -(으)ㄹ까요
-(으)ㄹ게요 = Promise / responsive will
할게요 (I'll do it)
-(으)ㄹ래요 = Personal intention
할래요 (I want to do it)
-(으)ㄹ까요 = Suggesting
할까요? (Shall we do it?)
Key Point!
-(으)ㄹ게요 is ALWAYS a response. You cannot use it to initiate a suggestion. It creates a commitment to the listener. Use it when you want someone to feel reassured!