겠다

Adjective/Verb + 겠다: This grammar pattern has several usages:

1. In first-person statements, the ending -겠- expresses intention or will. In this meaning, it is mostly used with formal grammar patterns such as A/V + (스)ㅂ니다 and not used commonly in informal speech. This pattern is also stronger than the future tense A/V + (으)ㄹ 거예요, which is a simpler future tense, and expresses less intention than than -겠다.
2. -겠다 can also convey supposition, a guess, a thought or observation. It can sometimes be translated as 'I think', 'I bet', 'I guess', 'It/this looks ~', 'It must be ~'. This pattern can not be used to express the thoughts or supposition (etc) of a second or third person and must express the thought of the person saying or writing it.
3. When combined with A/V + (으)면 and follow by 좋겠다, it can be used to express a wish or desire, see A/V + (으)면 좋겠다
4. When combined with the honorific marker 시 and the verb 주다, it is a polite way to request or ask for something or some action to be done. See V + 아/어 주시겠다 or N + 주시겠다.
5. -겠다 can also be added to 알다 (to know) and 모르다 (to not know) to raise the politeness. 알겠어요/모르겠어요 are generally more polite than 알았어요/몰라요.

Notes

• For the past tense version of 겠다 (supposition meaning), see A/V + 았/었 + 겠다

Conjugation Rule

Conjugation Rule

	Pattern	Case	Example
Rule 1:	Adjective/Verb + 겠다	If there is no 받침 or if the adjective/verb stem has ㄹ as a 받침	가다 → 가겠다
Rule 2:	Adjective/Verb + 겠다	If there is a 받침 at the end of the adjective/verb stem	좋다 → 좋겠다

Sentence Examples

Future tense

Korean	English	Notes
그만 먹겠어요.	I'll stop eating.	informal form
다시는 전 남자친구를 만나지 않겠어.	I don't intend to meet my ex-boyfriend again.	low form
나는 지금 자러 가겠어.	I'm going to go sleep now.	low form
내일은 꼭 그 일을 끝내겠어요.	Tomorrow I'll definitely finish the job.	polite informal form
무슨 일이 있으면 핸드폰으로 연락하겠습니다.	If something comes up I'll contact you on your cellphone.	formal form
그 사람이 올 때까지 기다리겠어요.	I'll wait for him until he comes.	polite informal form

Supposition, conjecture

Korean	English	Notes
내일은 비가 오겠어.	I bet it's going to rain tomorrow.	low form
나도 그 문제를 풀겠어.	I bet I can solve the problem too.	low form
어린 아이도 그런 일은 할 수 있겠어요.	I bet even a child could do that.	polite informal form
지은이는 지금쯤 미국에 도착했겠어요.	I bet JiEun has arrived in America.	polite informal form
(Looking at her friend's dinner plate) 맛있겠다!	Looks delicious!	low form

See Also

• A/V + 았/었 + 겠다
• A/V + (으)면 좋겠다
• A/V + (으)ㄹ 거예요
• V + (으)ㄹ 게요
• V + 아/어 + 야겠다
• V + 아/어 주시겠다
• N + 주시겠다