ㄹ/을 거라고 (future reported speech)

This grammar combines two distinct and powerful parts. First, we have the future marker ㄹ/을. Second, we attach the quote marker 라고. Together, they report a future event or plan. It is a shortened version of a longer form. The full form is -ㄹ 것이라고. However, native speakers rarely use that long version. It sounds very formal and a bit stiff. Like a robot wearing a three-piece suit! Use the short ㄹ 거라고 instead for a natural flow. It works perfectly with both verbs and adjectives. You can use it to quote your friends or family. You can even use it to quote yourself from earlier. It acts like a temporal bridge. It connects a past statement to a future action. Think of it as a reporting tool for your brain.

1. 1Start with your base verb or adjective stem.
2. 2Remove the 다 from the very end.
3. 3Look closely at the final letter of the stem.
4. 4Does it have a bottom consonant?
5. 5This bottom consonant is known as a batchim.
6. 6No batchim? Simply add -ㄹ 거라고 to the stem.
7. 7가다 (to go) becomes 갈 거라고 in a quote.
8. 8Batchim exists? Add -을 거라고 to the stem instead.
9. 9먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹을 거라고 when quoted.
10. 10Watch out for the irregular ㄹ batchim group.
11. 11살다 (to live) already has an ㄹ at the bottom.
12. 12Do not add another ㄹ to this stem.
13. 13Just add 거라고 to the existing stem.
14. 14It becomes 살 거라고 as the final result.
15. 15What about ㄷ irregular verbs like 듣다?
16. 16Change the ㄷ to an ㄹ first.
17. 17Then add -을 거라고 to finish the transformation.
18. 18It becomes 들을 거라고 for your future report.
19. 19Practice these irregulars frequently to master them.
20. 20They are like sneaky grammar ninjas hiding in sentences!

Use it for reporting someone’s daily schedule. "The boss said he will arrive late today." Use it for weather predictions from the morning news. "The news said it will be hot tomorrow." Use it for promises made directly to you. "He said he will call me tonight." Use it for your own past thoughts or assumptions. "I thought the movie would be very scary." It works great for job interviews too. You quote your previous boss's high praise. "My boss said I would succeed in this role." Use it when ordering food for a friend. "She said she will eat the spicy pasta." It is perfect for group chat summaries. "Jimin said he will bring the snacks later." It keeps everyone on the same page. Without it, you are stuck in the present moment. With it, you own the future timeline. It helps you tell stories about upcoming plans. "We heard the concert will be truly great."

Do not use it for universal facts. For example, "The sun rises in the east." Use the plain present quote -ㄴ/는다고 instead. Do not use it for direct questions. Imagine asking your brother a quick question. "Did Minho say he will come to dinner?" You cannot use 거라고 in this specific situation. Use -ㄹ 거냐고 for that question format. It keeps the question feeling like a question. Otherwise, it sounds like a boring statement. Your brother might get very confused! Do not use it for things already finished. That is a job for the past tense quote. "He said he went" is a different rule. Do not use it for group suggestions. "He said let's go" uses the -자고 rule. Keep these separate in your clever head. It is like sorting your laundry. You do not want socks in the freezer!

The biggest mistake is the Batchim error. Many people forget to add the 을 part. They say 먹거라고 instead of 먹을 거라고. This sounds very strange to native Korean ears. Another mistake involves the ㄹ irregular verb group. People say 살을 거라고 by mistake quite often. Remember, the ㄹ is already sitting there. Just let it be and add 거라고. Some people use 고 instead of 라고. 갈 거고 means something totally different. It means "I will go and then..." in sequence. Using the wrong one changes your entire meaning. Like ordering coffee but getting a hot tea! Always check your quote markers very carefully. Another mistake is quoting yourself in the present moment. If you are saying it now, just use the future tense. Only use this to quote a past statement. It is a common trap for many students. Stay alert and keep practicing these patterns.

Compare it with the present quote -ㄴ/는다고. 간다고 means "He says he is going right now." 갈 거라고 means "He says he will go later." It is a major time difference. One is happening, and one is a plan. Compare it with the past quote -았/었다고. 갔다고 means "He says he already went there." See the pattern on the temporal timeline? It is all about the specific moment in time. Use the right one for the right situation. Think of it like a movie timeline. You have the prequel, the movie, and the sequel. This grammar is definitely the sequel. It describes what happens next in the story. It adds depth to your narrative skills. Your friends will appreciate the extra detail. It shows you understand the flow of time.