려고/으려고 (intention/purpose) - In Order To, Planning To

This pattern attaches to the end of a verb stem. It signals that the first part of your sentence is the goal. The second part is what you are actually doing right now. It is incredibly versatile. You can use it in the middle of a sentence to connect ideas. You can also use it at the end to answer a "why" question. It feels much more personal than formal "purpose" grammar. It’s about what *you* want to do. It’s like a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener, "Hey, here comes my plan!" Just remember, it’s strictly for verbs. You wouldn’t have an "intention" to be tall, but you can have an intention to *grow* tall!

1. 1First, find your verb stem. Remove the 다 from the dictionary form.
2. 2Check if the stem ends in a consonant (patchim).
3. 3If the stem has a patchim, add 으려고. For example, 먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹으려고.
4. 4If the stem ends in a vowel, add 려고. For example, 가다 (to go) becomes 가려고.
5. 5Special Rule: If the stem ends in the consonant ㄹ, just add 려고. For example, 살다 (to live) becomes 살려고. No extra 으 needed here!
6. 6Irregular Alert: ㄷ irregulars like 걷다 (to walk) change to 걸으려고. ㅂ irregulars like 돕다 (to help) change to 도우려고. Yes, even native speakers trip over these occasionally, so take your time.

Use this when you have a clear plan in mind. Imagine you are at a cafe. You order a double espresso 안 졸려고 (to not be sleepy). Or maybe you are at a job interview. You explain you are learning Korean 한국에서 일하려고 (to work in Korea). It works perfectly for daily chores, big life goals, or even small errands. It’s great for explaining why you are heading to the bank or why you bought a new pair of shoes. It gives your sentences a sense of direction and logic. If you are doing something with a specific outcome in mind, 려고/으려고 is your best friend.

Here is the golden rule: The second part of the sentence cannot be a command or a suggestion. You cannot say, "In order to eat, let's go!" using this grammar. Phrases like ~세요, ~읍시다, or ~을까요 are strictly forbidden here. Also, you cannot use future tense markers like ~겠어요 or ~을 거예요 in the final verb of the sentence. The intention itself already implies the future! Another thing: the subject of both parts must be the same. You cannot say, "I study so that *my friend* passes." That’s a different grammar rule entirely. Keep it focused on your own actions and goals.

One big mistake is adding past tense to the first part. You might want to say "I wanted to go," but you should never say 갔으려고. The past tense only goes at the very end of the sentence. Another classic error is using it with adjectives. You can’t "intend" to be pretty; you have to use a verb like "to become pretty" (예뻐지려고). Don't forget the ㄹ rule! Saying 살으려고 will make a native speaker's ears twitch. It should be 살려고. Lastly, don't use it to describe natural phenomena. Rain doesn't "intend" to fall to water the grass. It just falls. Keep this grammar for humans (and maybe very ambitious pets).

You might know ~러 가다/오다. That one is very specific. It only works with movement verbs like "go" or "come." 려고/으려고 can be followed by *any* action. Then there is ~기 위해서. That is the formal, "suit and tie" version of this rule. You’ll see it in newspapers or speeches. 려고/으려고 is the "jeans and t-shirt" version—perfect for chatting with friends or writing in a journal. There is also ~고자, but that’s even more formal and mostly used in writing. If you want to sound like a normal person living in 2026, stick with 려고/으려고 for your everyday plans.