Lesson 33 · Intentions and Study Plans: -(으)려고 해요
Hyeju’s Beginner Korean · Lesson 33 · Grammar
Intentions and Study Plans: -(으)려고 해요
Learn Intentions and Study Plans: -(으)려고 해요 with form rules, natural examples, common mistakes, romanization, and six practice questions with answers.
Introduction / Review
Use -(으)려고 해요 to say what you intend or plan to do. It describes an intention, not a guarantee that the action will happen. This is useful for study goals and plans that are still being arranged.
N = noun; V = action verb; A = descriptive verb. Romanization is a reading aid.
Today’s Grammar / Explanation
- Vowel or final ㄹ + 려고 해요: 가다 → 가려고 해요; 만들다 → 만들려고 해요. Other consonants + 으려고 해요: 읽다 → 읽으려고 해요.
- Irregular forms: 듣다 → 들으려고 해요; 걷다 → 걸으려고 해요. Keep a space before 해요.
- With another action after it, -(으)려고 can explain a purpose: 공부하려고 책을 샀어요 (“I bought a book to study”). Unlike -(으)러, the following verb need not describe movement.
Examples
한국어를 공부하려고 해요.
hangugeoreul gongbuharyeogo haeyo
I intend to study Korean.
매일 책을 읽으려고 해요.
maeil chaegeul ilgeuryeogo haeyo
I plan to read a book every day.
내일 일찍 일어나려고 해요.
naeil iljjik ireonaryeogo haeyo
I plan to get up early tomorrow.
방학에 여행하려고 해요.
banghage yeohaengharyeogo haeyo
I plan to travel during vacation.
주말에 음식을 만들려고 해요.
jumare eumsigeul mandeullyeogo haeyo
I plan to make food this weekend.
네, 매일 연습하려고 해요.
ne, maeil yeonseupharyeogo haeyo
Yes, I intend to practice every day.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 26
-(으)ㄹ 거예요
내년에 이사할 거예요.A more definite plan. -(으)려고 해요 is “I’m thinking of / I intend to”.
Review Lesson 26 →LESSON 28
-고 싶어요
이번 주말에는 푹 쉬고 싶어요.Just a wish. -(으)려고 해요 means you actually plan to do it.
Review Lesson 28 →LESSON 32
-(으)러 가다
책을 사러 서점에 가요.-(으)러 only goes with movement verbs. -(으)려고 works with any verb.
Review Lesson 32 →LESSON 73
-기로 하다
친구하고 같이 여행하기로 했어요.A decision that has been made, often together with someone. -(으)려고 해요 is still an intention.
Look ahead: Lesson 73 →| Pattern | How sure? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -고 싶어요 | a wish | 쉬고 싶어요 |
| -(으)려고 해요 | an intention, a plan in mind | 쉬려고 해요 |
| -(으)ㄹ 거예요 | a plan: will | 쉴 거예요 |
| -기로 했어요 | decided | 쉬기로 했어요 |
Common mistakes
For today’s intention use, choose an intentional action. 예쁘려고 해요 is not the ordinary beginner way to describe wanting to be pretty. -(으)려고 해요 can have other readings in context; learn personal plans first.
가 ends in a vowel → 려고: 가려고.
읽 ends in a consonant → 으려고.
Stems ending in ㄹ add 려고 directly: 놀려고.
배우다 takes an object with 을/를.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank이번 방학에 기타를 ______. (배우다)
Check answer
이번 방학에 기타를 배우려고 해요.
배우 + 려고 해요.
- Fill in the blank건강을 위해서 매일 아침 ______. (달리다)
Check answer
건강을 위해서 매일 아침 달리려고 해요.
달리 + 려고 해요. “I’m planning to run every morning for my health.”
- Choose the correct formA: 주말에 뭐 할 거예요? B: 집 청소를 (하려고 해요 / 하러 해요).
Check answer
하려고 해요
-(으)러 needs a movement verb after it; here you need -(으)려고 해요.
- Choose the correct form살을 (빼러 / 빼려고) 저녁을 조금만 먹어요.
Check answer
빼려고
먹다 isn’t a movement verb, so use -(으)려고.
- Find and fix the mistake오늘 저녁에 김치찌개를 만들으려고 해요.
Check answer
오늘 저녁에 김치찌개를 만들려고 해요.
만들다 is an ㄹ-stem → 만들려고.
- Say it in KoreanI’m planning to quit coffee.
Check answer
커피를 끊으려고 해요.
끊다 (to quit) ends in a consonant → 끊으려고 해요.
Today’s Key Point
Express an intention with -(으)려고 해요; vowel/final ㄹ + 려고; other consonants + 으려고.
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