HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · INTERMEDIATE 57 · LESSON 142
-(으)ㄹ 테니(까)I’ll…, so (you)… / since it must be…, …
-(으)ㄹ 테니(까) has two uses. (1) With “I” as subject, it states your intention: 제가 설거지할 테니까 쉬세요 (I’ll do the dishes, so you rest). (2) With others, it gives a strong guess as a reason: 많이 피곤할 테니까 일찍 자요 (You must be really tired, so go to bed early). The second clause is usually a request or suggestion.
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A situation you already know
Your roommate just got home exhausted after a long shift.
I’ll make dinner, so you just rest.
제가 만들 테니까 = “I’ll take care of it.” It pairs your promise with a suggestion for the other person.
Build the form
- 만들다 (ㄹ) → 만들 + 테니까 → 만들 테니까Complete expression
- 하다 → 하 + ㄹ 테니까 → 할 테니까Complete expression
- 찾다 → 찾 + 을 테니까 → 찾을 테니까Complete expression
- 피곤하다 → 피곤하 + ㄹ 테니까 → 피곤할 테니까Complete expression
- 춥다 (ㅂ) → 추우 + ㄹ 테니까 → 추울 테니까Complete expression
- Vowel stem + -ㄹ 테니까, consonant stem + -을 테니까: 할 테니까, 찾을 테니까.
- ㄹ stems: 만들 테니까; ㅂ irregular: 추울 테니까.
- Use 1, intention: subject is 저/제가 → 제가 할 테니까 …
- Use 2, strong guess: about someone or something else → 바쁠 테니까, 추울 테니까.
- The second clause is usually a request, command or suggestion: -(으)세요, -아/어요, -(으)ㅂ시다.
- 까 can be dropped: 할 테니 기다려 주세요.
Think in Korean · an English-speaker’s guide
- Use 1 ≈ English “I’ll…, so you can…”. Use 2 ≈ “It’s probably…, so…”.
- It’s built from -(으)ㄹ 터 (expectation) + -(으)니까 (reason), so it naturally leads to advice.
- -(으)ㄹ 텐데 (Lesson 110) has a softer, worried feeling and can end a sentence; -(으)ㄹ 테니까 drives toward an action.
Six examples in context
I’ll buy the tickets, so you get the coffee.
It’ll be cold outside, so dress warmly.
It’ll be done soon, so please wait a little.
If we go now, the roads will be jammed, so let’s leave a bit later.
I’ll call you again later, so rest for now.
Minsu must be hungry too, so let’s eat together.
Compare with related patterns
-(으)ㄹ 텐데
밖에 추울 텐데 괜찮아요?“It must be cold out — are you OK?” Worried, soft; can end the sentence (Lesson 110).
-(으)니까
밖에 추우니까 따뜻하게 입어요.“It’s cold out, so dress warmly.” A known fact as reason (Lesson 59).
-(으)ㄹ게요
제가 할게요.“I’ll do it.” Simple promise without the “so you…” part (Lesson 31).
| Pattern | Choose it when… |
|---|---|
| 제가 -(으)ㄹ 테니까 | I’ll do X, so you do Y |
| -(으)ㄹ 테니까 (guess) | It’ll probably be X, so do Y |
| -(으)ㄹ 텐데 | Worried expectation, soft |
| -(으)니까 | Known reason |
Common mistakes
The second clause should be a request/suggestion for the listener.
ㄹ stems don’t add 을.
ㅂ irregular → 추울.
Put a space before 테니까.
Mini practice · six questions
Try each one before opening the answer. Translation answers are models; other natural wording is possible.
- Fill in the blank제가 자리를 ______ 먼저 들어가세요. (맡다)
Check answer
제가 자리를 맡을 테니까 먼저 들어가세요.
Intention, consonant stem → -을 테니까.
- Fill in the blank오늘은 사람이 ______ 일찍 가요. (많다)
Check answer
오늘은 사람이 많을 테니까 일찍 가요.
Strong guess → -(으)ㄹ 테니까 + suggestion.
- Choose the natural form길이 (막힐 테니까 / 막힐 텐데) 지하철 타세요.
Check answer
막힐 테니까
Reason → request: -(으)ㄹ 테니까.
- Choose the natural form제가 (도와드릴 테니까 / 도와드릴게요) 같이 해요.
Check answer
도와드릴 테니까
Intention + suggestion in one sentence → -(으)ㄹ 테니까.
- Fix the mistake제가 운전할테니까 주무세요.
Check answer
제가 운전할 테니까 주무세요.
Space before 테니까.
- Say it in KoreanI’ll pay today, so you pay next time.
Check answer
오늘은 제가 낼 테니까 다음에는 ○○ 씨가 내요.
Intention → 제가 낼 테니까 + suggestion.
Today’s key point
-(으)ㄹ 테니(까): with 제가 = “I’ll…, so you…”; about others = “it’ll probably…, so…”. Usually followed by a request or suggestion. ㄹ: 만들 테니까; ㅂ: 추울 테니까.
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