HYEJU LANGUAGE LAB · INTERMEDIATE 25 · LESSON 110

-(으)ㄹ 텐데I expect…, so / but…

-(으)ㄹ 텐데 is short for -(으)ㄹ 터인데: “it’s probably…, and….” You state what you expect, then add a suggestion, a worry or a wish: 배고플 텐데 먼저 드세요 (You must be hungry, so please eat first).

Listening speed

Listen buttons use your device’s Korean voice. A Korean voice must be installed and available to the browser.

A situation you already know

Your coworker just got back from a long business trip.

피곤하실 텐데 오늘은 일찍 들어가세요.

You must be tired, so please go home early today.

You expect they’re tired (피곤하실 텐데), and based on that, you suggest going home early.

Build the form

FORM IN MOTION

Try an expression

피곤하다 → 피곤하 + ㄹ 텐데 → 피곤할 텐데Complete expression
먹다 → 먹 + 을 텐데 → 먹을 텐데Complete expression
알다 → 알 + 텐데 → 알 텐데Complete expression
춥다 → 추우 + ㄹ 텐데 → 추울 텐데Complete expression
갔다 → 갔 + 을 텐데 → 갔을 텐데Complete expression

Vowel stems: -ㄹ 텐데 → 바쁠 텐데, 갈 텐데. Consonant stems: -을 텐데 → 많을 텐데, 먹을 텐데.
ㄹ stems: 알다 → 알 텐데, 멀다 → 멀 텐데.
Past guess: -았/었을 텐데 → 벌써 도착했을 텐데.
Nouns: 일 텐데 → 주말일 텐데, 학생일 텐데.
At the end of a sentence, -(으)ㄹ 텐데요 expresses a wish or regret: 시간이 있으면 좋을 텐데요.
Put a space before 텐데: 바쁠 텐데.

Think in Korean · an English-speaker’s guide

English often uses two sentences: “You must be busy. Thanks for coming.” Korean joins them: 바쁘실 텐데 와 주셔서 감사합니다.
It’s very common in polite, caring speech: 추울 텐데 따뜻하게 입으세요.
At the end of a sentence, it can show regret about something that isn’t true: 돈이 많으면 좋을 텐데요 (If only I had a lot of money).

Six examples in context

바쁘실 텐데 와 주셔서 감사합니다.

Thank you for coming even though you must be busy.

밖에 추울 텐데 따뜻하게 입고 나가세요.

It must be cold out, so dress warmly.

지금 가면 길이 막힐 텐데 조금 이따가 출발해요.

The roads will probably be jammed now; let’s leave a bit later.

민수 씨가 벌써 도착했을 텐데 연락이 없네요.

Minsu should have arrived by now, but there’s no word from him.

시간이 조금만 더 있으면 좋을 텐데요.

If only I had a little more time.

혼자 하기 힘들 텐데 제가 도와 드릴게요.

It must be hard to do alone, so let me help you.

Compare with related patterns

-(으)ㄹ 테니까

제가 할 테니까 쉬세요.

“I’ll do it, so you rest.” Gives your intention or a firm expectation as a reason (Lesson 142).

-(으)ㄹ 것 같다

비가 올 것 같아요.

“It looks like it’ll rain.” A plain guess, with nothing added (Lesson 74).

-(으)ㄴ/는데

바쁜데 와 줘서 고마워요.

Background without the “I expect” feeling (Lesson 63).

Pattern	Choose it when…
-(으)ㄹ 텐데	an expectation + suggestion, worry or contrast
-(으)ㄹ 텐데요 (end)	a wish or regret
-(으)ㄹ 테니까	your intention or a firm expectation as a reason
-(으)ㄹ 것 같다	a plain guess

Common mistakes

바쁜 텐데 와 줘서 고마워요.바쁠 텐데 와 줘서 고마워요.

Use -(으)ㄹ before 텐데.

바쁠텐데바쁠 텐데

Put a space before 텐데.

길을 알을 텐데길을 알 텐데

ㄹ stems don’t add 을.

어제 많이 피곤할 텐데 잘 잤어요?어제 많이 피곤했을 텐데 잘 잤어요?

For a past situation, use -았/었을 텐데.

Mini practice · six questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Translation answers are models; other natural wording is possible.

Fill in the blank오늘 많이 ______ 일찍 주무세요. (피곤하다)
Check answer
오늘 많이 피곤할 텐데 일찍 주무세요.
Expectation + suggestion → 피곤할 텐데.
Fill in the blank비행기가 벌써 ______ 연락이 없어요. (도착했다)
Check answer
비행기가 벌써 도착했을 텐데 연락이 없어요.
A past guess → -았/었을 텐데.
Choose the natural form그 길은 (멀 텐데 / 멀을 텐데) 택시를 타세요.
Check answer
멀 텐데
ㄹ stem → 멀 텐데.
Choose the natural form내일 소풍 가는데 날씨가 좋으면 (좋을 텐데요 / 좋을 테니까요).
Check answer
좋을 텐데요
A wish at the end → -(으)ㄹ 텐데요.
Fix the mistake배가 고픈 텐데 이것 좀 드세요.
Check answer
배가 고플 텐데 이것 좀 드세요.
-(으)ㄹ before 텐데 → 고플.
Say it in KoreanIt must be heavy — let me carry it for you.
Check answer
무거울 텐데 제가 들어 드릴게요.
ㅂ irregular → 무거울 텐데.

Today’s key point

Expectation + reaction: -(으)ㄹ 텐데 (past -았/었을 텐데, nouns 일 텐데). At the end, -(으)ㄹ 텐데요 shows a wish or regret. Space before 텐데.

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Hyeju Yoo

M.A. in Korean Language Education · Certified Korean language teacher

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