Emphasis with '걸' — Korean Grammar

The ending (kŏlgeolkŏlkel) is a contraction of the bound noun (kŏtgeotkŏtket), meaning "thing" or "fact," and the object particle (ŭleulŭlul). When attached to a verb stem using the future/prospective form (-(ŭ)l), it creates a sentence ending used primarily in spoken Korean.

This structure serves two main purposes: to express a strong supposition (often contradicting what someone else thinks) or to express regret about the past.

Expressing Strong Supposition

You can use (kŏlgeolkŏlkel) to say "I bet..." or "It is probably..." based on your own background knowledge or intuition. It emphasizes that you have a reason for your guess, making it stronger than a simple "maybe." In polite speech, add (yo) to the end.

그 영화는 재미있을걸요.
kŭ yŏng·hwa·nŭn jæ·mi·i·ssŭl·kŏl·yo.geu yeong·hwa·neun jae·mi·i·sseul·geol·yo.kŭ yŏng·hwa·nŭn jae·mi·i·ssŭl·kŏl·yo.ku yeng·hwa·nun cay·mi·i·ssul·kel·yo.
That movie is probably interesting (I bet that movie is interesting).
지금 가면 늦을걸.
ji·gŭm ga·myŏn nŭ·jŭl·kŏl.ji·geum ga·myeon neu·jeul·geol.ji·gŭm ga·myŏn nŭ·jŭl·kŏl.ci·kum ka·myen nu·cul·kel.
If you go now, you will probably be late.

Soft Disagreement

Because this form expresses a personal supposition, it is frequently used to gently correct someone or offer a differing opinion. Instead of saying "No, you are wrong," you are saying "I reckon it is actually this way."

그 식당은 오늘 문을 닫았을걸요.
kŭ sik·dang·ŭn o·nŭl mu·nŭl da·da·ssŭl·kŏl·yo.geu sik·dang·eun o·neul mu·neul da·da·sseul·geol·yo.kŭ sik·dang·ŭn o·nŭl mu·nŭl da·da·ssŭl·kŏl·yo.ku sik·tang·un o·nul mu·nul ta·ta·ssul·kel·yo.
That restaurant is probably closed today (Actually, I think it's closed).
민지는 그걸 모를걸.
min·ji·nŭn kŭ·gŏl mo·rŭl·kŏl.min·ji·neun geu·geol mo·reul·geol.min·ji·nŭn kŭ·gŏl mo·rŭl·kŏl.min·ci·nun ku·kel mo·lul·kel.
Minji probably doesn't know that.

Expressing Regret

When used to talk about past actions, (kŏlgeolkŏlkel) takes on the meaning of "I should have..." or "I wish I had..." It expresses regret that you did not do something. In this context, the sentence usually ends without (yo), as if talking to oneself, or the intonation drops significantly.

어제 더 공부할걸.
ŏ·je dŏ gong·bu·hal·kŏl.eo·je deo gong·bu·hal·geol.ŏ·je dŏ gong·bu·hal·kŏl.e·cey te kong·pu·hal·kel.
I should have studied more yesterday.
그 가방을 살걸.
kŭ ga·bang·ŭl sal·kŏl.geu ga·bang·eul sal·geol.kŭ ga·bang·ŭl sal·kŏl.ku ka·pang·ul sal·kel.
I should have bought that bag.

Construction Rules

This ending attaches to the verb stem.

Vowel ending: Add (l·kŏll·geoll·kŏll·kel) (e.g., (ga·daga·daga·daka·ta) → (gal·kŏlgal·geolgal·kŏlkal·kel)).
Consonant ending: Add (ŭl·kŏleul·geolŭl·kŏlul·kel) (e.g., (mŏk·dameok·damŏk·damek·ta) → (mŏ·gŭl·kŏlmeo·geul·geolmŏ·gŭl·kŏlme·kul·kel)).
Ending in (l): Keep the (l) and add (kŏlgeolkŏlkel) (e.g., (pʰal·dapal·dap'al·daphal·ta) → (pʰal·kŏlpal·geolp'al·kŏlphal·kel)).

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