-(으)ㄹ 생각이다 Grammar in Korean: Meaning and How to Use It

What you'll learn

• Attach -(으)ㄹ 생각이다 to any verb stem and say the polite form from memory.
• Say what you plan to do next year, after graduation or this weekend.
• Ask about someone's plans politely with -(으)실 생각이에요?
• Say what you do not intend to do, and talk about a plan that changed.
• Choose between -(으)ㄹ 생각이다 and -(으)ㄹ까 하다.

Before you start: you should know how to find a verb stem (drop 다 from the dictionary form) and the polite ending -아요/어요. If you have not met 이다 ("to be"), read about it in the Korean grammar basics first. Audio plays only when you press a button.

What Does -(으)ㄹ 생각이다 Grammar Mean?

-(으)ㄹ 생각이다 grammar means "my thought is to do this." It joins a verb to the noun 생각 ("thought, idea") and the copula 이다 ("to be"). The verb says what you plan to do, and 생각이다 says that this is your thought on the matter. The result is one idea: a plan the speaker has considered.

Here are the first two examples. The pattern is the same in both, and only the verb and the timing change.

• 내년에 한국에 갈 생각이에요. (naenyeone hanguge gal saenggagieyo.) [내녀네 한구게 갈쌩가기에요] = "I plan to go to Korea next year."
• 졸업한 후에 취직할 생각이에요. (joreopan hue chwijikal saenggagieyo.) [조러판 후에 취지칼쌩가기에요] = "I plan to get a job after graduating."

In 갈 생각이에요, 갈 is the verb 가다 in its modifier form, 생각 is a noun, and 이에요 is the polite form of 이다. A modifier is a word that describes a noun, so 갈 생각 literally means "a thought of going." The verb in front tells what the thought is about. That explains the later rules: 생각이다 follows noun rules, the tense sits on 이다, and the negative uses 없다. Notice also the sound: 갈 생각 sounds like [갈쌩각]. First, the formation.

How Do You Form -(으)ㄹ 생각이다?

-(으)ㄹ 생각이다 is formed by dropping 다 from the dictionary form of a verb, adding the modifier ending -(으)ㄹ, and then adding 생각이다. The ending is -ㄹ after a vowel or a ㄹ stem, and -을 after any other consonant.

The table shows one rule applied to six verbs. The next three parts look at the groups of stems one at a time.

Stems Ending in a Vowel

A vowel stem takes -ㄹ on the last syllable. 가다 becomes 갈, 하다 becomes 할, and 쉬다 becomes 쉴. Then add 생각이다. Verbs with 하다 are very common, so 할 생각이에요 and 시작할 생각이에요 are worth memorising.

• 올해는 운동을 시작할 생각이에요. (olhaeneun undongeul sijakal saenggagieyo.) [올해는 운동을 시자칼쌩가기에요] = "I plan to start exercising this year."
• 주말에는 집에서 쉴 생각이에요. (jumareneun jibeseo swil saenggagieyo.) [주마레는 지베서 쉴쌩가기에요] = "I plan to rest at home on the weekend."

After the -ㄹ ending, the ㅅ of 생각 becomes tense, so 쉴 생각 sounds like [쉴쌩각]. This follows Article 27 of the standard pronunciation rules (표준 발음법) of the 국립국어원 (National Institute of Korean Language). Write the plain spelling and say the tense sound. Vowel stems are the simplest case. A stem with a final consonant needs one extra syllable.

Stems Ending in a Consonant

A consonant stem takes -을 before 생각. 읽다 becomes 읽을, 먹다 becomes 먹을, and 앉다 becomes 앉을. The same link vowel appears in -으세요 and -으면.

• 이번 방학에 책을 읽을 생각이에요. (ibeon banghage chaegeul ilgeul saenggagieyo.) [이번 방하게 채글 일글쌩가기에요] = "I plan to read books this vacation."

The final consonant moves to the next syllable in speech, so 읽을 sounds like [일글]. Two more groups need a short note, because learners expect trouble with them.

Irregular Stems and Nouns

Irregular stems change as they do before any ending that starts with -(으)ㄹ.

• ㄷ-irregular: 듣다 becomes 들을 생각이다. 음악을 들을 생각이에요 = "I plan to listen to music." [으마글 드를쌩가기에요]
• ㅂ-irregular: 돕다 becomes 도울 생각이다 ("plan to help").
• ㄹ-stems: 살다 and 만들다 keep their ㄹ and add no second one: 살 생각이다, 만들 생각이다.
• 르-verbs: 부르다 becomes 부를 생각이다.

Nouns and adjectives do not take the pattern. To say that you plan to become something, use the verb 되다: 의사가 될 생각이에요 ("I plan to become a doctor"). Two related nouns follow the same frame. 갈 계획이에요 (gal gyehoegieyo) [갈꼐회기에요] means "I plan to go," with the feel of a written plan. 갈 예정이에요 means "I am scheduled to go," and 예정 suggests a timetable.

With the formation clear, one full sentence can be built step by step.

Worked Example: Building a Sentence with -(으)ㄹ 생각이다

-(으)ㄹ 생각이다 grammar turns a plain action into a stated plan. Follow the steps with the plain sentence "I meet a friend on the weekend."

1. Start with the plain sentence. 주말에 친구를 만나요. (jumare chingureul mannayo.) = "I meet a friend on the weekend." The verb is 만나요.
2. Find the dictionary form and stem. 만나요 comes from 만나다. The stem is 만나.
3. Add the modifier ending. 만나 ends in a vowel, so add -ㄹ: 만날.
4. Add 생각이다 and move to the polite style. 만날 + 생각이에요 = 만날 생각이에요.
5. Rebuild the sentence. Keep everything before the verb: 주말에 친구를 만날 생각이에요. (jumare chingureul mannal saenggagieyo.) [주마레 친구를 만날쌩가기에요] = "I plan to meet a friend on the weekend."

You will know it worked when the time word and the object stay in place and only the last words changed. The most common slip at step 4 is putting the tense on the main verb (만났을 생각이에요). The verb in front never takes the past or present marker. It always stays in the -(으)ㄹ form. Each sentence can also appear in several tenses and sentence types, and each has limits.

Which Tenses and Sentence Types Work with -(으)ㄹ 생각이다?

-(으)ㄹ 생각이다 works in the present, the past, the negative and in questions. The tense sits on 이다, the last word. The table shows the forms for 가다 in the polite style.

The present statement and a yes/no question have the same shape, and rising tone marks the question. For respectful questions, put the honorific -(으)시- inside the verb: 언제 한국에 가실 생각이에요? (eonje hanguge gasil saenggagieyo?) [언제 한구게 가실쌩가기에요] = "When do you plan to go to Korea?" The honorific is not on the speaker's own plans, only on the listener's.

• 갈 생각이었는데 못 갔어요. (gal saenggagieonneunde mot gasseoyo.) [갈쌩가기언는데 몯까써요] = "I was planning to go, but I could not."
• 안 갈 생각이에요. (an gal saenggagieyo.) [안 갈쌩가기에요] = "I plan not to go."
• 갈 생각이 없어요. (gal saenggagi eopseoyo.) [갈쌩가기 업써요] = "I have no intention of going."

The compatibility pattern is simple: the verb stays in the -(으)ㄹ form and only the last word changes. A plan that fell through uses 생각이었다 followed by 는데 ("but"). The most useful contrast is with a neighbouring pattern about an undecided idea.

How Is -(으)ㄹ 생각이다 Different from -(으)ㄹ까 하다?

-(으)ㄹ 생각이다 states a plan the speaker has decided on, while -(으)ㄹ까 하다 shares an idea the speaker is still weighing. English sometimes renders both as "I'm thinking of," but the first sounds settled and the second sounds open.

In the first sentence, the listener hears an open possibility and may reply, "How about a concert instead?" In the second, the listener hears a decision. A useful rule is that anything you can end with "maybe" belongs to -(으)ㄹ까 하다.

A second neighbour is -(으)ㄹ 셈이다, which means "intend to" or "as good as." It states a personal plan or a conclusion, and it feels more like an explanation of what you mean to do. A third neighbour is -(으)려고 하다, "intend to" or "be about to," which can also describe what is happening right now. Finally, -아/어야겠다 announces a decision on the spot, while 갈 생각이에요 reports a plan that was made earlier. These contrasts lead to the variations of the pattern itself.

Variations and Edge Cases of -(으)ㄹ 생각이다

-(으)ㄹ 생각이다 has three common variations: a shortened colloquial form, related nouns in the same frame and a negative with 없다. Each one is short, and each appears in real conversation.

• Shortened colloquial form. In casual speech, particles often drop: 갈 생각 없어요 for 갈 생각이 없어요. A friend might say 갈 생각 있어? ("Do you have a mind to go?").
• Related nouns. The same frame works with 계획 ("plan") and 예정 ("schedule"). 갈 계획이에요 sounds like a plan you could write down. 갈 예정이에요 sounds like an item on a timetable, such as 다음 달에 이사할 예정이에요 ("I'm scheduled to move next month"). 생각 is the most personal of the three.
• The negative has two forms. 안 갈 생각이에요 means "I plan not to go," a decision to stay away. 갈 생각이 없어요 means "I have no intention of going." The second denies having any such plan, while the first announces a plan to stay away.
• Attaching a reason. Speakers often add the reason before the plan: 비싸서 안 살 생각이에요 ("It is expensive, so I plan not to buy it").

This lesson covers the common forms used in daily life. It does not cover 생각 with other verbs, such as 생각하다 ("to think"), or the pattern -기로 하다 ("decide to"), which names a decision that has been made. The mistakes below show where the boundaries cause real errors.

Common Mistakes with -(으)ㄹ 생각이다

Learners most often get the subject, the word class or the spelling wrong. Four mistakes appear again and again.

1. Using it for another person's plan. 친구는 갈 생각이에요 sounds as if you could see inside your friend's mind. Quote the person instead: 친구는 갈 생각이라고 해요 ("My friend says he plans to go"). Use 가실 생각이에요? only when you ask.
2. Attaching it to an adjective or a noun. 예쁠 생각이에요 and 의사일 생각이에요 do not work. Plans need actions: 의사가 될 생각이에요.
3. Putting the tense on the verb. 갔을 생각이에요 is wrong. The verb stays 갈, and the tense goes on 이다: 갈 생각이었어요.
4. Misspelling 이에요 as 예요. The noun 생각 ends in a consonant, so the polite form is 생각이에요. Only a noun that ends in a vowel takes 예요.

A quick check for any "plan" sentence: Is the speaker the one planning? Is the verb in the -(으)ㄹ form? Is the tense on 이다? If all three answers are yes, the sentence is sound.

The practice set below tests these four points directly.

Practice and Answers

Try the four items before you read the answer key. Cover the answers with your hand.

1. Choose the pattern. Which sentence sounds like a firm plan? (주말에 영화를 볼까 해요 / 주말에 영화를 볼 생각이에요)
2. Form the pattern. Say "I plan to listen to music" with 듣다.
3. Make a polite question. Ask an older person "When do you plan to go?" with 가다.
4. Write your own. Say what you plan to do this weekend with a friend, using 만나다.

Answer key

1. 주말에 영화를 볼 생각이에요. The -(으)ㄹ까 하다 sentence is an idea that may still change.
2. 음악을 들을 생각이에요. 듣다 is a ㄷ-irregular verb, so ㄷ becomes ㄹ before 을.
3. 언제 가실 생각이에요? (eonje gasil saenggagieyo?) The honorific -(으)시- sits inside the verb.
4. 주말에 친구를 만날 생각이에요. (jumare chingureul mannal saenggagieyo.) Answers vary. Check that 만나다 becomes 만날 and that 이에요 follows 생각.

If you can complete items 1 to 3 without the key, you can use the pattern in conversation. Next, the lesson hands off to related patterns.

What Should You Learn Next after -(으)ㄹ 생각이다 Grammar?

After -(으)ㄹ 생각이다 grammar, learn the open-ended version of the idea, then the closely related plan patterns. This lesson teaches a thought-out plan and does not cover undecided ideas, scheduled events or on-the-spot decisions in depth. Those live on their own pages.

1. Start with -(으)ㄹ까 하다, the "I'm thinking of" pattern for ideas that may still change.
2. Continue with -(으)ㄹ 셈이다, a B2 pattern for intentions and conclusions.
3. Compare -(으)려고 하다, the A2 pattern for "intend to" and "be about to."
4. Return to Desire and Wishes to see every lesson in this set, or to the Intermediate Grammar list for other B1 patterns.

With these steps, -(으)ㄹ 생각이다 becomes automatic: take the verb stem, add -(으)ㄹ 생각이에요, and keep the subject as "I."

Frequently Asked Questions

What does -(으)ㄹ 생각이다 mean?

-(으)ㄹ 생각이다 means "plan to" or "intend to." 내년에 한국에 갈 생각이에요 means "I plan to go to Korea next year." The speaker has already thought about it and holds the plan firmly, although it is not as fixed as a promise or a booking. It is a normal way to state a personal plan.

How do I attach -(으)ㄹ 생각이다 to a verb or adjective?

Take the verb stem and add -ㄹ 생각이다 after a vowel or ㄹ (가다 becomes 갈 생각이다) and -을 생각이다 after another consonant (읽다 becomes 읽을 생각이다). It attaches to verbs only. Irregular stems change as they do before -(으)ㄹ: 듣다 becomes 들을 생각이다, and 돕다 becomes 도울 생각이다.

Can -(으)ㄹ 생각이다 be used in the past tense?

Yes, by changing 이다 to its past form: 갈 생각이었어요 means "I was planning to go." The verb in front stays in the -(으)ㄹ form. A past plan is often followed by "but": 갈 생각이었는데 못 갔어요 means "I was planning to go, but I could not."

Is -(으)ㄹ 생각이다 used in speech or only in writing?

Both. People say 갈 생각이에요 in daily talk and 갈 생각이야 to friends. In formal speech and writing, 갈 생각입니다 and 갈 생각이다 are common. The pattern is slightly more careful than the plain 갈 거예요, so it appears often in interviews, plans and essays.

What is the most common mistake with -(으)ㄹ 생각이다?

The most common mistake is using it for another person's plan in a plain statement. 친구는 갈 생각이에요 sounds like you know the friend's mind. Quote the person instead: 친구는 갈 생각이라고 해요. A second slip is attaching it to adjectives or nouns, which the pattern does not allow.

How do I ask someone about their plans?

Use the honorific -(으)시- inside the pattern: 언제 한국에 가실 생각이에요? means "When do you plan to go to Korea?" This sounds polite and natural. To a friend, say 언제 갈 생각이야? The negative, 갈 생각이 없어요, answers "I have no intention of going."

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