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Easy Korean - Level 6, Unit 18: Since I will... / Because it will... (-(으)ㄹ 테니까)

When you are suggesting a plan or giving a command, and you want to provide a reason based on your strong intention or a strong assumption, you use the structure -(으)ㄹ 테니까.

Structure Breakdown

  • -(으)ㄹ 터 = intention or expectation
  • -(이)니까 = because / since

So, it means: "Because I intend to [X], you should do [Y]" OR "Because I expect [X] to happen, you should do [Y]."

Usage 1: Expressing the Speaker's Intention

When the subject is "I", it means "I will do this, so..." This is frequently used when dividing up work or making a promise.

  • 제가 갈 테니까, 여기서 기다리세요. (Since I will go, please wait here.)
  • 제가 청소할 테니까, 민수 씨는 쉬세요. (I will clean, so Minsoo, you rest.)
  • 제가 돈을 낼 테니까, 걱정하지 마세요. (I will pay, so don't worry.)

Usage 2: Expressing an Assumption

When the subject is someone/something else, it means "I expect that this will happen, so..."

  • 비가 올 테니까, 우산을 가져가세요. (Because it will (probably) rain, take an umbrella.)
  • 추울 테니까, 옷을 따뜻하게 입으세요. (Since it will be cold, dress warmly.)

Note on Sentence Endings

Because -(으)ㄹ 테니까 provides a reason for an action you want the other person to take, the second half of the sentence almost always ends with a suggestion (-읍시다, -자, -(으)ㄹ까요?) or a command (-(으)세요, -지 마세요).

Example Sentences

  1. 제가 표를 살 테니까, 팝콘 좀 사 주세요. (I will buy the tickets, so please buy some popcorn.)
  2. 주말에는 길이 막힐 테니까, 지하철을 탑시다. (Since traffic will be bad on the weekend, let's take the subway.)
  3. 제가 다 설명할 테니까, 조금만 기다려 주세요. (I will explain everything, so please wait a moment.)