Unit 26: Shall we...? (-(으)ㄹ까요?)

When you want to suggest doing something together, or ask for someone's opinion ("Shall we go?", "What shall we eat?"), you can use the ending -(으)ㄹ까요?.

1. How to conjugate

The rules are exactly the same as the Future Tense (-(으)ㄹ 거예요) from Unit 21!

Rule 1: Vowel stem -> + ㄹ까요?

• 가다 (to go) -> 가 + ㄹ까요? = 갈까요? (Shall we go?)
• 하다 (to do) -> 하 + ㄹ까요? = 할까요? (Shall we do it?)
• 보다 (to see) -> 보 + ㄹ까요? = 볼까요? (Shall we see?)

Rule 2: Consonant stem -> + 을까요?

• 먹다 (to eat) -> 먹 + 을까요? = 먹을까요? (Shall we eat?)
• 읽다 (to read) -> 읽 + 을까요? = 읽을까요? (Shall we read?)

Rule 3: ㄹ stem -> + 까요? (Do not add anything!)

• 놀다 (to play) -> 놀 + 까요? = 놀까요? (Shall we play?)

2. Using it in conversation

This ending is incredibly useful for making plans with friends. You can combine it with the question words we learned in Unit 17 (언제, 어디, 뭐).

• 내일 뭐 할까요? (What shall we do tomorrow?)
• 우리 언제 만날까요? (When shall we meet? - 우리 = we)
• 어디에 갈까요? (Where shall we go?)
• 커피 마실까요? (Shall we drink coffee?)

3. How to answer

If someone asks you "Shall we eat?", how do you answer? You can just use the regular present tense to say "Let's eat." (In polite speech, the present tense often doubles as a "Let's" suggestion).

A: 뭐 먹을까요? (What shall we eat?) B: 피자 먹어요. (Let's eat pizza.)

Summary

• -(으)ㄹ까요? = Shall we...? / What do you think?
• Vowel = ㄹ까요?
• Consonant = 을까요?