Easy Korean - Level 9, Unit 22: It is obvious that... (-(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다)

When you can easily predict a negative or cliché outcome because it is so obvious, you use the structure -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다.

It translates to "It is obvious that..." or "I can clearly see that [X] will happen."

Structure Breakdown

• -(으)ㄹ 게 = -(으)ㄹ 것이 (that the thing will...)
• 뻔하다 = to be obvious / to be clear as day

Note: You learned -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 (almost did) in Level 6. They look similar but are used differently! -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 is for the past ("almost"), while -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다 is a prediction ("it's obvious that").

How to Conjugate

Just like other future-tense style structures.

1. Vowel stem: Add -ㄹ 게 뻔하다 * 늦다 (consonant) -> 가다 -> 갈 게 뻔해요 (It's obvious he will go) * 피곤하다 -> 피곤할 게 뻔해요 (It's obvious she will be tired)

2. Consonant stem: Add -을 게 뻔하다 * 늦다 -> 늦을 게 뻔해요 (It's obvious we will be late) * 안 먹다 -> 안 먹을 게 뻔해요 (It's obvious they won't eat it)

3. ㄹ stem: Add -게 뻔하다 * 울다 -> 울 게 뻔해요 (It's obvious he will cry)

4. Past Tense: Add to the past stem (-았/었/였) * 거짓말했다 -> 거짓말했을 게 뻔해요 (It's obvious he lied)

When is it used?

It usually carries a slight tone of disapproval, annoyance, or resignation, because you already know exactly what's going to happen and it's probably not good.

Example Sentences

1. 주말이라서 길이 많이 막힐 게 뻔해요. (Because it's the weekend, it is obvious that traffic will be bad.)

2. 수진 씨한테 말하면 화를 낼 게 뻔해요. (If we tell Soojin, it is obvious she will get angry.)

3. 보나 마나 맛없을 게 뻔해요. (Needless to look, it's obvious it will taste bad.)

4. 제가 안 하면 아무도 안 할 게 뻔합니다. (If I don't do it, it is obvious that no one will do it.)