Start 7-day free trial
TOPIK II · LEVEL 3

-아/어야겠다

-아/어야겠다 shows the speaker deciding, usually right now, that something needs to be done: "I'd better…" or "I should…".

능력·허락·의무Can, may & must

Han: Answering a request is a promise to the listener, so -(으)ㄹ게요 is needed; -아/어야겠다 sounds like you are talking to yourself about a necessity.

Examples

벌써 열한 시네요. 이제 집에 가야겠어요.It's already eleven. I'd better go home now.
얼굴이 안 좋아 보여. 너 오늘은 좀 쉬어야겠다.You don't look well. I think you need to rest today.
감기에 걸린 것 같아요. 오늘은 일찍 자야겠어요.I think I've caught a cold. I should go to bed early tonight.
시험이 다음 주라서 이번 주말에는 도서관에서 공부해야겠어요.The exam is next week, so I'd better study at the library this weekend.

Don’t mix up

-아/어야겠다vs-아/어야 하다/되다-아/어야 하다 states a general or external obligation; -아/어야겠다 adds the speaker's own decision made from the situation: 내일까지 보고서를 내야 해요 (it's the rule) vs 오늘 밤에 다 써야겠어요 (I've decided).
-아/어야겠다vs-(으)ㄹ게요-(으)ㄹ게요 is a promise made to the listener; -아/어야겠다 is a judgment about what is necessary: 제가 연락할게요 (I promise you) vs 친구한테 연락해야겠어요 (I realize I need to).
-아/어야겠다vs-겠다 (intention)-겠다 declares a will, often formally; -아/어야겠다 stresses that it is necessary: 제가 하겠습니다 (I will do it) vs 제가 직접 해야겠어요 (I'd better do it myself).

How to build it

V/A+아/어야겠다 (하다 → 해야겠다)

가다 → 가야겠어요, 먹다 → 먹어야겠어요, 공부하다 → 공부해야겠어요

  1. With "I" as the subject it expresses the speaker's own resolve; with "you" or a third person it is the speaker's judgment that they need to do something (너 좀 쉬어야겠다).
  2. It is used in statements; it cannot be turned into a command or suggestion (no -(으)세요, -자 after it), and questions with it are rare.
  3. To say that something was necessary in the past, use -아/어야 했다 instead.
  4. It is not a promise to the listener; when answering a request, use -(으)ㄹ게요.

Classic mistake

Wrong: A: 도착하면 전화 주세요. B: 네, 도착하면 전화해야겠어요.

Right: A: 도착하면 전화 주세요. B: 네, 도착하면 전화할게요.

Answering a request is a promise to the listener, so -(으)ㄹ게요 is needed; -아/어야겠다 sounds like you are talking to yourself about a necessity.

Practise -아/어야겠다 on real TOPIK questions

Hannim plans each day up to your exam date: questions on this pattern, reviews, full mock papers and graded writing. 7 days free, no card.

Start 7-day free trial

More level 3 grammar

All TOPIK grammar