-(으)ㄹ 게 뻔하다 — Bound to..., Obvious that..., Sure to...

This expression is used when the speaker can predict or clearly surmise the result of some future action or situation based on previous similar experiences. It is used mainly to predict unfavorable resulting situations.

Details

While this expression can be used in both the first person ("I") and second/third person (“you,’’ “he” “she” etc.), it cannot be used when describing one’s own will or intention in the first person.

제가 현실 때문에 하고 싶은 일을 포기한다면 나중에 후회할 게 뻔해요.

저는 내년에 결혼할 게 뻔해요. ✕

(While this expression can be used in cases of having to get married due to circumstances outside of one's control, to the extent that is not the case, -(으)ㄹ 거예요 must be used.)

While -았을/었을 게 뻔하다 and -(으)ㄹ 게 뻔했다 both describe situations related to the past, they have the following differences.

Note: While this expression is similar in form to the expression -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다, which appeared in the intermediate level, that expression refers to the fact that something actually never happened even though it seemed as if it would. Take care not to confuse the two expressions.

가: 강 작가한테 전화해서 원고를 언제쯤 넘겨줄 수 있는지 물어보세요. 나: 밤새 글을 쓰는 사람이니까 지금 이 시간에는 자고 있을 게 뻔해요. 오후에 전화해 볼게요. 가: 이번에는 마감 일을 지킬 수 있을지 모르겠네요. 나: 매번 마감 일을 한참 넘겨서 냈는데 이번이라고 제때 내겠어요? 아직 반도 완성하지 못했을 게 뻔해요.

A: Please call the author Kang to ask when he will be able to send the manuscript. B: He’s the type of person who writes all through the night, so he’s definitely sleeping now. I’ll call him in the afternoon. A: I wonder if he can keep the deadline this time. B: He always sends his manuscripts way past the deadline, so do you really think he’ll submit it on time? He’s surely not even halfway done with it yet.