The 거야/거예요 Ending in Korean - How does it work?

거야/-ㄴ 거야 or 거예요/-ㄴ 거예요

"is it that...."/"is it correct that...."

The first extra main use of 거야/거예요:

Checking a fact or asking for verification/clarification

어디 있는 거야?/어디 있는 거예요?

Where are you?

우리 오늘 만나는 거예요? - You are checking, but you might say this out of surprise

Are we going to meet today? / Is it correct that we are going to meet today?

우리 오늘 만나요? - Most neutral sentence - You can express surprise or check for verification through intonation and facial expression

Are we meeting today?

어제 예지 씨한테 전화했는데 안 받는 거예요. - Implies continuation of the story

I called Yeji yesterday, but she didn't pick up the phone.

어제 예지 씨한테 전화했는데

I called Yeji yesterday...

집에 왔는데 아무도 없는 거예요. - This sentence is a bit more dramatic/interesting - This sentence also implies you are continuing your story - -는 거예요 = "what happened was" / "what's going on is" / "the situation is"

I came home, but nobody was home.

집에 왔는데 아무도 없어요. - This could be the end of your story

I came home, but nobody was home.

집에 왔는데

I came home, but...

갈 거예요

I will go.

배울 거예요 (배우다 = to learn)

I will learn.

공부할 거예요

I will study

우리 오늘 만나는 거 맞아요? - Closer to checking for verification

Is the fact that we are meeting today correct?

-는 거예요 ending can sometimes be used a bit too excessively and can come off as too dramatic or poetic.

It is then best to use more neutral sentences.

그래서 트위터에서 DM을 보냈어요.

So I DM'd her on twitter.

그래서 저화를 또 했어요.

So I called her again.

그래서 집에 찾아갔어요.

So I went to her house.

The second extra main use of 거야/거예요:

Story telling or adding a little more drama to your story

지금 뭐 하세요? - This sentence would also suffice

What are you doing now?

지금 뭐 하시는 거예요? - Example sentence of what made you curious in the first place - You are asking for clarification - Implication of accusing someone of something

What are you doing now?

지금 뭐 해요? / 지금 뭐 하세요? - Most neutral form

What are you doing now?

뭐 하는 거야?

What are you doing?

큰 거

big one

새 거

new one

헌 거

old one

작은 거

small one

먹는 거

something you eat

거 (when used as a noun)

thing/object