-아/어 놓다
Do and Leave, Keep as Is
Used when an action is completed and its resulting state is maintained for some time, or done in preparation for the future.
How It Works
This pattern combines an action verb with 놓다 (to put, to place) to add a specific nuance to a completed action. It emphasizes that the result of the action is being maintained.
1. Structure
It attaches to the verb stem following vowel harmony rules:
- Verb stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ + -아 놓다 (e.g., 사다 → 사 놓다, 보다 → 봐 놓다)
- Verb stems with other vowels + -어 놓다 (e.g., 만들다 → 만들어 놓다, 켜다 → 켜 놓다)
- 하다 verbs → 해 놓다 (e.g., 준비하다 → 준비해 놓다)
2. Usage Nuances
A) Completion and Maintenance of State
This usage focuses on an action being done and the result being left as is. It implies the state continues.
- 창문을 열어 놓았어요.
I opened the window (and it remains open).
This is different from just창문을 열었어요(I opened the window), which only states the past action without commenting on the current state of the window.
B) Preparation for the Future
This usage implies doing something in advance for a future purpose.
- 여행 가기 전에 비행기 표를 예매해 놓았어요.
Before going on the trip, I booked the plane tickets in advance.
The action of booking is done, and the 'booked' state is maintained until the trip.
Comparison with -아/어 두다-아/어 놓다 is very similar to -아/어 두다, and they are often interchangeable. However, there's a subtle difference:
- -아/어 놓다: Often used for leaving something as it is after an action, sometimes in a visible or accessible place. The focus is on the resulting state.
- -아/어 두다: Carries a stronger nuance of storing something away, preserving it, or preparing for a more distant future.
For example, 음식을 만들어 놓았어요 (I made food and left it out) feels slightly more immediate than 음식을 만들어 두었어요 (I made food and stored it, perhaps in the fridge for later).
Examples (4)
- 손님들이 오시기 전에 음식을 미리 만들어 놓았어요.
I prepared the food in advance before the guests arrived.
Word by Word: Guests before they come, food in advance made and left.
The action of making food was completed in preparation for the guests' arrival, and the food is now ready.
- 날씨가 더워서 창문을 열어 놓았어요.
It was hot, so I opened the window (and left it open).
Word by Word: Weather is hot so window I opened and left.
This implies that the window is currently in an open state because of the past action.
- 회의에 필요한 자료를 책상 위에 올려 놓으세요.
Please put the documents needed for the meeting on the desk.
Word by Word: Meeting-on necessary documents desk on top of please put and leave.
This is a command to perform an action (placing the documents) and maintain that state (leaving them on the desk).
- 내일 입을 옷을 꺼내 놓았어요.
I took out the clothes I'm going to wear tomorrow.
Word by Word: Tomorrow to wear clothes I took out and left.
This action was done in preparation for the next day.
Common Mistakes
Using -아/어 놓다 with adjectives.
Not Quite방이 깨끗해 놓았어요.Better방을 깨끗하게 치워 놓았어요.-아/어 놓다must follow an action verb.깨끗하다is an adjective (descriptive verb). To express this, you need an action verb like치우다(to clean up), resulting in 'I cleaned the room (and now it is in a clean state)'.Using it for momentary actions where the result isn't maintained.
Not Quite어제 친구를 만나 놓았어요.Better어제 친구를 만났어요.Meeting a friend is a completed event, but its result isn't a continuous state in the same way an open window is. For such momentary actions, the simple past tense
-았/었-is more natural.
Learn This First
To express 'do and leave, keep as is', you need verb conjugation knowledge.
Related Patterns
- -아/어 두다Do in Advance, Keep
Very similar to
-아/어 놓다. Both mean to do something and maintain its state. However,-아/어 두다often implies longer-term storage or preparation for a more distant future, while-아/어 놓다can be for more immediate situations. They are often interchangeable. - -아/어 버리다Do Completely, Finish Up
Both patterns add nuance to a completed action. While
-아/어 놓다focuses on the continuation of the resulting state,-아/어 버리다emphasizes that the action is completely finished, often with a sense of relief or finality. - -았/었/였-Past Tense
This is the simple past tense. While
-았/었-just states that an action happened in the past (e.g.,열었어요- 'I opened it'),-아/어 놓다adds the nuance that the result of that past action is still in effect in the present (e.g.,열어 놓았어요- 'I opened it and it's still open'). - -고 있다Be -ing
Contrasts the state of an action.
-고 있다describes an action currently in progress (e.g.,창문을 열고 있어요- 'I am opening the window').-아/어 놓다describes the state after the action is completed (e.g.,창문을 열어 놓았어요- 'The window has been opened and is currently open').