Lesson 78 · Do It and Keep It Ready: -아/어 놓다 / 두다
Hyeju Language Lab · Beginner · Lesson 78 · Grammar
Do It and Keep It Ready: -아/어 놓다 / 두다
Learn the form, compare its meaning, and practice with six examples and six questions.
BeginnerEnglishIntroduction
These patterns describe doing an action and leaving or keeping its result in place. They are useful for preparations, but also for leaving a window open or a light on. The context tells you whether the result is being kept for later.
Romanization is an approximate reading aid. Read the Korean spelling first.
Form & Meaning
- Use the 아/어 form before 놓다 or 두다: 쓰다 → 써 놓다; 사다 → 사 두다; 하다 → 해 놓다.
- Common contractions are 놓았어요 → 놨어요 and 두었어요 → 뒀어요. Both full and contracted forms are useful to recognize.
- 미리 makes advance preparation explicit: 미리 예약해 놨어요. 두다 often suggests keeping something for later, but it overlaps with 놓다 in many ordinary situations.
Examples
I wrote on the gift-money envelope in advance.
I have booked the restaurant in advance.
Exchange money before your trip so it is ready.
I charged my phone so it is ready.
I went out leaving the door open.
I left the air conditioner on.
Compare with similar grammar
LESSON 71
-아/어 있어요
문이 열려 있어요.Describes the state itself. -아/어 놓다 stresses that someone did it on purpose, often in advance.
Review Lesson 71 →LESSON 69
-아/어 주다
친구에게 길을 알려 줬어요.Same -아/어 shape: -아/어 주다 is for someone, -아/어 놓다 is in advance.
Review Lesson 69 →LESSON 54
-기 전에
손님이 오기 전에 청소해 놓았어요.Often paired with -기 전에: get something ready before something else.
Review Lesson 54 →LESSON 31
-아/어 놓을게요
제가 식당을 예약해 놓을게요.A promise to get something ready: “I’ll have it done.”
Review Lesson 31 →| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -아/어 놓다 | do in advance / leave it done | 예약해 놓았어요 |
| -아/어 두다 | same, often for keeping longer | 잘 기억해 두세요 |
| -아/어 있다 | the resulting state | 문이 열려 있어요 |
| -아/어 놓을게요 | I’ll get it ready | 준비해 놓을게요 |
Hyeju’s Note
예약했어요 simply reports a reservation. 예약해 놨어요 highlights that it has been made and is ready for a later purpose. These patterns do not always mean a favor for another person: 에어컨을 켜 놨어요 only tells you the air conditioner was switched on and left that way.
Common mistakes
예약하 놓았어요 → 예약해 놓았어요. Use the 아/어 form, not the bare stem.
With an object (문을), use 놓다. -아/어 있다 needs the form without an object: 문이 열려 있어요.
놓다 follows the -아/어 form: 만들어 놓았어요.
켜 + 어 contracts to 켜.
Preparing in advance happens before something else → -기 전에.
Say It, Then Write It
Choose one example that fits your day. Say it aloud, change one detail, and write the new sentence. Check both the connecting form and the final tense.
Mini practice · six questions
All sentences below are new. Try each one before opening the answer.
- Fill in the blank내일 여행을 가니까 짐을 미리 ______. (싸다)
Check answer
짐을 미리 싸 놓았어요.
싸 + 아 놓았어요 → 싸 놓았어요 (싸 놨어요 in speech).
- Fill in the blank친구가 오기 전에 제가 커피를 ______. (끓이다)
Check answer
친구가 오기 전에 제가 커피를 끓여 놓을게요.
A promise to prepare → 끓여 놓을게요.
- Choose the correct form방이 더워서 창문을 (열어 놓았어요 / 열어 있어요).
Check answer
열어 놓았어요
There’s an object (창문을) → 열어 놓았어요.
- Choose the better form중요한 내용은 꼭 메모해 (두세요 / 주세요).
Check answer
두세요
Write it down so you have it later → -아/어 두세요.
- Find and fix the mistake회의 자료를 복사하 놓았어요.
Check answer
회의 자료를 복사해 놓았어요.
하다 → 해 놓았어요.
- Say it in KoreanI bought the tickets in advance.
Check answer
표를 미리 사 놓았어요.
사 + 아 놓았어요 → 사 놓았어요.
Today’s Key Point
Use the 아/어 form before 놓다 or 두다: 쓰다 → 써 놓다; 사다 → 사 두다; 하다 → 해 놓다. Keep the meaning and the context together when you choose the form.
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