Korean grammar patterns › Level 2
-아/어 놓다/두다
do in advance (for later); leave something in that state
Level 2 · TOPIK I · beginner
How to use it
Shows an action done in advance, or done so that its result stays for later. Used with transitive verbs. 놓다 and 두다 are mostly interchangeable; 두다 suggests keeping it longer.
Forming it
| 열다 | → 열어 놓다 |
| 사다 | → 사 두다 |
| 만들다 | → 만들어 놓다 |
| 끄다 | → 꺼 두다 |
With an object: 창문을 열어 놓았어요 (I opened it and left it open) vs 창문이 열려 있어요 (it is open). In speech 놓았어요 → 놨어요.
Examples
손님이 오기 전에 음식을 만들어 놓았어요.
I made the food before the guests arrived.
회의 중에는 휴대폰을 꺼 두세요.
Please keep your phones off during the meeting.
Compared with similar patterns
-아/어 있다 describes a resulting state with no object (intransitive/passive verbs); -아/어 버리다 stresses completion, not keeping for later.