Learn how to use ‘-아/어 놓다’ in Korean grammar to describe completed actions with lasting results. This guide covers core meaning, conjugation rules, tense usage, and natural examples for real conversations.
Contents
- 1. What Does ‘-아/어 놓다’ Mean in Korean?
- 2. How to Form ‘-아/어 놓다’ (Grammar Rules & Conjugation)
- 3. How to Use ‘-아/어 놓다’ Naturally (Real Usage Patterns & Examples)
- 4. ‘-아/어 놓다’ Practice: 10 Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises + Answers
- 5. Frequently Asked Questions About ‘-아/어 놓다’
- 6. Key Points to Remember About -아/어 놓다
- 7. Related Korean Grammar Patterns
1. What Does ‘-아/어 놓다’ Mean in Korean?
1-1. Definition of ‘-아/어 놓다’
‘-아/어 놓다’ is used when an action is completed and its resulting state continues.
The focus is not just on performing the action, but on the condition that remains afterward.
1-2. Core Meaning
Complete an action → Leave the result as it is
Common English interpretations:
- Do something and leave it that way
- Leave something in a certain condition
- Complete an action with a lasting result
👉 Confused with ‘-아/어 두다’? Learn the key differences here.
2. How to Form ‘-아/어 놓다’ (Grammar Rules & Conjugation)
2-1. Basic Structure
Verb Stem + -아/어 놓다
When to Use -아 놓다
Verb stems ending with ㅏ or ㅗ
Examples:
- 닫다 (to close) → 닫아 놓다 (to close and leave closed)
- 사다 (to buy) → 사 놓다 (to buy and leave it ready)
- 보다 (to watch/see) → 봐 놓다 (to watch and leave it done)
- 잡다 (to grab/hold)→ 잡아 놓다 (to grab/hold and leave secured)
- 켜다 (to turn on) → 켜 놓다 (to turn on and leave it on)
📝 Learner Note: Verb 놓다
놓다 is typically used without -아/어 놓다.
Why? 놓다 already includes the meaning of placing something in position.
✅ Natural Usage
- 가방을 놓았어요. (I put the bag down.)
- 책을 탁자에 놓았어요. (I put the book on the table.)
⚠️ Potentially Redundant
- 가방을 놓아 놓았어요.
- 책을 탁자에 놓아 놓았어요.
📌 Key Point
Native speakers avoid combining 놓다 with -아/어 놓다.
When to Use -어 놓다
Used with all other vowels.
Examples:
- 먹다 (to eat) → 먹어 놓다 (to eat and leave it finished)
- 읽다 (to read) → 읽어 놓다 (to finish reading and leave it done)
- 마시다 (to drink) → 마셔 놓다 (to drink and leave it done)
- 세우다 (to park/stand) → 세워 놓다 (to park/stand and leave it there)
- 만들다 (to make) → 만들어 놓다 (to make and leave prepared)
하다 Verbs
Use 해 놓다 after 하다 verbs.
Examples:
- 공부하다 (to study) → 공부해 놓다 (to study in advance and leave it done)
- 청소하다 (to clean) → 청소해 놓다 (to clean in advance and leave it done)
- 준비하다 (to prepare) → 준비해 놓다 (to prepare in advance and leave it ready)
- 연습하다 (to practice) → 연습해 놓다 (to practice and leave it done)
- 확인하다 (to check) → 확인해 놓다 (to check in advance and leave it done)
2-2. Tense Usage of ‘-아/어 놓다’
Past (아/어 놓았어요)
- 닫다 (to close) → 닫아 놓았어요 (I closed it and left it closed.)
- 숙제를 끝내다 (to finish homework) → 끝내 놓았어요 (I finished the homework and left it done.)
Present (아/어 놓아요)
- 창문을 열다 (to open the window) → 열어 놓아요 (I open the window and leave it open.)
- 커피를 준비하다 (to prepare coffee) → 준비해 놓아요 (I prepare coffee and leave it ready.)
Future (아/어 놓을 거예요)
- 빨래하다 (to do laundry) → 빨래해 놓을 거예요 (I will do the laundry and leave it done.)
- 청소하다 (to clean) → 청소해 놓을 거예요 (I will clean the room and leave it tidy.)
3. How to Use ‘-아/어 놓다’ Naturally (Real Usage Patterns & Examples)
3-1. Resulting State Meaning of ‘-아/어 놓다’
You perform an action, and the result remains as it is.
This use highlights the continued state that follows the action, without focusing on preparation or future benefit.
Examples
- 열다 (to open) + 아/어 놓다
- 창문을 열어 놓았어요. (I opened the window and left it open.)
- 쓰다 (to write) + 아/어 놓다
- 메모를 써 놓았어요. (I wrote a note and left it there.)
- 정리하다 (to organize) + 아/어 놓다
- 책상을 정리해 놓았어요. (I organized the desk and left it tidy.)
- 세우다 (to park/stand) + 아/어 놓다
- 차를 길가에 세워 놓았어요. (I parked the car by the road and left it there.)
- 켜다 (to turn on) + 아/어 놓다
- 전등을 켜 놓았어요. (I turned on the light and left it on.)
- 전등을 켜 놓았어요. (I turned on the light and left it on.)
3-2. Preparation Meaning of ‘-아/어 놓다’
You do something ahead of time, so it’s ready or waiting, and then leave it in that state.
- 사다 (to buy) + 아/어 놓다
- 내일 선물을 미리 사 놓았어요. (I already bought the gift ahead of time.)
- 예약하다 (to reserve) + 아/어 놓다
- 회의실 예약을 해 놓았어요. (I reserved the meeting room in advance and left it done.)
- 만들다 (to make) + 아/어 놓다
- 밥을 미리 만들어 놓았어요. (I cooked the rice ahead and left it ready.)
- 하다 (to do) + 아/어 놓다
- 숙제를 미리 해 놓을 거예요. (I’ll do the homework in advance and leave it ready.)
- 준비하다 (to prepare) + 아/어 놓다
- 손님을 위해 음료를 준비해 놓았어요. (I prepared drinks in advance for the guests.)
- 손님을 위해 음료를 준비해 놓았어요. (I prepared drinks in advance for the guests.)
3-3. State Continuation Meaning of ‘-아/어 놓다’
Focus is on the continuation of the state after the action.
- 닫다 (to close) + 아/어 놓다
- 문을 닫아 놓았어요. (I closed the door and left it closed.)
- 끄다 (to turn off) + 아/어 놓다
- 불을 꺼 놓았어요. (I turned off the light and left it off.)
- 끝내다 (to finish) + 아/어 놓다
- 숙제를 다 끝내 놓았어요. (I finished all my homework and left it done.)
- 잠그다 (to lock) + 아/어 놓다
- 창문을 잠가 놓았어요. (I locked the window and left it locked.)
- 켜다 (to turn on) + 아/어 놓다
- 텔레비전을 켜 놓았어요. (I turned on the TV and left it on.)
- 텔레비전을 켜 놓았어요. (I turned on the TV and left it on.)
4. ‘-아/어 놓다’ Practice: 10 Fill-in-the-Blank Exercises + Answers
Fill-in-the-Blank Practice (10 Sentences)
Complete each blank with the correct form of-아/어 놓다.
- 불을 ________.
(Turn on the light and leave it on.) - 책을 책상 위에 ________.
(I put the book on the desk and leave it there.) - 택배를 ________.
(Receive the package and leave it ready.) - 문을 ________.
(Keep the door closed.) - 창문을 ________.
(I opened the window and left it open.) - 신발을 신발장에 ________.
(I put the shoes in the shoe rack and left them there.) - 텔레비전을 ________.
(I turned off the TV and left it off.) - 밥을 ________.
(I will cook the rice and leave it ready.) - 옷을 옷장에 ________.
(I hung the clothes in the closet and left them there.) - 숙제를 미리 ________.
(I will do the homework in advance and leave it done.)
Answers to Practice Exercises
- 켜 놓아요
- 놓아요
- 받아 놓았어요
- 닫아 놓아요
- 열어 놓았어요
- 놓았어요
- 꺼 놓았어요
- 해 놓을 거예요
- 걸어 놓았어요
- 해 놓을 거예요
5. Frequently Asked Questions About ‘-아/어 놓다’
Q1. What is the difference between ‘-아/어 놓다’ and ‘-아/어 두다’?
‘-아/어 놓다’ emphasizes the resulting state.
‘-아/어 두다’ emphasizes preparation or keeping something ready.
Q2. Can ‘-아/어 놓다’ be used for future actions?
Yes. It describes an action that will be completed and left in a certain state.
Q3. Is ‘-아/어 놓다’ always about preparation?
No. Preparation is only one possible nuance.
The primary meaning is the resulting state.
Q4. Does this pattern work with all verbs?
It is most natural with verbs that produce a visible or meaningful result.
Q5. Why is ‘놓아 놓다’ incorrect?
Because 놓다 already carries the meaning of placing or leaving something.
6. Key Points to Remember About -아/어 놓다
- Expresses a completed action with a lasting result
- Emphasizes the resulting state
- Structure: Verb Stem + -아/어 놓다
- Preparation is common but not required
- Differs from ‘-아/어 두다’ in nuance
7. Related Korean Grammar Patterns
These grammar patterns are commonly studied together with ‘-아/어 놓다’ and help learners better understand resulting states, preparation nuances, and completion meanings.
-아/어 두다 (Preparation / Doing in Advance)
Highlights completing an action ahead of time for future convenience, readiness, or benefit.
-아/어 놓다 vs -아/어 두다 (Result State vs Preparation Nuance)
Explains the subtle but important distinction between maintaining a resulting state and preparing something in advance.
-아/어 있다 (Resulting State Expression)
Focuses on the state that results from a completed action rather than the action itself.
-아/어 보니 (Discovery Through Experience)
Expresses realization based on direct experience. Useful for understanding outcome-related grammar patterns.
-(으)려고 하다 (Expressing Intention)
Describes intention or planned actions, often contrasting with completion-focused grammar patterns.