-아/어 놓다

Build it

When to use it

The vowel follows the -아요/어요 rule: 열어 놓다, 사 놓다, 해 놓다. In speech it contracts heavily — 해 놨어요, 사 놨어요.

It takes transitive verbs, because someone has to do something to something. 창문을 열어 놓았어요 works; 창문이 열어 놓았어요 does not.

The sense is preparation: you did it so the result would be there when needed. 표를 미리 사 놓았어요 (I bought the tickets in advance). Without 놓다 the sentence just reports the purchase.

Against -아/어 있다, the difference is who is in the picture. 창문이 열려 있어요 describes the window; 창문을 열어 놓았어요 says you left it that way.

How to attach it

In use

1. 표를 미리 사 놓았어요.

   I bought the tickets in advance.

2. 더워서 창문을 열어 놓았어요.

   It was hot, so I left the window open.

3. 회의 자료를 준비해 놨어요.

   I’ve got the meeting materials ready.

4. 저녁을 미리 만들어 놓을게요.

   I’ll make dinner ahead of time.

5. 문을 잠가 놓는 것을 잊지 마세요.

   Don’t forget to leave the door locked.

6. 이름을 적어 놓아서 안 잊어버렸어요.

   I’d written the name down, so I didn’t forget it.

Compared with

• -아/어 있다

  -아/어 있다 reports a state with nobody behind it; -아/어 놓다 credits an agent who arranged it. The first takes intransitive verbs, the second transitive.

  창문이 열려 있어요. (the window is open)  /  창문을 열어 놓았어요. (I left it open)

• -아/어 두다

  Nearly interchangeable. 두다 leans a little more toward leaving something for a longer stretch; 놓다 toward immediate preparation. Most speakers use them freely.

  사 놓았어요.  /  사 뒀어요.

• -(으)ㄴ 채로

  -(으)ㄴ 채로 usually implies the state should have been undone; -아/어 놓다 implies you left it that way on purpose.

  창문을 연 채로 나갔어요. (carelessly)  /  열어 놓고 나갔어요. (deliberately)

Watch out

• 회의 자료를 준비하어 놨어요.

  회의 자료를 준비해 놨어요.

  하다 becomes 해 before 놓다, as it does everywhere else.

• 창문이 열어 놓았어요.

  창문을 열어 놓았어요.

  This construction needs a transitive verb and an object. For the state alone, use 창문이 열려 있어요.

• 어제 도서관에 가 놓았어요.

  어제 도서관에 갔어요.

  가다 leaves no arranged result behind. 놓다 needs something you did to something so it would be ready.

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