아/어/여 놓다/두다 (do in advance, leave done)

This pattern is a team effort between two verbs. First, you take an action verb. Then, you attach 놓다 or 두다 after the 아/어/여 connector. 놓다 literally means "to put down" or "to place." 두다 means "to leave" or "to store." When combined, they show a completed action with a lasting result. You are not just doing something. You are "leaving it done." It is like a grammar traffic light. The action has gone through the green light. Now, the result is sitting at a steady yellow, waiting for you. Most of the time, these two are interchangeable. You can use either one in daily chats. 놓다 is slightly more common for physical actions. 두다 feels a bit more like "storing" something for later. Do not lose sleep over which one to pick. Both will make you sound like a pro.

1. 1Find your favorite action verb stem.
2. 2Look at the very last vowel in that stem.
3. 3If the vowel is ㅏ or ㅗ, add 아.
4. 4If the vowel is anything else, add 어.
5. 5If the verb ends in 하다, change it to 해.
6. 6Finally, attach 놓다 or 두다 to the end.
7. 7Conjugate the final 놓다 or 두다 for politeness level.
8. 8Example: 사다 (to buy) becomes 사 놓다. 열다 (to open) becomes 열어 놓다. 예약하다 (to book) becomes 예약해 놓다. It is a simple recipe with high rewards!

You use this when preparing for a future event. Are you going on a trip? You should 사 놓다 (buy) your tickets early. Are you expecting a package? You might 열어 놓다 (leave open) the gate. Use it when the state of the action is important. For instance, if you want the room to stay cool, you 켜 놓다 (leave on) the AC. It is perfect for ordering food in advance. It is great for job interviews when you 준비해 놓다 (prepare) your answers. Even in directions, you might tell someone you 적어 놓다 (wrote down) the path. It shows you are organized and thoughtful. It tells the listener that the action was intentional. You did it for a reason, and that reason still matters.

Do not use this for actions that leave no trace. You cannot use it for "sneezing" or "blinking." There is no state to "leave" behind once you sneeze! It also does not work with adjectives. You cannot "be pretty in advance." It must be a deliberate action you control. Also, avoid using it for things that happen naturally without your effort. If the wind blows a door open, you do not usually use 놓다. That would imply the wind had a plan to keep it open! Keep it to things you do on purpose. If there is no "afterward" to the action, skip this pattern.

A big mistake is using the passive form of a verb. People often try to say 열려 놓다. This is wrong because 열리다 is passive. You must use the active verb 열다. So, 열어 놓다 is the correct way. Another slip-up is forgetting the 아/어/여 connection. You cannot just say 사 놓다 if the verb was 먹다. It must be 먹어 놓다. Also, do not confuse this with 아/어 있다. That grammar only describes a state. 아/어 놓다 emphasizes the action you took to get there. Yes, even native speakers get these mixed up occasionally! Just focus on the intention behind the action. If you meant to do it for later, 놓다 is your friend.

You might know 아/어 있다. This also describes a state. For example, 문이 열려 있어요 means "The door is open." But 문이 열어 놓았어요 means "I opened the door and left it that way." See the difference? The second one focuses on *your* action. It implies you opened it for a reason, like letting in fresh air. 아/어 놓다 is active and intentional. 아/어 있다 is just a neutral observation. Between 놓다 and 두다, the gap is tiny. 두다 sounds slightly more formal or long-term. If you put money in a bank, 두다 fits well. If you put a book on a table for five minutes, 놓다 is better. But honestly, people will understand you either way.