Expression dictionary — full article
States & Progress · to keep ~ing, to leave ~ed, to have ~ed and kept. Quick Usage: Attaches to the verb stem after 아/어 conjugation.
The grammatical pattern -아/어 놓다 is formed by attaching -아/어 to a verb stem, followed by the verb 놓다 (to put, to place). While 놓다 literally means 'to put down' or 'to release,' when used in this grammatical construction, it signifies that an action has been completed, and its result or state is being maintained, preserved, or kept in that condition. It highlights the lasting effect of a past action.
This pattern is used to express that an action has been performed, and the resulting state or condition is intentionally maintained or preserved. It implies that something was done, and it is now being kept in that specific way. This can often suggest preparation for a future event or simply the act of leaving something as it is after an action. For instance, if you 'clean the room and leave it clean,' you would use -아/어 놓다. The focus is on the state that persists after the action.
The conjugation follows the standard -아/어 rules before attaching 놓다.
The pattern -아/어 놓다 is very similar to -아/어 두다, and in many contexts, they can be used interchangeably. However, there's a subtle difference in nuance.
-아/어 놓다 often emphasizes the state of completion and maintenance of that state, sometimes implying simply 'leaving something as it is' after an action. It focuses on the result being preserved.
-아/어 두다 tends to emphasize the action being done for a future purpose or benefit, often implying 'keeping something' or 'storing something' for later use. It focuses on the purpose behind maintaining the state.
For example, '문을 열어 놓다' (to leave the door open) focuses on the door being in an open state. '문을 열어 두다' (to open the door and keep it open) could imply opening it for ventilation or for someone to enter later. The distinction is often slight and context-dependent.