[Grammar] ~어/아/해 놓다

~어/아/해 놓다 (eo/a/hae no-ta)

There is no fixed definition for this phrase because it is usually attached to a verb.

When ~어/아/해 놓다 is attached to a verb, the object is usually maintained in a certain state or situation after the action is completed.

In simple terms, ~어/아/해 놓다 means to leave an object in a certain state or to describe how an action leaves an object in a certain state.

In English grammatical terms, ~어/아/해 놓다 acts as a present perfect tense, “have been”, “have eaten”, “have gone”, “have liked” and so on.

Examples: 엄마가 계란 볶음밥을 만들어 놓았어.
My Mom has prepared egg fried rice.

선생님은 내 숙제를 다 채점해 놓았으니까 지금 다시 공부하고 있어.
My teacher has corrected all my homework so I’m studying it again now.

In some cases, though, it might not be in the present perfect tense form. It is more like “I (past tense of verb) and left it there”.

Examples: 엄마가 내 옷을 침대 위에 개켜 놓았는데 왜 찾을 수 없어?
My Mom folded and left my clothes on the top of my bed but why can’t I find them?

*fold clothes/laundry = 옷/빨래를 개키다(O)
Koreans normally don’t use ‘접다’ for folding clothes.

식탁 위에 점심(을) (사서) 포장해 놓았으니까 나중에 먹어.
I bought lunch and wrapped it up and left it on the table so eat it later.

4 Comments

  1. “My Mom have prepared…” “My teacher have corrected…” ??? It’s “My mom has prepared” “My teacher has corrected”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *