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HOW TO USE -(으)려고 하다 AND -아/어 놓다
In Korean, expressing readiness or preparation for an action or situation is crucial for clear and effective communication.
Two primary grammatical structures that convey this concept are -(으)려고 하다 and -아/어 놓다.
INTENTION & PLANNED ACTION
-(으)려고 하다 is used to indicate an intention or plan to do something.
It conveys the speaker’s readiness to perform an action in the near future. This structure is similar to “to intend to” or “to plan to” in English.
PATTERN
Verb stem + -(으)려고 하다
- NOTES :
- Attach -으려고 하다 to verb stems ending in a consonant.
- Attach -려고 하다 to verb stems ending in a vowel.
- 하다 verbs attach -하려고 하다.
계약하려고 해요
I intend to sign the contractView More Examples:
| 보고서를 제출하려고 합니다. | I plan to submit the report. ( 보고서 : report 제출하다 : to submit) |
| 회의를 기획하려고 합니다. | I intend to plan the meeting. ( 회의 : meeting 기획하다 : to plan) |
| 예산을 분석하려고 해요. | I plan to analyze the budget. ( 예산 : budget 분석하다 : to analyze) |
| 협상을 진행하려고 해요. | I intend to proceed with the negotiation. ( 협상하다 : to negotiate 진행하다 : to proceed) |
- NOTES:
- -(으)려고 하다 focuses on the speaker’s intention or plan.
- It often implies a near-future action.
- The degree of certainty can vary; it can express a strong intention or a more tentative plan.
- It’s commonly used in everyday conversations and formal settings.
PREPARATORY ACTION & RESULTING STATE
-아/어 놓다 is used to indicate that an action has been completed and the resulting state is maintained for a future purpose. It conveys the idea of preparing something in advance.
This structure is similar to to do something in advance or to have something done in English.
PATTERN
Verb stem + -아 놓다
- NOTES:
- Attach -아 놓다 to verb stems ending in ㅏ or ㅗ.
- Attach -어 놓다 to verb stems ending in other vowels.
- Attach -해 놓다 to 하다 verbs.
회의록을 작성해 놓았어요
Hoeuirogeul jakseonghae noasseoyo회의록 : meeting minutes
작성하다 : to write
View More Examples:
| 자료를 준비해 놓았습니다. | have prepared the materials in advance. ( 자료 : materials 준비하다 : to prepare) |
| 계약서를 검토해 놓았어요. | I have reviewed the contract in advance. ( 계약서 : contract 검토하다 : to review) |
| 프로젝트 계획을 세워 놓았습니다. | I have set up the project plan in advance. ( 프로젝트 계획 : project plan 세우다 : to set up) |
예산을 배분해 놓았어요. | I have allocated the budget in advance. 예산 : budget 배분하다 : to allocate) |
- NOTES:
- -아/어 놓다 emphasizes the completion of an action and the resulting state.
- It often implies a future purpose or convenience.
- The action is typically done to prepare for a subsequent event or task.
- It’s used in both formal and informal contexts.
COMPARING -(으)려고 하다 AND -아/어 놓다
- -(으)려고 하다: Focuses on the intention or plan. It points to an action that will be done.
- -아/어 놓다: Focuses on the completion of an action and the resulting state. It points to a preparatory action.
| Intention | Preparation and Result |
|---|---|
|
회의 자료를 준비하려고 해요.
I plan to prepare the meeting materials. |
회의 자료를 준비해 놓았어요.
I have prepared the meeting materials in advance. |
APPLICATIONS IN BUSINESS CONTEXTS
- When reporting planned activities to a supervisor or colleague, use -(으)려고 하다.
- When describing completed preparatory tasks, use -아/어 놓다.
- Using these structures effectively enhances clarity and professionalism in business communications.
CONCLUSION
Mastering -(으)려고 하다 and -아/어 놓다 will greatly improve your ability to express readiness and preparation in Korean, making your communication more precise and effective. To summarize specifically, -(으)려고 하다 expresses intention or planned action, similar to intend to, focusing on what you plan to do.
-아/어 놓다 expresses preparation and the resulting state, similar to have something done, focusing on actions completed for future readiness. Mastering both enhances clarity and professionalism in Korean communication.
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FAQs
What’s the difference between -려고 하다 and -아/어 놓다?
-려고 하다 expresses an intention or plan to do something soon, while -아/어 놓다 shows that an action has already been completed and left prepared for future use.
Can I use -려고 하다 for immediate future plans?
Yes! -려고 하다 is often used when you’re about to do something very soon or have the intention to do it.
How do I conjugate verbs with -아/어 놓다?
Attach -아/어 놓다 to the verb stem based on vowel harmony, then conjugate 놓다 for the desired tense.
Example: 준비해 놓았어요 (I prepared it in advance).
Can I use -려고 하다 with all verbs?
Generally, yes!
As long as the verb describes an action you can intend to do, you can pair it with -려고 하다.
Is -아/어 놓다 different from just using past tense?
Yes.
-아/어 놓다 emphasizes that the completed action remains effective or ready for later, while simple past tense just states that the action happened.
Can I study Korean at LTL Language School?
Yes!
You can study with us in Seoul, in our Hongdae location, or online if you prefer learn from home.
Contact us here if you have any questions.