Getting There, Ready for Later -아/어 두다

Your application is nearly finished, and you have saved copies of the documents for later. -아/어 가다 follows progress toward a point ahead; -아/어 두다 keeps the result of an action available for when you need it.

Progress Toward What Comes Next

Use the -아/어 form plus 가다 for a process developing forward: 끝나 가다, 알아 가다, 닮아 가다. It can describe approaching completion or an ongoing change. The ending on 가다 carries tense and speech level.

Keep It Ready for Later

Add 두다 to the -아/어 form: 저장해 두다, 예약해 두다, 사 두다. It maintains the result, often in preparation for something later. 두어요 commonly contracts to 둬요, and 두었어요 to 뒀어요.

Vocabulary