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JAPANESE VERB

おく

置く

to put

  • #34 most used
  • Godan verb (u-verb)

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present and future

now, habits, and what is to come

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI put
NegativeI don’t put

Past

finished actions

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI put
NegativeI didn’t put

Te-form

て形 · joining actions, “doing”, requests

Form Polite Plain
て-formputting, and…
Doing now (て います)I am putting
Please (て ください)please put

Potential

可能形 · “can”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI can put
NegativeI can’t put

Want to

たい形 · “want to”

Form Polite Plain
AffirmativeI want to put
NegativeI don’t want to put

Volitional

意向形 · “let’s”, “I’ll”

Form Polite Plain
Let’slet’s put

Conditional

条件形 · “if” and “when”

  1. If (ば) if I put
  2. If, when (たら) if I put

Commands and requests

命令形 · from gentle to blunt

  1. Do it (なさい) put (do it)
  2. Plain command put!
  3. Please don’t please don’t put

Passive and causative

受身形・使役形 · “is done”, “make someone do”

Form Polite Plain
PassiveI am put
CausativeI make someone put

How to use おく

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present and future

    かぎ は いつも ここ に おきます。

    I always put the key here.

  2. Past

    かばん は いす の うえ に おいた。

    I put my bag on the chair.

  3. Te-form

    にもつ は げんかん に おいて ください。

    Please leave your luggage in the entrance.

  4. Potential

    じてんしゃ は ここ に おけます か?

    Can I leave my bicycle here?

  5. Want to

    テレビ は まど の ちかく に おきたい。

    I want to put the TV near the window.

  6. Volitional

    はな は テーブル の うえ に おこう。

    Let's put the flowers on the table.

  7. Conditional

    ここ に おけば、 わすれません よ。

    If you put it here, you won't forget it.

  8. Commands and requests

    あぶない から、 ナイフ を おきなさい。

    It's dangerous, put the knife down.

  9. Passive and causative

    つくえ の うえ に メモ が おかれて いました。

    A note had been left on the desk.

Good to know

  • て おく after another verb means to do something ahead of time: かって おきます, "I'll buy it in advance".

Where you hear おく

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

Japanese · Beginner Level 2

  • かぎ は いつも つくえ の うえ に おきます。 I always put my key on the desk.
  • はこ を つくえ の した に おきました。 I put the box under the desk.
  • ほんだな を まど の となり に おきます。 I'll put the bookshelf next to the window.

Japanese · Intermediate Level 1

  • ねる まえ に、 あした の ふく を だして おく。 Before bed, I get tomorrow's clothes ready.
  • きのう、 レストラン を よやく して おいた。 Yesterday I booked a restaurant ahead.
  • あした の あさ、 たべもの を つくって おく。 Tomorrow morning, I'll prepare the food ahead.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: godan verb (u-verb).