JLPT N4 grammar

〜ておく

〜ておく means do in advance; leave as is. It is a JLPT N4 grammar point. Attach おく to the te-form to show that you do something in advance for later. It can also mean leaving a state as it is, and in conversation it may shorten to とく.

Japanese sources describe it as 「前もってする・そのままにする」.

〜ておく examples

旅行の前に切符を買っておく。

I will buy the ticket in advance before the trip.

明日のために部屋をそうじしておく。

I will clean the room in advance for tomorrow.

〜ておく exercises

Pick what belongs in the parentheses. The answer is marked below.

  1. 友だちが来る前に、お茶を買っ( )。

    • ておく ✓
    • てみる
    • てある
    • たらどう

    I will buy tea in advance before my friend comes.

  2. 試験の前に、漢字を勉強し( )。

    • てある
    • ない方がいい
    • ておく ✓
    • なさい

    I will study kanji in advance before the exam.

Learn this pattern by using it

JpMaster places N4 grammar between vocabulary lessons and drills it with fill-in-the-blank and sentence ordering. Free to use.

Start your first lesson

See the full JLPT N4 grammar list