How to translate: "Keep/leave something". So, how to express intention to leave something unchanged


Consider questions like:

[code]

    Please leave the door open, thanks!
    
    Could you please keep the lift's doors open? Thankyou
    
    Please, leave it as it is.
    
[/code]

They all imply something common: not changing the state of something. I know
that `まま` is involved in this situations.

For example, this sentence is translated in this way:

[code]

    そのままにして下{くだ}さい => Please, leave it as it is
    
[/code]

And I know it is correct as I used it when I lived in Japan. But I do not know
how to express more complex situations, like those ones I mentioned before.

Could you also provide a generic explanation, I mean the grammar rules behind
this? Thankyou!




There is ~て+おく, e.g.

> そのままにしておいてください。  
>  Please leave it the way it is.

The rationale is you do something and then you leave it that way ([置]{お}く
means to put/leave). In informal situations ~て+おく is oftened shortened to ~とく,
e.g.

> ドアを開けといてください。  
>  Please leave the door open. ( _lit._ Please open the door and leave it that
> way.)

Similar constructions are

  * ~てみる "to try to do sth.", or
  * ~てしまう "to do sth. (with a negative connotation)"




`〜ておく` means to do something in advance as preparation/expectation for
something happening. That is to say, the thing is not yet done.

>   * パーティーのため、ケーキを作っておく。 → I'll make a cake (ahead of time) for the party.
>

However, if the action is already done and you want it to continue to remain
in that state, use `〜たまま`.

>   * ドアを開けたままにしてください。 → Please leave the door open (as it was already open).
> / "Please let the door remain as opened."
>   * (Facebook login in Japanese) ログインしたままにする → Keep me logged in.
>

