Learn Hardcore German: Im Zug lege ich das Handgepäck neben meine Tasche, damit es nicht im Weg liegt. - On the train I put the carry-on next to my bag so that it is not in the way.

Because im is a contraction of in dem. German very often contracts in + dem → im (and in + das → ins). Both are possible, but im Zug is the natural everyday form.

Why is Zug in the dative case in im Zug?

The preposition in can take dative or accusative:

Dative = location (answering “where?”): im Zug = “(while) in/on the train”
Accusative = direction/movement (answering “where to?”): in den Zug = “into the train”

Here it’s location, so dative.

Why does the sentence start with Im Zug? Does that change the word order?

Yes. German allows you to put different elements first for emphasis or context. Whatever is first still counts as position 1, and the finite verb must stay in position 2 in a main clause:

Im Zug (position 1) lege (position 2) ich …

This is the normal V2 rule.

Why is it lege ich and not ich lege?

Because Im Zug was moved to the front. In German main clauses, the finite verb stays second, so the subject (ich) shifts behind the verb:

Fronted element + verb
- subject
  So Im Zug lege ich … is just as correct as Ich lege … im Zug.

Why is it das Handgepäck? What gender is Handgepäck?

Handgepäck is neuter (das). Many compound nouns take the gender of the last component: das Gepäck → das Handgepäck.

Why is Handgepäck singular here? Can it be plural?

Handgepäck is often used as a mass/collective noun, similar to “hand luggage.” It can be plural (die Handgepäcke) but that’s much less common and usually means distinct sets/pieces in a more formal/logistical sense.

Why is it neben meine Tasche (accusative) and not neben meiner Tasche (dative)?

neben can take accusative or dative depending on meaning:

Accusative = movement/change of position (“put it next to …”): neben meine Tasche
Dative = location (“it is next to …”): neben meiner Tasche

Because you’re placing it there (a movement), German uses accusative.

Why is it meine Tasche (not meiner) after neben?

Because in this sentence neben governs the accusative, and Tasche is feminine:

nominative: meine Tasche
accusative: meine Tasche (same form for feminine)
dative: meiner Tasche

So meine matches accusative feminine.

What does damit do, and why is there a comma before it?

damit introduces a purpose clause (“so that … / in order that …”). German requires a comma before subordinate clauses like this:

Main clause, damit
- subordinate clause.

Why does the verb go to the end in damit es nicht im Weg liegt?

Because damit starts a subordinate clause, and in German subordinate clauses the finite verb typically goes at the end:

damit
- … + liegt

This is one of the biggest word-order differences from English.

What does es refer to here?

es refers back to das Handgepäck. It’s neuter singular, so the pronoun is es.

What exactly is im Weg liegen?

im Weg liegen is an idiomatic expression meaning to be in the way / to be obstructing. Grammatically it’s:

liegen = “to lie (be lying)”
im Weg = “in the way” (literally in the path/way, with im = in dem)

So damit es nicht im Weg liegt = “so that it isn’t in the way.”