Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vi legger avtalen i kalenderen og ber om en ny påminnelse. - We put the appointment in the calendar and ask for a new reminder.

legge (legger) is the default for “put/lay (into/onto)” and collocates very well with calendars: legge (noe) i kalenderen / legge inn i kalenderen.
sette (setter) is “set/put upright” and is used in expressions like sette opp et møte (“set up a meeting”). You wouldn’t normally say sette (noe) i kalenderen.
putte (putter) is colloquial and used for physically putting small things into containers (e.g., putte nøklene i lomma). It’s not idiomatic for calendar entries.
Other natural options: legge inn, føre inn, føre opp, notere i kalenderen.

What’s the difference between å legge and å ligge?

å legge = to lay/put something down (transitive; needs an object): Vi legger avtalen i kalenderen.
å ligge = to lie/be located (intransitive; no object): Avtalen ligger i kalenderen.

How do you conjugate å legge and å be?

å legge: pres. legger, past la, past participle lagt, imperative legg!, perfect har lagt.
å be: pres. ber, past ba, past participle bedt, imperative be!, perfect har bedt.

Why is it avtalen (definite) and not en avtale?

Norwegian often uses the definite form for a specific, context-known item and frequently omits a possessive where English would use “my/our.” Here, avtalen implies “the (specific) appointment/arrangement (we’ve been talking about).” Similarly, i kalenderen typically means “in the (my/our) calendar.”

Does avtale mean “agreement” or “appointment”?

Both, depending on context:

avtale = arrangement/appointment/contract.
For a scheduled slot with a doctor/hairdresser, Norwegians also commonly say time (e.g., legetime).
For a business meeting, møte is common.

Why i kalenderen and not på kalenderen?

For adding or locating entries in a calendar, Norwegian prefers i: i kalenderen (“in the calendar”). På kalenderen is rare and would usually refer to something physically on the calendar (e.g., a sticker stuck on a wall calendar), not an entry recorded in it.

Why is the present tense used? Isn’t this about a future action?

Norwegian often uses the present for planned or near-future actions when the time frame is clear from context: Vi legger … og ber … can mean “We’ll put … and (we’ll) ask …” in English.

Is it okay to write Vi legger … og vi ber … with the subject repeated?

Yes. Both Vi legger … og ber … (shared subject, compact) and Vi legger … og vi ber … (subject repeated) are correct. Repeating the subject adds emphasis or clarity but is not required.

Does the V2 (verb-second) rule apply after og here?

The V2 rule applies at the start of a main clause. After og in this sentence, you’re not starting a new clause; you’re coordinating verbs with the same subject, so og ber is fine. If you repeat the subject, you get a new clause and V2 applies: … og vi ber … (verb in second position after the subject).

What’s the difference between å be om and å spørre om?

å be (om) = to request/ask for something: be om en påminnelse (“request a reminder”).
å spørre (om) = to inquire/ask a question (about something): spørre om tidspunktet (“ask about the time”).
Using spørre when you mean “request” is a common learner error.

Is om required with be here?

Yes. The pattern is be (noen) om (noe / å gjøre noe): Vi ber om en ny påminnelse; Vi ber IT om å sette en påminnelse. Without om, be changes meaning (e.g., be til Gud = pray).

Why en ny påminnelse and not en annen påminnelse?

ny = new (a fresh, additional reminder).
annen = another/different (a different one instead of the current one).
Here, en ny påminnelse matches “a new/another reminder” in English when you mean “an additional reminder.” If you wanted a different type of reminder, en annen påminnelse could fit.

What genders are avtale, kalender, and påminnelse, and how do they decline?

All three are common gender (en-words):

en avtale – avtalen – avtaler – avtalene
en kalender – kalenderen – kalendere – kalenderne
en påminnelse – påminnelsen – påminnelser – påminnelsene

How does the adjective ny inflect?

Indefinite: en ny, et nytt, (fl.) nye.
Definite (and after a possessive): den/det/de nye: den nye påminnelsen, min nye avtale.

Can I replace avtalen with a pronoun?

Yes. For a common-gender noun like avtale, use den: Vi legger den i kalenderen. Use det for neuter nouns or for referring to an entire situation/idea.

Can I add inn: Vi legger avtalen inn i kalenderen?

Yes. inn emphasizes insertion/entry. All are natural:

legger avtalen i kalenderen
legger avtalen inn i kalenderen
legger inn avtalen i kalenderen
Also common: fører avtalen inn i kalenderen, noterer avtalen i kalenderen.

Should there be a comma before og?

No. In Norwegian, you normally do not use a comma before og when it links two verbs/phrases or even two main clauses. So: Vi legger … og ber … (no comma).

What’s the difference between og and å? Could they be confused here?

og = and (conjunction): legger … og ber ….
å = to (infinitive marker): å legge, å be.
Here you need og because you’re joining two finite verbs.