Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Norwegian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Jeg legger ut bildene på nettet.
What does the verb phrase legger ut mean here?
It’s a particle verb meaning to post/publish/put up (online). Literally legge = put/lay, and the particle ut adds the idea of “out,” giving “put out” → “publish/post.”
Can I drop ut and just say Jeg legger bildene?
No. Without ut, legge means “to lay/put (down)” in a physical sense. To express posting online, you need the particle: legge ut.
Is it better to say Jeg legger ut bildene or Jeg legger bildene ut?
Both are correct with a full noun object:
- Jeg legger ut bildene på nettet.
- Jeg legger bildene ut på nettet. With noun objects, either verb–particle or object–particle order is fine. Many speakers prefer keeping ut close to legger, but both are natural.
What happens if the object is a pronoun?
With pronoun objects, the particle goes after the pronoun:
- Jeg legger dem ut (på nettet). Avoid Jeg legger ut dem—that’s unnatural.
How do I negate the sentence?
Place ikke after the finite verb:
- Jeg legger ikke ut bildene på nettet. With a pronoun object:
- Jeg legger dem ikke ut (på nettet).
Does the present tense legger mean “I post” or “I am posting”?
Norwegian present is aspect-neutral, so Jeg legger ut can mean either I post (habitually) or I am posting (right now). Context decides. For ongoing action you can add aspectual phrases: Jeg holder på å legge ut bildene (I’m in the middle of posting the pictures).
What are the main forms of legge?
- Infinitive: å legge
- Present: legger
- Past (preterite): la
- Past participle/supine: lagt
- Imperative: legg! Examples: Jeg la ut bildene i går. / Jeg har lagt ut bildene.
Why is it bildene (the pictures) and not bilder (pictures)?
Using the definite plural bildene signals specific pictures that speaker and listener can identify (already mentioned, known, or contextually specific). Use indefinite bilder when you mean pictures in general or non-specific ones: Jeg legger ut bilder på nettet = I post pictures online.
What are the forms of the noun bilde (picture)?
- Singular indefinite: et bilde
- Singular definite: bildet
- Plural indefinite: bilder
- Plural definite: bildene
Why is it på nettet and not i nettet?
For the internet, Norwegian idiomatically uses the preposition på (on): på nettet, på internett. I nettet means “in the net” (like a fishing or sports net), which is literal and different.
Why is nettet definite? Can I say på internett?
Yes, both are common:
- på nettet = “on the net” (definite)
- på internett or på Internett = “on the internet” (often without article, treating it like a proper name or mass medium) All are natural; på nettet is very idiomatic.
Is there a difference between på nett and på nettet?
- på nett often means “online/connected” (state): Er du på nett? (Are you online?)
- It’s also used colloquially for “on the internet,” but på nettet is the fully idiomatic “on the internet.”
Are there synonyms for legge ut in the online sense?
Yes, with nuances:
- poste = to post (informal, borrowed)
- publisere = to publish (more formal)
- laste opp = to upload (the technical act of transferring files)
- dele = to share (emphasizes sharing rather than initial posting)
Where do frequency adverbs go with this particle verb?
Place them after the finite verb and typically before the particle:
- Jeg legger ofte ut bilder på nettet. Avoid: Jeg legger ut ofte bilder… (less natural).
How does this look in a subordinate clause?
In subordinate clauses, the finite verb comes after negation/adverbs:
- … at jeg ikke legger ut bildene på nettet.
- With a pronoun: … at jeg ikke legger dem ut.
What’s the difference between ut and ute?
- ut = outward movement/completion or as a verb particle (here): legge ut (put out/post).
- ute = outside (location): Jeg er ute (I’m outside). You need ut in the verb phrase.
Does legge ut have other meanings?
Yes:
- legge ut (for noen) = to pay in advance/cover someone’s expense: Jeg kan legge ut for deg.
- legge ut om noe = to talk at length about something: Han la ut om temaet i en time. Context disambiguates.
How do I pronounce the words?
Approximate guide (Bokmål, standard East Norwegian):
- Jeg ≈ “yai” [jæɪ]
- legger ≈ “LEH-gger” (hard g, double g length) [ˈlɛɡːər]
- ut ≈ “oot” with rounded u [ʉːt]
- bildene ≈ “BIL-duh-neh” [ˈbɪldənə]
- på ≈ “paw” with long o [poː]
- nettet ≈ “NET-teh” (double t length) [ˈnɛtːə]
What would this sentence look like in Nynorsk?
Eg legg ut bileta på nettet.
- eg (I), legg (present), bileta (definite plural of “bilete”).