Questions & Answers about Jeg legger kluten på beinet mitt.
Why is it legger and not another verb like setter or putter?
Norwegian has several verbs that can all translate as “put” in English, but they’re used in different situations:
- legge – to lay something down (typically so it ends up in a lying / horizontal position)
- Jeg legger kluten på beinet mitt. = I put/lay the cloth on my leg.
- sette – to set/put something so it ends up in a standing / upright position
- Jeg setter koppen på bordet. = I put the cup on the table.
- stille – to place/stand something carefully (often upright, often about clocks, objects)
- putte – to put/pop something (often into something, more informal; a bit like “stick/put in”)
- Jeg putter nøkkelen i lomma. = I put the key in my pocket.
Because a cloth is typically thought of as lying flat, legger is the natural verb here. Using setter or putter would sound odd in this exact sentence.
What verb is legger from, and what are its forms?
Legger is the present tense of the verb å legge (to lay / to put down).
The main forms:
- Infinitive: å legge
- Present: legger – Jeg legger kluten på beinet mitt.
- Past: la – I går la jeg kluten på beinet mitt.
- Past participle: lagt – Jeg har lagt kluten på beinet mitt.
This is a strong/irregular verb: the vowel changes from e to a (legge → la → lagt).