Legge vs ligge; Sette vs sitte

   |  Dan

In English, often we use “lay” and “lie” interchangeably, even if they are not meant to be used in that manner, and yet most people never even notice when we use them incorrectly. In Norwegian, however, people will notice when you use “å ligge” instead of “å legge” (or vice versa) or “å sitte” instead of “å sette.” For learners, the difference can be difficult to remember, so we will go over them today.

Å legge eller å ligge

When object placement is horizontal, then you would use “å ligge” or “å legge.” The easiest way to learn and memorize when to use “å ligge” vs “å legge” is to consider if movement (bevegelse) is happening or not.

  • If there is movement (bevegelse), then you would use “å legge” in the sentence.

  • If there there is no movement (ikke bevegelse), then you would use “å ligge” in the sentence.

Example

English

Å legge

  • With movement (bevegelse)

Jeg vil legge meg ned.

I want to lay down.

Jeg legger meg i sengen.

I’m laying (down) in the bed.

Å ligge

  • Without movement (ikke bevegelse)

Katten ligger på gulvet.

The cat is lying on the floor.

Jeg ligger i sengen.

I’m (already) lying in the bed.

“Å ligge” is also used for “to be (located)” when referring to a geographical location.

Example

English

Geographical Location

Hvor ligger Trondheim?

Where is Trondheim?

(Where does Trondheim lie?)

Norge ligger vest for Sverige.

Norway is located west of Sweden.

“Å legge” is used any time an object is put inside a bag (veska eller posen).

Example English

Inside a bag

Han la melk i posen.

He put the milk in the bag.

Hun legger mobiltelefonen sin i veska si.

She puts her cell phone in her purse.

Let’s Practice: Ligge eller Legge

Eksempel English

Kassereren la klærne i posen.

The cashier put the clothes in the bag.

Katten min ligger i sengen min.

My cat is lying in my bed.

Universitetet ligger i Oslo.

The university is located in Oslo.

Barna la seg ned for en lur.

The child laid down for a nap.

Å sette eller å sitte

If the object placement is vertical, then you would use “å sitte” or “å sette.”

It is easier to know when to use “å sitte” or “å sette” because of context of the sentence (sit versus put). However, there may be occasional sentences when, in English, either word would work well. In these cases, whether to use “å sitte” or “å sette” can be determined in the same manner as you would for “å ligge” or “å legge.”

  • If there is movement (bevegelse), then you would use “å sette” in the sentence.

  • If there there is no movement (ikke bevegelse), then you would use “å sitte” in the sentence.

Example

English

Å sette

  • With movement (bevegelse)

Jeg setter koppen på bordet.

I am sitting the cup on the table.

Jeg setter meg på en stol.

I am sitting (down) in a chair.

Å sitte

  • Without movement (ikke bevegelse)

Jeg sitter under treet.

I am sitting under the tree.

Jeg sitter på en stol.

I am (already) sitting in a chair.

Note: If the object is inanimate and there’s no movement, then you would use “å stå.”.

Eksempel English

Flasken står på bordet.

The bottle is sitting on the table.

Lampen står på gulvet.

The lamp is sitting on the floor.

Let’s Practice: Sitte eller Sette

Eksempel English

Hunden sitter i hundehuset.

The dog is sitting in the doghouse.

Markus satte melken i kjøleskapet.

Markus put the milk in the refrigerator.

Katten satt i vinduet tidligere.

The cat was sitting in the window earlier.

Sett deg ned og hold kjeft.

Sit down and shup up!

But wait…​ you may be asking, “What about å putte?”

“Å putte” is used in sentences where in English you could replace the word “put” with “insert.” Whereas, “å sette” is used when putting something somewhere in an upright position or somewhere in general.

Example English

Å putte

Han puttet hånden i lommen.

He put his hand in the pocket.

Jeg puttet pengen i lommeboken min.

I put the money in my wallet.

Å sette

Hun satte vasen på bordet.

She put the vase on the table.

Han satte et frimerke på brevet.

He put a stamp on the letter.

Let’s take a look at some examples here.

Here is how the verbs are conjugated:

INFINITIVE

PRESENS

PRETERITUM

PERFEKTUM

å ligge

ligger

lå

har ligget

å legge

legger

la

har lagt

å sitte

sitter

satt

har sittet

å sette

setter

satte

har satt

å putte

putter

puttet

har puttet

For additional conjugations, check out Verbix.

Here’s a flowchart to help you remember which word to use when:

Flowchart for picking verb for placing something

**If the lesson was beneficial, please consider buying me a virtual coffee. Thanks.**

References:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blank with å ligge / å legge / å sitte / å sette / å putte. (Be sure to conjugate).

  1. __ deg ned og hold kjeft!
    (Sit down and shut up!)

  2. Hunden min __ i sengen sin.
    (My dog is lying on his bed.)

  3. Moren sa til barnet sitt, “__ hånden din i votten.”
    (The mother said to her child, “Put your hand in the mitten.)

  4. Kan du __ tallerkenene på bordet?
    (Can you put the plates on the table?)

  5. Katten __ i vinduet.
    (The cat was sitting in the window).

Answer key

Exercise 2: Write 6 sentences using å sitte / å sette / å ligge / å legge / å putte.