The German verb "legen" means "to lay, to put" in English. It is a regular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "legen" across all 7 tenses. New to German verbs? Start with the German verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "legen" in the Present Tense
Präsens Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | lege |
| du | you (informal) | legst |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | legt |
| wir | we | legen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | legt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | legen |
Er legt das Handy weg.
He puts the phone away.
How to Conjugate "legen" in the Simple Past Tense
Präteritum Completed actions in the past (written/formal)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | legte |
| du | you (informal) | legtest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | legte |
| wir | we | legten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | legtet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | legten |
Er legte sich kurz hin.
He laid down briefly.
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Perfekt Completed actions (spoken German)| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | habe gelegt |
| du | you (informal) | hast gelegt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hat gelegt |
| wir | we | haben gelegt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | habt gelegt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | haben gelegt |
Er hat das Handy hingelegt.
He has put the phone down.
How to Conjugate "legen" in the Past Perfect Tense
Plusquamperfekt Actions completed before another past action| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | hatte gelegt |
| du | you (informal) | hattest gelegt |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | hatte gelegt |
| wir | we | hatten gelegt |
| ihr | you all (informal) | hattet gelegt |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | hatten gelegt |
Er hatte das Handy hingelegt.
He had put the phone down.
How to Conjugate "legen" in the Future Tense
Futur I Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | werde legen |
| du | you (informal) | wirst legen |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | wird legen |
| wir | we | werden legen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | werdet legen |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | werden legen |
Er wird den Stift hinlegen.
He will lay the pen down.
How to Conjugate "legen" in the Subjunctive I Tense
Konjunktiv I Indirect speech and formal requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | lege |
| du | you (informal) | legest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | lege |
| wir | we | legen |
| ihr | you all (informal) | leget |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | legen |
Sie sagt, er lege den Brief hier.
She says he puts the letter here.
How to Conjugate "legen" in the Subjunctive II Tense
Konjunktiv II Hypothetical situations and polite requests| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | I | legte |
| du | you (informal) | legtest |
| er/sie/es | he/she/it | legte |
| wir | we | legten |
| ihr | you all (informal) | legtet |
| sie/Sie | they/you (formal) | legten |
Er legte den Stift auf das Papier.
He would put the pen on the paper.
Frequently Asked Questions About "legen"
Is "legen" regular or irregular in German?
"Legen" is a regular German verb that follows standard conjugation patterns for its verb group.
What does "legen" mean in English?
The German verb "legen" means "to lay, to put" in English.
How do you conjugate "legen" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Präsens): ich → lege, du → legst, er/sie/es → legt, wir → legen, ihr → legt, sie/Sie → legen.
How many tenses does "legen" have in German?
"Legen" is conjugated across 7 tenses in German: Present, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Perfect, Future, Subjunctive I, Subjunctive II.
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