Before you start
Meet anlegen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 10 meanings
- (transitive) to create
- (ditransitive) to put on (clothing, jewelry, etc.), to strap on
- (reflexive) to start a fight [with mit ‘with someone’]
- (transitive) to lay in, set aside (a supply, a reserve, a stock)
- (transitive, finance) to save (money, capital) with interest, to invest
- (transitive) to apply (criteria, standards)
Build the meaning
an- + legen
- an-
- onto or toward
- legen
- to lay or place
You place clothing onto yourself, or place money toward an investment.
So anlegen means to put on (clothing or accessories); to invest.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: an·legen
In a main clause the prefix an splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseWir legen heute einen Garten an.We are laying out a garden today.
Subordinate clauseSie spart, weil sie ihr Geld sicher anlegt.She is saving because she invests her money safely.
Participle: angelegtzu-infinitive: anzulegen
Forms
How anlegen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | lege an | legte an |
| du | legst an | legtest an |
| er/sie/es | legt an | legte an |
| wir | legen an | legten an |
| ihr | legt an | legtet an |
| Sie | legen an | legten an |
Partizip II angelegt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich lege jeden Monat etwas Geld an.I invest a little money every month.investing money
- 2Sie hat ihre warme Jacke angelegt.She put on her warm jacket.Perfekt with haben
- 3Er spart, damit er später Geld anlegen kann.He is saving so he can invest money later.infinitive with a modal verb
Verb family
More verbs built on legen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.