Before you start
Meet vorlegen
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
All 4 meanings
- to present, to submit
- to serve (food) to put down, put out (cat food etc.)
- to put on (a chain, a latch), to put (a bolt) across
- (financial) to advance
Build the meaning
vor- + legen
- vor-
- in front of someone, for them to see or consider
- legen
- to lay or place
Lay something in front of someone so they can inspect or consider it.
So vorlegen means to present, show, or submit.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Separable verb: vor·legen
In a main clause the prefix vor splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseEr legt dem Arzt seinen Pass vor.He shows the doctor his passport.
Subordinate clauseIch gehe, weil ich meinen Ausweis vorlege.I am going because I am showing my ID.
Participle: vorgelegtzu-infinitive: vorzulegen
Forms
How vorlegen changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | lege vor | legte vor |
| du | legst vor | legtest vor |
| er/sie/es | legt vor | legte vor |
| wir | legen vor | legten vor |
| ihr | legt vor | legtet vor |
| Sie | legen vor | legten vor |
Partizip II vorgelegt · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich lege meinen Ausweis am Eingang vor.I show my ID at the entrance.prefix goes to the end
- 2Sie hat gestern einen neuen Plan vorgelegt.She presented a new plan yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3Du musst deine Karte vorlegen.You have to show your card.with a modal verb
Verb family
More verbs built on legen
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.