01
verlegen
to move / reschedule
To move something to another place or to another time.
example
Können wir unseren Termin auf nächste Woche verlegen?
Can we move our appointment to next week?
verlegen
to move / lay / misplace
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verlegen' is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' always remains attached to the stem 'legen' and is not placed at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Er verlegt gerade das neue Laminat im Wohnzimmer.
He is laying the new laminate in the living room right now.
Distinguishing meanings
You can recognize the meaning of 'verlegen' from the object: you 'verlegt' an appointment (move/reschedule it), you 'verlegt' a key (misplace it), and you 'verlegt' a carpet (lay/install it).
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen das Treffen leider verlegen.
Unfortunately, we have to reschedule the meeting.
Sentence structure and preposition
When you move or reschedule an appointment or event, use the preposition 'auf' followed by an accusative to indicate the new time.
EXAMPLE
Das Konzert wurde wegen des schlechten Wetters auf nächsten Monat verlegt.
The concert was moved to next month because of the bad weather.
Typical collocations
In the context of construction work or renovations, 'verlegen' means to install something. Typical objects are cables, pipes, lines, tiles, or floor coverings such as carpet and parquet.
EXAMPLE
Ein Fachmann sollte die elektrischen Kabel verlegen.
A professional should lay the electrical cables.
Typical collocations
This meaning is used for small personal objects that you put somewhere and then can no longer find. Typical examples are: 'die Brille verlegen' (to misplace one's glasses), 'den Schlüssel verlegen' (to misplace the key), or 'die Geldbörse verlegen' (to misplace the wallet).
EXAMPLE
Hast du mein Handy gesehen? Ich habe es anscheinend verlegt.
Have you seen my phone? I seem to have misplaced it.
Context clue
When the subject is a publishing house ('der Verlag'), 'verlegen' always means 'publizieren' (to publish). It is then about the publication of books, magazines, or music.
EXAMPLE
Der Thienemann-Verlag verlegt viele bekannte Kinderbücher.
Thienemann Verlag publishes many well-known children's books.
Compare with
verlegen vs vergessen
to forget
'vergessen' and 'verlegen' are easy to confuse when you cannot find something anymore. 'vergessen' is more general: you no longer remember something, or you do not think of taking or doing something. 'verlegen' is used only for objects that you put somewhere and whose location you then no longer know. So you can forget an appointment, but you cannot 'verlegen' an appointment in this sense. And you can misplace a key because it is lying somewhere, but you do not know where.
verlegen
Im Kurs habe ich meinen Stift verlegt und suche ihn seit zehn Minuten.
In class, I misplaced my pen and have been looking for it for ten minutes.
vergessen
Zu Hause vergisst du oft, auf wichtige Nachrichten zu antworten.
At home, you often forget to reply to important messages.
In real life
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