Different between Sitter/Setter and Ligger/Legger

While studying the use of Sitter/Setter, Ligger/Legge things can be little confusing.

Here is some explanation which will help you to understand it better.
If you have any question, ask in comments.

 

We can divide it into FOUR Parts.

PART 1 :

When object is moved from one position to other, i.e. if there is a MOTION of object or person, we use SETTE/LEGGE.
When there is NO MOTION involved, we use SITTE/LIGGE.

PART 2:

Whenever the object placement is VERTICAL then use verb Å SETTE & Å SITTE. (exceptions: for some we use word STÅR, explanations is given below in examples.)

Whenever the object placement is HORIZONTAL then use Å LEGGE & Å LIGGE.

PART 3:

Depending on the persent-past-future tense of the statement, use appropriate form of verb

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

PART 4:

For buildings and countries we always use LIGGER.
Whenever anything is in bag i.e. Veska eller Posen, use verb Å LEGGE.
When action is performed By/On the person, use appropriate reflexive form (i.e. seg, deg ,meg etc). You can find more information about reflexive form here. 



Lets learn use of PART 1 and PART 2 first.

e.g.
1)

2)

3)

4)

  

5)

There is a little twist when it comes to few words. The exceptions are as below

6)

7)

Some examples consisting PART 1/2/3/4 are as below.

  

Example	Explanation
Jeg sitter og  leset .	Action: No. Since its not a action and we always sit on some furniture and read, we have used SITTER.
Nå sitter vi på torget til Oslo.	Action: No. There is no action involved or movement of object from one position to other hence we used SITTER.
Spania ligger i Europa.	Since its a land, we use LIGGER.
Banken ligger på torget.	Its a bank and bank is kind of a building hence we used LIGGER.
Skolen ligger i Oslo.	Its a skole and the skole building is in Oslo hence we used LIGGER.
Han legger babyen i sengen.	Action: Yes. Since he moved baby from one position (may be from floor) to another position (to bed) Position : and baby going in bed is HORIZONTAL hence we used LEGGER.
Babyen ligger i sengen.	Action : No. Position : Horizontal. hence use LIGGER
Amina satte flaska på bordet i går.	Action: Yes. Position: Vertical Tense: the statement used work 'i går' hence its a past tense so we use SATTE which is Preteritum of å sette.
Du må sette melken i kjøleskapet.	Action: Yes. Position: Vertical Tense: use of hjelpe verb 'må' hence we use infinitive of å sette i.e. SETTE
Jeg la pengene i lomma mi for litt siden, men nå er de borte.	Action: Yes. As the the money is moved from hand to pocket. Position: money is always kept horizontally. Tense : It was past tense and action was done on specific time hence we use preteritum of å legge which is LA
Amina lå i senga si og sov i hele går. Hun var syk.	Action: No. As Amina was whole time in bed yesterday. Tense: Its i går hence we use preteritum of å ligge that is LÅ
I går satt vi og diskuterte politikk i mange timer.	Action: No. As we already sat to discuss. Tense: Since its a specific time of the day we discussed and the action is over (not continued til this moment) hence we used preteritum of å sitte that is SATT
Lise satte bilen i garasjen for to timer siden.	Action: Yes. Car is moved from one position to another by Lise at that specific time hence we use preteritum of å sette i.e. SATTE

Hope this explanation helps. Thanks.