The idea
“Etwas zu Ende lesen/machen” is a common way to say “finish”. Legen (to lay, put) describes a movement, so in takes the accusative: in meine Tasche. Liegen describes the result: Das Buch liegt in meiner Tasche. Hineinlegen means to put inside. “Bei der Rückgabe” uses the noun from zurückgeben with bei for “at the time of”. Friends use du and dein.
Other ways to say it
“Ich bringe dir dein Buch nächste Woche zurück.” – Casual and clear; zurückbringen with dative dir.
“Danke fürs Ausleihen, das Buch hat mir sehr gefallen.” – Friendly thanks; fürs is short for für das.
Examples
- Ich habe dein Buch endlich zu Ende gelesen.I have finally finished reading your book.
- Möchtest du es mir beim nächsten Treffen geben?Would you like to give it to me at our next meeting?
- Ja, ich lege es gleich in meine Tasche.Yes, I will put it in my bag now.
- Brauchst du noch meine Notizen dazu?Do you still need my notes with it?
- Nein, die lege ich wieder hinein.No, I will put them back inside.
- Dann ist alles bei der Rückgabe zusammen.Then everything will be together when you return it.
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Watch out
“Ja, ich lege es gleich in meiner Tasche.” → “Ja, ich lege es gleich in meine Tasche.”: Legen involves moving the book into the bag, so in takes the accusative meine. The dative meiner fits liegen, which describes where it already is.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: I have finally finished reading your book.
Show answer or example answer
Ich habe dein Buch endlich zu Ende gelesen.
Perfect “habe … gelesen” with “zu Ende” before the participle; “endlich” shows it took a while.
Put the words in order: es / gleich / ich / in / Ja / lege / meine / Tasche
Show answer or example answer
Ja, ich lege es gleich in meine Tasche.
“Lege” describes the movement; “es” refers to das Buch, and “in meine Tasche” is accusative for the direction.
Write this sentence in German: Then everything will be together when you return it.
Show answer or example answer
Dann ist alles bei der Rückgabe zusammen.
“Dann” opens the sentence; “bei der Rückgabe” is dative after bei, and “alles … zusammen” means nothing is missing.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: I have finally finished reading your book.
Ich habe dein Buch endlich zu Ende gelesen.
Put the words in order: es / gleich / ich / in / Ja / lege / meine / Tasche
Ja, ich lege es gleich in meine Tasche.
Write this sentence in German: Then everything will be together when you return it.
Dann ist alles bei der Rückgabe zusammen.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write a message to a friend saying you have finished something you borrowed and suggesting when and where to give it back.