Grammar Guidelines: Lay or Lie
by Brilliant in Grammar Tips 0
One of the common grammatical mistakes that we see in both speech and writing is the misuse of the phrases lay and lie.
This error is so widespread, it even slips past skilled writers, editors, and English academics - all the time.
Perhaps eventually these two phrases will morph into one and have the very same which means, however till then, it’s worthwhile to study proper usage. For now, their meanings are utterly different.
Let’s take a look at this attention-grabbing phrase pair and find out whether we should be using lay or lie based mostly on each phrase’s definition.
This error is so widespread, it even slips past skilled writers, editors, and English academics - all the time.
Perhaps eventually these two phrases will morph into one and have the very same which means, however till then, it’s worthwhile to study proper usage. For now, their meanings are utterly different.
Let’s take a look at this attention-grabbing phrase pair and find out whether we should be using lay or lie based mostly on each phrase’s definition.
Lay
Dictionary.com lists forty two totally different definitions for the phrase lay. Of these, 28 are categorized as a verb used with an object, eight as verbs used without an object, and 6 are simply nouns. Plus, there are 15 verb phrases that use the word lay, as well as 9 idioms. This is a phrase that can be utilized in lots of other ways!
Let’s hold issues simple by focusing on what differentiates lay from lie.
In brief, lay is one thing you do to something else. You may assume that sounds funny, especially contemplating idiom quantity 58 (get laid), however it’s true and naturally “getting laid” is exactly what you must use to do not forget that you lay something (down).
Lie
The word lie only has 27 definitions, in order that’s a relief. Though, that’s not bearing in mind the 9 further definitions that cope with falsehoods.
Once more, we’ll keep it simple. Just remember that you need to use the word lie when there is no such thing as a object involved.
Lay or Lie
Listed here are some suggestions that will help you keep in mind whether or not to make use of lay or lie in a sentence:
Every sentence has a subject and a verb. An example would be the following:
I write.
“I” is the subject, and “write” is the verb. Many sentences even have an object:
I write poems.
On this instance, the word “poems” is the object. The item in a sentence receives the motion of the verb. The topic is taking or making that action.
Subject: I (does the action)
Action: write (the motion)
Object: poems (receives the motion - i.e. gets written)
Learning to Use Lay or Lie is Simple!
The phrase lay ought to be used when there may be an object receiving the action, i.e. something or someone is getting laid (down) by one thing or somebody else.
I always lay my pencil by the phone.
I laid the ebook on that chair.
I'm laying down the law.
Conversely, the word lie is used when there is no such thing as a object involved, i.e. the topic of the sentence is doing the lying.
I lie down every afternoon.
The kitten lies there, dozing.
The dog is lying down.
Wait - There’s More
As with each rule, there are exceptions. Contemplate the following line: “Now I lay me down to sleep . . .” Nicely, in that sentence, the speaker (I) is laying himself or herself down. We don’t normally communicate like this: I lay myself down. However, when you were to incorporate your self in a sentence as both as subject and object, you'll use lay slightly than lie.
Matters get even more complicated when we have a look at the past tenses of those verbs. For example, the past tense of to lie is lay:
Current tense: I'm mendacity on my bed.
Previous tense: I lay on my mattress final night.
The past tense of lay is laid:
Current tense: I am laying my guide right here.
Previous tense: I laid my e-book right here yesterday.
Discerning between lay or lie isn't an easy feat, but when you memorize the meanings and conjugations of these two oddly comparable phrases, utilizing them accurately can be a snap.
