Learn how to appropriately use lay or lie in a sentence.
One of the vital widespread grammatical errors that we see in each speech and writing is misuse of the phrases lay and lie.
This error is so widespread, it even slips previous skilled writers, editors, and English lecturers — on a regular basis.
Possibly ultimately these two phrases will morph into one and have the very same which means, however till then, it’s worthwhile to study correct utilization. For now, their meanings are fully completely different.
Let’s check out this fascinating phrase pair and discover out whether or not we must be utilizing lay or lie primarily based on every phrase’s definition.
Lay
Dictionary.com lists forty-two completely different definitions for the phrase lay. Of those, twenty-eight are categorized as a verb used with an object, eight as verbs used with out an object, and 6 are merely nouns. Plus, there are fifteen verb phrases that use the phrase lay, in addition to 9 idioms. This can be a phrase that can be utilized in a whole lot of alternative ways!
Let’s maintain issues easy by specializing in what differentiates lay from lie.
In brief, lay is one thing you do to one thing else. You may assume that sounds humorous, particularly contemplating idiom quantity 58 (“get laid”), but it surely’s true, and naturally “getting laid” is precisely what you need to use to keep in mind that you lay somefactor (down).
Lie
The phrase lie solely has twenty-seven definitions, in order that’s a reduction, though that’s not taking into account the 9 extra definitions that cope with falsehoods.
Once more, we’ll maintain it easy. Simply keep in mind that you need to use the phrase lie when there isn’t a object concerned.
Lay or Lie
Listed below are some ideas that will help you bear in mind whether or not to make use of lay or lie in a sentence:
Each sentence has a topic and a verb. An instance can be the next:
I write.
I is the topic, and write is the verb. Many sentences even have an object:
I write poems.
On this instance, the phrase poems is the item. The item in a sentence receives the motion of the verb. The topic is taking or making that motion.
Topic: I (does the motion)
Motion: write (the motion)
Object: poems (receives the motion; i.e. will get written)
Studying to Use Lay or Lie is Straightforward!
The phrase lay must be used when there’s an object receiving the motion, i.e. one thing or somebody is getting laid (down) by one thing or another person.
I at all times lay my pencil by the telephone.
I laid the guide on that chair.
I’m laying down the regulation.
Conversely, the phrase lie is used when there isn’t a object concerned, i.e. the topic of the sentence is mendacity itself (down).
I lie down each afternoon.
The kitten lies there, dozing.
The canine is mendacity down.
Wait — There’s Extra
As with each rule, there are exceptions. Contemplate the next line: “Now I lay me right down to sleep . . .” Nicely, in that sentence, the speaker (I) is laying himself or herself down. We don’t usually converse like this: I lay myself down. Nonetheless, for those who have been to incorporate your self in a sentence as each as topic and object, you’d use lay moderately than lie.
Issues get much more complicated after we have a look at the previous tenses of those verbs. For instance, the previous tense of to lie is lay:
Current tense: I’m mendacity on my mattress.
Previous tense: I lay on my mattress final night time.
The previous tense of lay is laid:
Current tense: I’m laying my guide proper right here.
Previous tense: I laid my guide proper right here yesterday.
Discerning between lay or lie will not be a straightforward feat, however when you memorize the meanings and conjugations of those two oddly related phrases, utilizing them appropriately will probably be a snap.
Do you will have any ideas for remembering whether or not a sentence requires lay or lie? Are there any phrase pairs or grammar guidelines that confuse you? Share your ideas by leaving a remark.
