Learn how to accurately use lay or lie in a sentence.
Probably the most 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 academics — on a regular basis.
Perhaps ultimately these two phrases will morph into one and have the very same that means, however till then, it’s worthwhile to study correct utilization. For now, their meanings are utterly completely different.
Let’s check out this attention-grabbing phrase pair and discover out whether or not we needs to 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 other ways!
Let’s preserve issues easy by specializing in what differentiates lay from lie.
Briefly, lay is one thing you do to one thing else. You would possibly suppose that sounds humorous, particularly contemplating idiom quantity 58 (“get laid”), however it’s true, and naturally “getting laid” is strictly what you must use to keep in mind that you lay somefactor (down).
Lie
The phrase lie solely has twenty-seven definitions, in order that’s a aid, though that’s not making an allowance for the 9 extra definitions that take care of falsehoods.
Once more, we’ll preserve it easy. Simply keep in mind that you must use the phrase lie when there isn’t any object concerned.
Lay or Lie
Listed below are some suggestions that can assist you keep 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 thing 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 Simple!
The phrase lay needs to 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 cellphone.
I laid the guide on that chair.
I’m laying down the regulation.
Conversely, the phrase lie is used when there isn’t any 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. Think about the next line: “Now I lay me all the way down to sleep . . .” Properly, in that sentence, the speaker (I) is laying himself or herself down. We don’t usually communicate like this: I lay myself down. Nevertheless, in case you have been to incorporate your self in a sentence as each as topic and object, you’d use lay slightly than lie.
Issues get much more complicated after we take 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 just isn’t a straightforward feat, however when you memorize the meanings and conjugations of those two oddly related phrases, utilizing them accurately shall be a snap.
