ام بسمه
03-02-2010, 07:37 PM
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
This is a nice and useful topic that I found and liked,while surfing the net . So, I thought of coping it to you here
:smile (74):
The choice is tricky. Native English speakers are often not sure about which is correct, and lay ends up overused when in fact lie is the correct choice.
The "lie versus lay" debate is particularly confusing, for 3 main reasons
1.) Their spellings are similar, but not the same
2.) Their meanings are similar, but not the same
3.) The past tense of lie is the present tense of lay
Recipe for a Grammatical Disaster
Not to worry
The key lies in understanding what the words actually mean
Once the meaning difference between lay and lie is understood, the spelling falls into place
*Note: The word "lie" has two meanings. The one that concerns telling "false truths" is irrelevant to this discussion. You can lie about your age, people have lied about lots of things, and will continue lying in the future - but we don't care right now
Let's stick to the issue
Present Tense: Lie v. Lay
The The Gregg Reference Manual, 10th ed., defines the words as
Lie = to recline; to rest; to stay
This verb cannot take an object.
(A subject performs the action on itself; you cannot rest a book) l
I don't feel well; I might lie down for a few minutes
Fido! Lie still
Lay = to put or to place
This verb requires an object to complete its meaning.
This is a nice and useful topic that I found and liked,while surfing the net . So, I thought of coping it to you here
:smile (74):
The choice is tricky. Native English speakers are often not sure about which is correct, and lay ends up overused when in fact lie is the correct choice.
The "lie versus lay" debate is particularly confusing, for 3 main reasons
1.) Their spellings are similar, but not the same
2.) Their meanings are similar, but not the same
3.) The past tense of lie is the present tense of lay
Recipe for a Grammatical Disaster
Not to worry
The key lies in understanding what the words actually mean
Once the meaning difference between lay and lie is understood, the spelling falls into place
*Note: The word "lie" has two meanings. The one that concerns telling "false truths" is irrelevant to this discussion. You can lie about your age, people have lied about lots of things, and will continue lying in the future - but we don't care right now
Let's stick to the issue
Present Tense: Lie v. Lay
The The Gregg Reference Manual, 10th ed., defines the words as
Lie = to recline; to rest; to stay
This verb cannot take an object.
(A subject performs the action on itself; you cannot rest a book) l
I don't feel well; I might lie down for a few minutes
Fido! Lie still
Lay = to put or to place
This verb requires an object to complete its meaning.