Commonly Confused Words: Lay v. Lie

**ام بسمه** · 03-02-2010, 07:37 PM

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

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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

[GLINT][GLOW="CC3333"][BLINK]The key lies in understanding what the words actually mean[/BLINK][/GLOW][/GLINT]

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.