{"id":437733,"date":"2018-08-31T15:30:21","date_gmt":"2018-08-31T15:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essaypaper.org\/lay-vs-lie-and-why-it-is-so-easy-for-you-to-get-them-wrong\/"},"modified":"2018-10-24T09:17:01","modified_gmt":"2018-10-24T09:17:01","slug":"lay-vs-lie-and-why-it-is-so-easy-for-you-to-get-them-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.benedictsol.com\/blogs\/lay-vs-lie-and-why-it-is-so-easy-for-you-to-get-them-wrong\/","title":{"rendered":"Lay vs Lie And Why It Is So Easy For You To Get Them Wrong"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/span> 5<\/span>\/5<\/span><\/span> (1<\/span>) <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"lay<\/p>\n

Why do we get lay vs lie so confused all the time?<\/h2>\n

These two verbs cause so many problems, even for proficient English speakers.<\/p>\n

The cause of the misuse is in the grammar. Isn\u2019t it always?<\/p>\n

Well, let\u2019s get the technical stuff out of the way first and then look at some examples.<\/p>\n

The main contrast between the\u00a0verb lie and the\u00a0verb lay is that one is an intransitive\u00a0verb and the other is a transitive verb.<\/p>\n

Lay is transitive, and lie is intransitive.<\/p>\n

The easiest way to remember which verb is which is to think about the root of the word transitive, <\/strong>which is\u00a0transit<\/strong>. It means to go across <\/strong>or\u00a0passage from one place to another.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Therefore, a transitive verb moves the action across to an object, while an intransitive verb action is not transferred and only applies to the subject.<\/p>\n

An intransitive verb does not have an object.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The baby is<\/strong> teething.<\/p>\n

I work<\/strong> for a building company.<\/p>\n

They laughed<\/strong> together.<\/p>\n

We talked<\/strong> for a while.<\/p>\n

A transitive verb requires an object.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mike used to manage<\/strong> a restaurant<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Did you wash<\/strong> the dishes<\/span>?<\/p>\n

I can move<\/strong> my car<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Can I open<\/strong> the window<\/span>?<\/p>\n

With lay and lie<\/strong><\/p>\n

I lie<\/strong> down in the afternoon. (intransitive)<\/p>\n

I lay<\/strong> the book<\/span> on the table.\u00a0(transitive)<\/p>\n

A chicken lays<\/strong> eggs<\/span>.\u00a0(transitive)<\/p>\n

We lie<\/strong> together on the beach.\u00a0(intransitive)<\/p>\n

Lay and lie and their confusing tense forms<\/h3>\n

Where these two verbs get a little more complex is when we change tense.<\/p>\n

\"lay<\/p>\n

The reason for most of the confusion is that the past tense of lie is lay<\/strong>, which is the present tense of lay<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Boy, English really has a way of making things tough sometimes.<\/p>\n

The past forms of to lay are easy and regular. Lay, laid, laid.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But for to lie, the forms are easy to forget because they are so weirdly irregular. Lie, lay, lain.<\/strong> How often do you use or hear the past participle lain?<\/p>\n

Luckily, the present participle of lie and lay are regular. Laying, lying.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In everyday use, it becomes easier if you try to remember that\u00a0lay requires a direct object.<\/p>\n

Lay<\/strong> means to put something down, often gently.<\/p>\n

I laid<\/strong> the book<\/span> on my bed.<\/em><\/p>\n

She was laid<\/strong> low for a week by the flu<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Could you lay<\/strong> my\u00a0new dress<\/span> on my bed, please?<\/p>\n

I laid<\/strong> the table<\/span> with our\u00a0best crockery.<\/p>\n

Lie<\/strong> means to take a<\/strong>\u00a0horizontal position<\/strong> and doesn\u2019t require a direct object.<\/p>\n

I think I\u2019ll lie<\/strong> quietly and see if it helps my headache.<\/p>\n

I lay<\/strong> down for an hour this morning.<\/p>\n

I had only lain<\/strong> down for a few minutes when the phone\u00a0rang.<\/p>\n

He lay<\/strong> still for a moment.<\/p>\n

It is easy really. If there is an object<\/strong>, it is lay<\/strong>. If there is<\/strong> no object<\/strong>, it is lie<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The world of music is why we learn to get it all so wrong<\/h3>\n

Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton are to blame!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sorry Bob and Eric, but your songs should be Lie Lady Lie and Lie Down Sally.<\/p>\n

Can you spot why some of these popular song titles use lay incorrectly?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lay Lady Lay (wrong)
Bob Dylan<\/p>\n

Lay Down Sally (wrong)
Eric Clapton<\/p>\n

Lay Your Hands On Me\u00a0(correct)
Bon Jovi<\/p>\n

Now I Lay Thee Down\u00a0(correct)
Machine Head<\/p>\n

Pick \u2019em Up and Lay \u2019em Down\u00a0(correct)
Toby Keith<\/p>\n

Lover Lay Down\u00a0(wrong)
Dave Matthews Band<\/p>\n

I Lay Down and Die\u00a0(wrong)
Bee Gees<\/p>\n

Lay It Down\u00a0(correct)
Kenny Rogers<\/p>\n

Lay Your Money Down\u00a0(correct)
Bread<\/p>\n

Lay Back Daddy\u00a0\u00a0(wrong)
Etta James<\/p>\n

Lay Me Down Easy\u00a0(correct)
Three Dog Night<\/p>\n

Lay Another Log on the Fire\u00a0(correct)
B.B. King<\/p>\n

Lay Your Love on Me\u00a0(correct)
Bad Company<\/p>\n

Would You Lay With Me\u00a0\u00a0(wrong)
Johnny Cash<\/p>\n

Lay Down Beside Me\u00a0\u00a0(wrong)
Kenny Rogers<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h3>\n

Does it matter if you use\u00a0lay and lie incorrectly?<\/p>\n

If it is a matter of people understanding, well, maybe not. But if you are a writer, you should take the time to iron out any knots you might have with these two verbs.<\/p>\n

Getting them right is much better than being attacked by the grammar police.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll leave you with a little relaxation, but I expect after reading this article, your ears might now react to how Bob and Eric got it all so wrong.<\/p>\n