Tuesday 30 September 2014
DEPENDENT PREPOSITIONS
Let's practise dependent prepositions by clicking on the following links:
- VERBS + PREPOSITION
- ADJECTIVES + PREPOSITION
- NOUNS + PREPOSITION
Wednesday 17 September 2014
LAY vs. LIE
Lay and lie are frequently confused verbs that have similar meanings (to do with objects or people lying horizontal on a surface), but for this one big detail - lay is transitive and always has a direct object; lie is intransitive and will never have a direct object.
The reason it seems confusing is that the past tense of lie also happens to be called lay. But this lay should be compared to laid - the past tense of lay. A great way to remember is to chant the present, past and past participle of each verb as one unit: lay-laid-laid and lie-lay-lain.
Comparison chart
Lay | Lie | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | To set or place something an object down in a horizontal position. | To be or to stay at rest in a horizontal position; to recline; to remain inactive; to occupy a certain relative place or position. |
| Part of speech | Transitive verb - requires a direct object. | Intransitive verb - does not involve a direct object. |
| Infinitive / Present tense | To lay: I, we, you, they lay / he, she, it lays | To lie: I, we, you, they lie / he, she, it lies |
| Present, past, past participle forms | Lay, laid, laid | Lie, lay, lain |
| Present Tense Examples | First-person: I lay the place mats on the table. Third-person: She lays out five designs per week. | First-person: I feel the breeze as lie (down) on this park bench. Third-person: Watch out for the dog that lies in the corner. |
| Past tense | Laid | Lay |
| Past-tense examples | First-person: I laid down my sword on the table. Third-person: He did a great job when he laid out these invoices. | First-person: I heard a noise behind me as I lay on the recliner. Third-person: The siblings lay in their beds all day until their parents woke them up for dinner. |
| Past-participle examples | First-person: I had laid out all our supplies for the day. Third-person: He had laid out nine bottles on the bar. | First-person: I had lain under the blankets for too long. Third-person: She had lain on the lounge chair all morning. |
Meaning
Lay means to set something down, to place, or to arrange it over or onto a surface. It is typically used in reference to inanimate objects — for example, I am going to lay out these candles on this shelf, or please lay this book on the table.The verb lay will always have a direct object.
Lie is a verb that means to recline, or to rest in a hosizontal position. It is often used to refer to people or animals — for example, I need to lie down in bed, or the dog lies in front of his master's grave for hours.
Verb Syntax
In this video, Emma explains the difference between lie and lay:
References
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