Here is part seven in my new series, where I take a look at the weird and wonderful world of words. If you missed part one, please click here. You’ll find part two here and part three here. For part four click here. Now for parts five and six.
Q. When do you use the words ‘lay’ and ‘lie’?
A. You use the verb ‘lay’ to refer to putting something down. There needs to be an object e.g.:
I am going to lay the book flat on the table.
Past tense:
I laid the book flat on the table.
The word ‘lie’ is an irregular verb and doesn’t need an object e.g.:
When I’m on holiday, I love to lie out in the sun.
Past tense:
When I was on holiday, I lay out in the sun.
‘Lie’ has another meaning – when someone says something, which isn’t true e.g.:
I lied to my mum when I said I liked her new shoes.
Interesting word of the week:
UMBRIFEROUS
Meaning: casting a shadow/making shade.
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Photo credit: pinterest.com
I have always struggled with those two words and when to use them. Brings me back to middle school grammar days.
Language is so complex, isn’t it?!
Not wishing to be pedantic, but your example of lie/untruth is using the word as a noun, not a verb.
I lied to my friend when I said I liked her new dress would be better.
Sorry.
Glad to see someone’s reading my blog, Keith! Thank you 🙂
How could I not read your blog, Esther?
Thank you, Keith. Glad you want to read it and enjoy it 🙂
I too struggle with lay and lie and lying and laying .. and I struggle with too and to too! Makes you wonder why I write – thank goodness for editors I say!
Then there’s – there, their and they’re! And that’s just for starters!
Ah, I’m okay there…. oh, and what about that that, that is, is that necessary?
And then there’s rain, rein and reign! We could go on all night!
Good Morning Esther!
Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out the latest installment of Esther Chilton’s series on The Strange Working of the English Language from this post on her blog.
A big thank you!
You’re welcome.
Why is English so weird??
It’s so complicated!
It is, it must have got this way by making it up as we go surely?