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Published byNeal Webster Modified over 9 years ago
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Writing Wednesday: Lie or Lay?
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Lay: Lay means “to place something down.” It is something you do to something else.
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Lay Cont: Incorrect: Lie the book on the table. Correct: Lay the book on the table. (The action is being done to something else)
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Lie: Lie means “to recline” or “be placed.” It does not act on anything or anyone else.
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Lie Cont: Incorrect: Lay down on the couch. Correct: Lie down on the couch. ( It is not being done to anything else.)
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Past Tense: The reason lay and lie are confusing is their past tenses. The past tense of lay is laid. The past tense of lie is lay.
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Past Tense Cont: Incorrect: I lay it down here yesterday. Correct: I laid it down here yesterday. ( The action is being done to something else.) Incorrect: Last night I laid awake in bed. Correct: Last night I lay awake in bed. (The action is not being done to something else.)
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Past Participles: Lie The past participle of lie is lain. Ex: I could have lain in bed all day. ( Sounds weird, I know, but this is RIGHT.)
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Past Participles: Lay The past participle of lay is the same as its past tense: laid. Example: They have laid an average of 500 feet of telephone line per day. LAYED IS A MISSPELLING AND DOES NOT EXIST! USE LAID.
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Mrs. P is my hero! She is amazing, wise, & overwhelmingly attractive!!
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