'Lay' and 'lie'.

'Lay' and 'lie'. (Full Version)

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PeonForHer -> 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 12:38:58 PM)
Right, the rules on usage of these are an obstacle to a great many (even native-English speaking) people. But they're potentially even harder if they differ from one side of the Atlantic to the other. I've been reading and hearing the words of Americans recently and have noticed that they'll frequently use constructions such as: 'I think I'll go and lay down for a while'. 'I was laying on the bed' Is this considered grammatically correct in the USA/Canada?

mnottertail -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 1:12:53 PM)
Worm and parcel with the lay, turn and serve the other way. I think it is grammatically common, and here; common makes correct.

pgashlie -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 1:24:09 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: mnottertail Worm and parcel with the lay, turn and serve the other way. That particular usage of "lay" is probably outside the scope of the debate. It's a technical term, referring to the direction in which strands of a rope are turned.

MariaB -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 1:42:04 PM)
To lay down and let love die, Just stay down and let love lie.

MariaB -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 1:53:04 PM)
1. Every morning I lay down and rest for a while. 2. Peon laid on the lawn and soaked up the sunshine. 3. I distinctly remember lying my purse on the table. 4. The file were laying on my desk this evening. 5. When Steve comes home every afternoon, he lays his jacket on the hall table. 6. Yesterday Mike laid on the rug watching television. Can you point out the correct one/s?

amaster5 -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 2:22:31 PM)
Lay is usually (as in commonly) used as the past tense of lie, as in: she lay down and I spread her open. As opposed to present tense: I lie down and he spreads me open.

mnottertail -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 2:25:59 PM)
Lie means to rest or recline, lay means to situate or place something. I lie down. I lay sally down, probably after mr clapton does. But with powernapping coming of age, I often lay down. LOL.

NorthernGent -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 2:46:51 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: PeonForHer Right, the rules on usage of these are an obstacle to a great many (even native-English speaking) people. But they're potentially even harder if they differ from one side of the Atlantic to the other. I've been reading and hearing the words of Americans recently and have noticed that they'll frequently use constructions such as: 'I think I'll go and lay down for a while'. 'I was laying on the bed' Is this considered grammatically correct in the USA/Canada? Must be that farmer talk you people get caught up in down there, Peon. Never heard anyone say I'll 'lay down'.

mnottertail -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 2:52:51 PM)
You had better go have bit of a little lie down, he is accusing yanks and canucks of that bit of miasma, and by inference, does not personally indulge in it.

PeonForHer -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 2:55:15 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: mnottertail You had better go have bit of a little lie down, he is accusing yanks and canucks of that bit of miasma, and by inference, does not personally indulge in it. I used to, though. I actually sat down and learned the rules, once, some time in my twenties. It's a difficult one.

NorthernGent -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 2:58:12 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: mnottertail You had better go have bit of a little lie down, he is accusing yanks and canucks of that bit of miasma, and by inference, does not personally indulge in it. I'm already laying down, Ron, but Peon's still a farmer and he probably does indulge in this sort of incomprehensible diction that would surprise a few people in some impenetrable South American rain forest, just a bit.

PeonForHer -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 3:00:04 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MariaB 1. Every morning I lay down and rest for a while. 2. Peon laid on the lawn and soaked up the sunshine. 3. I distinctly remember lying my purse on the table. 4. The file were laying on my desk this evening. 5. When Steve comes home every afternoon, he lays his jacket on the hall table. 6. Yesterday Mike laid on the rug watching television. Can you point out the correct one/s? Only 5. It should be: 1. Every morning I liedown and rest for a while. 2. Peon lay on the lawn and soaked up the sunshine. 3. I distinctly remember laying my purse on the table. 4. The file were lying on my desk this evening. 5. When Steve comes home every afternoon, he lays his jacket on the hall table. 6. Yesterday Mike lay on the rug watching television.

Musicmystery -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 3:04:21 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: PeonForHer Right, the rules on usage of these are an obstacle to a great many (even native-English speaking) people. But they're potentially even harder if they differ from one side of the Atlantic to the other. I've been reading and hearing the words of Americans recently and have noticed that they'll frequently use constructions such as: 'I think I'll go and lay down for a while'. 'I was laying on the bed' Is this considered grammatically correct in the USA/Canada? No. Lay takes an object. It should be lie and lying. But we have Bob Dylan to thank for it . . . probably because "Lie, Lady, Lie" would suggest an invitation to falsehood. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ODMKSWzT4

dcnovice -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 3:05:42 PM)
quote: 4. The file were laying on my desk this evening. This one's a double whammy, with a subject-verb disagreement as well. It should be either: -- The files were lying on my desk this morning. -- The file was lying on my desk this morning.

PeonForHer -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 3:15:21 PM)
"Yesterday, I lay down in the sun" Another of the problems is that 'lay' is often followed by 'down'. So it sounds like 'I laid down'.

PeonForHer -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 3:16:30 PM)
quote: I'm already laying down Are you refilling a duvet, NG?

NorthernGent -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 3:26:29 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: PeonForHer quote: I'm already laying down Are you refilling a duvet, NG? Dunno, mate, I'm out of my depth with this grammar/diction thing.

Hillwilliam -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 3:49:27 PM)
A lot of folks lie about the last time they got laid. There. Solved it

Marc2b -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 3:56:01 PM)
All I know is that "shat" is the past tense of shit. Example: "The dog done shat on the carpet!"

FieryOpal -> RE: 'Lay' and 'lie'. (10/6/2014 4:15:02 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Hillwilliam A lot of folks lie about the last time they got laid. There. Solved it Good one, LOL... Particularly the ones who can't get laid.[sm=needahug.gif]

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