In this series of blogs, Writing Woes, I will share with you some amusing insights on the mistakes people inadvertently make when writing, based on my work as a professional tutor and as a writer for Summit University.
Here we go!
I believe that people should not teach their dogs bad grammar. “Go lay down” is just wrong. Poor dogs.
So let’s sort this out.
Lay is a transitive verb that takes an object. You cannot simply lay down. You have to lay something down. The something is the object.
Lay the book on the coffee table.
Hens lay eggs.
The bold words are the objects of the verb to lay.
Lie is an intransitive verb that does not take an object. You may simply lie down (or your dog may).
Go lie down.
I love to lie on the sofa and read a book.
So long as we only speak and write in the present tense, it’s all simple. When the present has passed, it becomes more complicated.
LAY
Present tense: lay, past tense: laid, perfect tense: laid.
Notice how the verb changes form: lay, laid, laid. This is the easy one. It follows the pattern of pay, paid, paid, or say, said, said.
LIE
Present tense: lie, past tense: lay, perfect tense: lain.
Oops. What is the word “lay” doing in the past tense of “lie”?
Well, this is English. Our grammar is not as regular as it might be. This is the less simple verb. Its forms are lie, lay, lain. There’s no comparison for that. You simply have to memorize it.
Here’s how to use lay and lain:
Yesterday I lay on the beach for an hour.
I have never lain in the sun for longer than one hour.
I challenge you to practice using the correct verb all the time for the rest of your life. Your dog will thank you.
Lynn The Tutor
(My tutoring website: https://lynnthetutor.com)