A message from the punctuation police: Lay versus Lie

[RetroLounge]

Lay vs. Lie

"Lay" and "lie" are often confused--and always confusing.

"Lay" is a verb meaning to put or place something somewhere.It takes a direct object. Its principal parts are "lay," "laid," "laid," and "laying."

Examples: Every day I lay the book on the table. Yesterday I laid the book on the table. I have laid the book on the table many times.I am laying the book on the table right now.

In all these examples, the verb is a form of the word "lay," and the direct object is "book."

"Lie" is, in this context, a verb meaning to recline. It does not take an object. Its principal parts are "lie," "lay," "lain," and "lying."

Examples: Every night I lie down. I lay down last night. I have lain down many times. I am lying down right now.

If you're in doubt about whether to use "lay" or "lie," try substituting a form of the verb "place." If it makes sense, use a form of "lay."

Lie down on my bed, and I will lay myself next to you...

RL

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. ...and that's where it gets really crowded.

:hi:

[RetroLounge]

2. ...

:rofl:

Always room for one more...

RL

[LostinVA]

12. Pev

[RetroLounge]

13. Thanks!

:thumbsup:

RL

[Writer]

3. Kick for great obscure grammar fun!

:woohoo: :bounce:

[EFerrari]

4. I have never understood this. And please do not bust me

to the UC Berkeley Regents.

:rofl:

[Bjornsdotter]

5. Sugar

....is the only word in the English language where the "su" sounds like "sh".

I'm sure of it.

Cheers

[Left Is Write]

6. See George lie. Lie, lie, lie. George likes to lie.

No, Georgem no! You are supposed to lay, not lie!

[pagerbear]

7. You think that's confusing, do it in German (liegen/legen) with prepositions that switch-hit cases!

[Le Taz Hot]

8. Thank you for that.

I've never known the difference (and was far too lazy to look it up).

[RetroLounge]

21. And as the net police have mentioned

it's a grammar issue, NOT punctuation...

but I say it's okay because I was copycatting...

:hi:

RL

[KitchenWitch]

9. How does getting laid square into this?

:evilgrin:

[RetroLounge]

10. Getting laid squares into everything!

:9

RL

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Sometimes a lie can help you get laid

you might pay for that lie, but at least you pay while kicking back smoking a cigarette

:rofl:

No, wait, we are DU Loungers. We are above such freeper behavior.
:hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

14. It's the past tense of lie that nabs me...

I can't quite bring myself to say "he lay down"; but "he lied down" doesn't sound right either. This verb needs prune juice.

[ET Awful]

15. And what, pray tell, does the usage of the words "lay" and "lie" have to do with punctuation?

:P

[RetroLounge]

17. Nothing at all, but the Grammar Police were busy

and I was copycatting... :P

RL

[MissMillie]

16. love ya RL... but if we're going to be picky....

I'm not sure that "punctuation" if the proper way to label this particular error. You might want to choose a different word.

:P

[RetroLounge]

19. Ding, ding, ding

Only took 15 posts for someone to catch my Grammar vs. Punctuation faux-pas...

:hi:

RL

[EstimatedProphet]

18. And why is punctuation involved in this?

[RetroLounge]

20. yeah, it's not. see the previous 2 or 3 posts...

:hi:

RL

[EstimatedProphet]

23. Ah. I missed those.

[Haole Girl]

22. I wasn't confused...

..until I read the last sentence!

Really, though, thank you for the reminder. This was one of my mother's pet peeves. When I would misuse the word, she'd say, "So you are going to lay an egg?"

:rofl:

[CBHagman]

24. As much as I love Bruce Springsteen...

...he is a repeat offender in the punctuation and grammar police files. Look at the lyrics to "My Hometown."

http://www.brucespringsteen.net/songs/MyHometown.html

"Last night me and Kate we laid in bed..."

Aargh! A double offense: misuse of "to lay" and failure to use the nominative case!



By the way, RetroLounge, even reporters get the lay/lie thing wrong. :grr:

[geardaddy]

25. Yup. That's one of my pet-peeves.

Though, I'm not sure why it's coming from the punctuation police. :shrug:

[Inchworm]

26. So, Snow Patrol is wrong?

Now I'm all confused. This was my guide :)

"If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?"

:shrug:

:hi:

Edit: A YouTube link to song because I dig it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxXwIIBlSgw

[Shakespeare]

27. An old journalism prof of mine always concluded hisi rant on this with.....

..."so you lay your girlfriend, and you lie to your wife."

[RetroLounge]

28. ...

:rofl:

RL