A message from the punctuation police: Lay versus Lie

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

:hi:

:rofl:

Always room for one more...

RL

:thumbsup:

RL

:woohoo: :bounce:

to the UC Berkeley Regents.

:rofl:

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

I'm sure of it.

Cheers

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

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

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

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

:hi:

RL

:evilgrin:

:9

RL

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:

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.

:P

and I was copycatting... :P

RL

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

:P

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

:hi:

RL

:hi:

RL

..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:

...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:

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

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

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

:rofl:

RL