Laid vs Lay AGAIN! :-(

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oursilverstrands
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Laid vs Lay AGAIN! :-(

Post by oursilverstrands »

Jan, my memory isn't serving me well. :D

1) We laid there until daylight.

2) We lay there until daylight.

I think it's (2), but I forgot why.


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Re: Laid vs Lay AGAIN! :-(

Post by glorybee »

You're correct; it's #2.

In the present tense, 'lay' means to put something down and 'lie' means to put yourself into a reclining position.

It gets trickier in the past tense (as your sentence are); the simple past tense of 'lay' is 'laid,' but the simple past tense of 'lie' is 'lay.'
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Re: Laid vs Lay AGAIN! :-(

Post by oursilverstrands »

Thanks, Jan. Now that I have the reason why, I don't think I'll forget it. :D


Lillian
When Youth Fades
Available at: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=when+youth+f ... nb_sb_noss/

Fortunate 500


I have a love affair with words. I write, even when I think I can't. I'm hooked on words!

"Let words bewitch you. Scrutinze them, mull them, savor them, and in combination, until you see their subtle differences and the ways they tint each other." Francis Flaherty
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Re: Laid vs Lay AGAIN! :-(

Post by Deb Porter »

I have a little Grammar Girl guide printed out on my noticeboard for lie/lay/laid emergencies. I tried to find it then, but it's really tiny now (maybe my Mac's resolution). So I found another one that may help:

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Re: Laid vs Lay AGAIN! :-(

Post by oursilverstrands »

That's great, Deb, but the concept of reclining vs. laying something down on a table best helps me to distinguish between Lie, Lay and Lay, Laid.

Thanks,

Lillian
When Youth Fades
Available at: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=when+youth+f ... nb_sb_noss/

Fortunate 500


I have a love affair with words. I write, even when I think I can't. I'm hooked on words!

"Let words bewitch you. Scrutinze them, mull them, savor them, and in combination, until you see their subtle differences and the ways they tint each other." Francis Flaherty
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