Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Grammar Wednesday - Lay and Lie

I know. Now that A to Z is finished I had promised to get back to my personality series. However things have been nuts AND I'm going to the Storymakers conference this week--Publication Primer is tomorrow!

Instead I decided to share a little tidbit I found from some work grammar notes. There are some grammar rules I latch on to and don't forget. There are others that I can't get to stick to save my life. The proper usage for Lay and Lie fits into the latter category. I usually let Word's grammar checker tell me which to use.

I know. Scary, right? Your professional creditably left to Word?

*shivers* 

I hope this helps you--and forces this dang rule to stick in my brain.


LAY
A transitive verb (meaning it is always followed by a noun or a pronoun that receives the action of the verb).

It means to put or place.

Forms: lay, laying, laid, (have) laid

LIE
An intransitive verb that does not have an object.

It means to incline.

Forms: lie, lying, lay, (have) lain

Did you spot that? Lay appears as a form for both words! No wonder so many of us are confused! It's a conspiracy, I tell ya!


And look what's coming out this weekend. 

Anybody planning to go to the opening?
Hubby and I'll have to go next Monday.

32 comments:

  1. This is an awesome post! And perfectly posted on the right day. My grandma and mother were just talking about this. Quite funny actually.

    Lizzy and I are seeing Avengers on Saturday night! :)

    Konstanz Silverbow
    nothoughts2small.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. My son is totally rabid to go to Avengers for his birthday. In fact, he has a visitor here discussing all things Marvel. AAAaaaahhhhhh Geekout!

    This reminds me of conversations with my father. He's sort of a grammar freak (I'd say nazi but he'd flay me alive for paring his name with it.) He was always telling us things like, "Are you a chicken? Hens lay eggs. You're going to LIE down."

    ReplyDelete
  3. It is most confusing I agree. That's the English language for you.....lol

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This pops up so much in pretty much every manuscript I edit. And I wouldn't trust Word--there are times Word tells me that it should be one or the other and I'm like "YOU ARE WRONG, WORD, WRONG." And sometimes it is correct. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I cut the page out of my daughter's grammar workbook that had the explanation for Lay and Lie on it and taped it to the side of my computer, so I can see it instantly while I'm writing. Now I just need to do the same for Affect and Effect. I have to look those up every time I use them too. LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Laura, as you caught me doing. And Word makes me even nuttier (is that possible?) because it would do the green underline thingy, so I'd accept its recommended change it. Then the green underline thingy would come back and would change it back. See, even Word is conflicted!

    Rachelle, generally, I'm better with Affect and Effect because the A=Adverb sticks. Mostly. =D

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh yes, I will be at the first showing on Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  8. About Word Grammar check: it's as confused as everyone else. Like Donna says, it criticizes itself as much as it criticizes you.

    Lie/lay: Lie down. Lay an egg. Everything is easy to remember with a chicken! ;->

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yeah, this one always drives me crazy, especially since the present tense of one is the past tense of the other one.

    Forget letting Word decide! No matter which one I use, Word underlines it as a mistake and suggests the other one. Then, when I change it, Word underlines it as a mistake and suggests the one I had before.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've had days when spell check can't decide. It tells me it needs to one way. I change it to that, and it tells me it needs to be the other way!!!!!

    I'm not going to the opening, but my son does want to see the movie so I know I'll be seeing it at some point.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yeah lay and lie is a pain in the butt sometimes. Will see it soon enough, not sure on the opening though.

    ReplyDelete
  12. *gasp* Penny, that's brilliant about the chicken. Now if I can just remember it. =D

    ReplyDelete
  13. I used to have to look this one up all the time. The way I always remember it is that you lay your head down, but when you sleep, you lie down (as in your whole self.) This is actually one that Word usually gets right.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yikes...this is embarrassing, but I usually just come up with a different verb rather than risk an error :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for the help. I still sometimes get the two mixed up. Lay usually sounds right when really I should use lie.

    ReplyDelete
  16. After reading that, I may have to lie down. ;) Thanks, Donna!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for this! Lay and lie always trip me up.

    Also affect and effect, but I think I finally may have gotten that one down. Woo hoo!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love lay vs. lie. Everyone thinks you are a genius for knowing the difference, and it never hurts to feel like a genius.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm getting my novel edited soon and I know the lay/lie thing will be one of the biggest problems. I hate that it's still a rule.

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is one quite a handful other commonly confused words in the English language that slip by us all the time.
    "The Avengers" is out in Asia already. I definitely have to go see it this weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Very tricky rule. Thanks for the post.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have a confession - I have a hard time with grammar - I am sure I use the wrong spellings and tense! Love, sandie

    ReplyDelete
  23. thanks! i always struggle w/those!

    so a person lies and an object is laid (this will help using the double meaning of lie =)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Nice, Donna. I love little grammar tidbits! And I have to secretly admit that the Avengers looks REALLY good, LOL...

    ReplyDelete
  25. I always get confused and I even have a wonderful book called "Sleeping Dogs Don't Lay."

    ReplyDelete
  26. Years ago an agent pointed this difference to me and I felt embarrassed. At least now it's ingrained in my memory.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've gotten better with the lay/lie usage. Still frustrating.

    Avengers is the first movie since the last HP film I've wanted to see in theaters. Still trying to pick a day to go.

    Have fun/learn lots at Storymakers!

    Melanie

    ReplyDelete
  28. I've gotten better with the lay/lie usage. Still frustrating.

    Avengers is the first movie since the last HP film I've wanted to see in theaters. Still trying to pick a day to go.

    Have fun/learn lots at Storymakers!

    Melanie

    ReplyDelete
  29. I have to lie down and lay still for a while because that conundrum gave me a headache...lol...kt

    ReplyDelete
  30. I always, always, always, always have to look these two up when writing! Great post, Donna!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Lie and Lay--yeah, my pet peeve!! Very well-done post, Donna!!

    ReplyDelete

Comments brighten my day.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...