Grammar: Lay vs Lie

Reposted from March 2008.  (And, no, it's not about you, it's about me.  I can never keep this particular rule straight!)

Lay vs. Lie
According to Miss Snark, the incorrect use of "lay" vs. the word "lie" is the "#1 error on otherwise well honed [manuscripts]," so I thought I'd pick up my grammar talk with that problem.

Now I confess: This is my biggest faux pas as well. I cannot seem to recall which is appropriate where. Coincidentally, I recently asked this very question of my old high school English Teacher, Barbara. This woman is the original grammar Nazi (and I mean that in the nicest way, Barbara.) She knows this stuff inside, outside, and sideways.

So, here's what she says:
She lies down. He lays a book on a table. "Lie" is to rest or recline; "lay" is to put or place. Also, "lay" always takes an object, thus "Now I lay me down to sleep" is correct, as "me" is the object of "lay." (It seems simple enough, until you get into specific examples. )

The verb forms.
to lie: lie, lying, lay, (have) lain
to lay: lay, laying, laid, (have) laid
to lie [tell an untruth]: lie, lying, lied, (have) lied

Apparently part of the confusion is that both "lie" and "lay" are similar. In fact, past tense of "lie" is "lay." Yes, this is the basis of many an error, I'm afraid. But if you can use the rule of thumb that generally (but not always) the verb "lie" involves a person reclining/lying down, and the verb "lay" generally (but not always) involves an inanimate object, and that "lay" always takes an object (which answers the question what was lain down), then you will have it correct most of the time...except, of course, if you screw up the conjugation. Ack. (Oh, and let's not forget the other meaning of "lie" which has different conjugations (to lie: lie, lying, lied, (have) lied)...

As a rule of thumb, if the subject cannot move on its own, use "lay." Unless we are talking past tense of "to lie," e.g. "He lay down for a nap an hour ago."

It is extremely easy to accidentally use the wrong conjugation, just like it is easy to use "it's" (it is) for "its" (it posessive). My guess is that "lied" used instead of "lay" for the past tense is the most frequent mistake out there...or maybe it's spelling "laid" as "layed."

Examples.

Right: The dog lay down an hour ago. (The dog rested or reclined.)
Wrong: The dog lied down an hour ago. (Wrong past tense. This is for when you tell an untruth, which I just did here, seeing as the dog hasn't spoken.)

Right: I lay down the newspaper. (Newspaper is the object of the verb "lay.")
Wrong: I have lain down the newspaper. (Lain is the past tense form for "lie.")

And, just to confuse you, you can do this little game. It's excellent practice.

Other sites: Learn English, Grammar Errors, the Write Idea's grammar page. There are so many more, plus that copy of the Chicago Manual of Style or Strunk & White's you have gathering dust on your bookshelf. (And if you don't have one, get a copy. Even used, these books are invaluable.)

PS, do call me on any errors here. Like I said, I suck at this particular area of grammar and might have made a mistake despite my best efforts!

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And a contest prep request.  Please see Sunday's post and drop me a contest suggestion here.  And spread the word so we can have more fun, if you would.

Comments

[Charles Gramlich]

I struggle with these too. I have by now gathered a bunch of "examples" in a file and that is what I use to make my decisions about which to use. I try to match my sentence with an example.

[Betsy Dornbusch]

I suck at these. Thanks for the reminder. Lay - object, lie - you have be able to move. That will help me at least start...

[writtenwyrdd]

I can't keep it in my head which takes the object. Maybe if we made up a ridiculous mneumonic? "Lay with an A takes a an object cuz it's LAZY; Lie does the work and it thinks that Lay's a jerk" ??? Nah, that's pretty awful!

[Scott from Oregon]

I have a character who lays (lies?) in bed for the entire book. I figure I'll do a word search when I am finished, and go over every lie and lay with your rules in hand and try and keep from embarrassing myself...

[writtenwyrdd]

Glad to be of assistance, Scott.