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Pastimes : SI Grammar and Spelling Lab -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Janice Shell who wrote (767)	1/20/1998 8:52:00 PM
From: Jack Clarke	Respond to of 4710

Hi Janice, Since you defer to me (thank you) on "lay, laid, lain" (not correct, if this sequence is meant to be forms of the same word), I suppose there was some discussion previously about these words. I couldn't find it in previous posts, but will respond anyway for those who may be interested, although I think most on this thread will not learn anything. Perhaps I am sensitive about this because, being in hospitals, my ears are constantly bombarded by nurses, aides, X-ray techs, etc., screaming at patients: "Lay down! Just lay there! Lay back!" and so forth. I never say anything to them, but here goes for you guys: We have two verbs: "lie" which is intransitive and cannot take a direct object, and "lay" which is transitive and must take a direct object, stated or implied, as in "Chickens lay." With "eggs" being the understood object. Principal parts: lie, lay, lain -- for the intransitive verb lay, laid, laid -- for the transitive This is confusing because the past tense of the intransitive"lie" is "lay", which is identical to the present tense form of the transitive verb. LIE In present time, one lies in bed, lies down, lies back, and the book lies on the table. In past time: (Yesterday), one lay on the bed, lay down to rest, or lay back in his chair. Compound past: He has lain in bed for three days. LAY Present: He lays bricks for a living. Lay your money down. Past: He laid the foundation two weeks ago. Compound: He has laid down the law. Also confusing because of the similar verb "to lie" meaning to tell a falsehood. Jack