Difference between revisions of "How to Know the Difference Between Lie and Lay"
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<p>[[Image:WikiHowRaise02.png|right]]<font size="5">I</font>t is not that these two words are from very different roots. In contrast to many English words, which are from Latin/French origin, both words are from the Old English (Germanic) root ''licgan'', which means a sleeping place. The word ''lair'' is also from the same root. Differentiating usage of ''lie'' and ''lay'' sometimes becomes difficult. Another word ''lie'' meaning ''false claim'' which is completely from a different root, adds to the difficulty.<br>[[Category:English Grammar]]<br>== Steps == | <p>[[Image:WikiHowRaise02.png|right]]<font size="5">I</font>t is not that these two words are from very different roots. In contrast to many English words, which are from Latin/French origin, both words are from the Old English (Germanic) root ''licgan'', which means a sleeping place. The word ''lair'' is also from the same root. Differentiating usage of ''lie'' and ''lay'' sometimes becomes difficult. Another word ''lie'' meaning ''false claim'' which is completely from a different root, adds to the difficulty.<br>[[Category:English Grammar]]<br> | ||
== Steps == | |||
# Know that ''lay'' is a regular verb; that is, it is easy to remember its past and perfect participle.<br> | |||
#* Past participle : Laid.<br> | |||
#* Perfect participle : Laid.<br> | |||
#* Gerund : Laying<br> | |||
# Contrast ''lie'' as an irregular verb; that is, one should memorise its past and perfect participle.<br> | |||
#* Past participle : Lay.<br> | |||
#* Perfect participle : Lain.<br> | |||
#* Gerund : Lying<br> | |||
# Keep in mind that ''Lay'' is a transitive verb; that is, it needs an object to act on.<br> | |||
#* I '''laid''' my head on the desk for a minute. (lay, laid, laid, laying)<br> | |||
#* I '''laid''' the book on the floor. (lay, laid, laid, laying)<br> | |||
# Remember, though, that ''lie'' is intransitive; that is, it does not need an object. Not only it does not need an object but that it does not '''accept''' an object to act on.<br> | |||
#* His noble head had '''lain''' on the pillow, talking calmly. (lie, lay, lain, lying)<br> | |||
#* I lay on the sandy ground and gazed at stars. (lie, lay, lain, lying)<br> | |||
# Contrast ''lie'' meaning to say something false. It is a regular verb; that is, it is easy to remember its past and perfect participle.<br> | |||
#* Past participle : Lied.<br> | |||
#* Perfect participle : Lied.<br> | |||
#* Gerund : Lying<br> | |||
#* Subjective noun : Liar | |||
== Related How To's == | |||
*[[How to Know the Difference Between Lose and Loose|How to Know the Difference Between Lose and Loose]] | |||
*[[How to Know the Difference Between Rise and Raise|How to Know the Difference Between Rise and Raise]] | |||
*[[How to Improve Your Grammar|How to Improve Your Grammar]]<br> | |||
*[[How to Use You're and Your|How to Use You're and Your]] | |||
Revision as of 15:15, 10 March 2014
<font size="5">I</font>t is not that these two words are from very different roots. In contrast to many English words, which are from Latin/French origin, both words are from the Old English (Germanic) root licgan, which means a sleeping place. The word lair is also from the same root. Differentiating usage of lie and lay sometimes becomes difficult. Another word lie meaning false claim which is completely from a different root, adds to the difficulty.
Steps
- Know that lay is a regular verb; that is, it is easy to remember its past and perfect participle.
- Past participle : Laid.
- Perfect participle : Laid.
- Gerund : Laying
- Past participle : Laid.
- Contrast lie as an irregular verb; that is, one should memorise its past and perfect participle.
- Past participle : Lay.
- Perfect participle : Lain.
- Gerund : Lying
- Past participle : Lay.
- Keep in mind that Lay is a transitive verb; that is, it needs an object to act on.
- I laid my head on the desk for a minute. (lay, laid, laid, laying)
- I laid the book on the floor. (lay, laid, laid, laying)
- I laid my head on the desk for a minute. (lay, laid, laid, laying)
- Remember, though, that lie is intransitive; that is, it does not need an object. Not only it does not need an object but that it does not accept an object to act on.
- His noble head had lain on the pillow, talking calmly. (lie, lay, lain, lying)
- I lay on the sandy ground and gazed at stars. (lie, lay, lain, lying)
- His noble head had lain on the pillow, talking calmly. (lie, lay, lain, lying)
- Contrast lie meaning to say something false. It is a regular verb; that is, it is easy to remember its past and perfect participle.
- Past participle : Lied.
- Perfect participle : Lied.
- Gerund : Lying
- Subjective noun : Liar
- Past participle : Lied.