EOP WRITING ARTS

1. EOP WRITING ARTS DANIEL PRESTON JULY 16, 2010

2. It’s Grammar Time Lie v. Lay

3. Lie  (present tense) means to rest or recline on a surface • Lie  lay (past tense). I lay down yesterday. • Lie  lain (past participle) I have lain down before • Lie  lying (present participle). I am lying down right now.

4. Lay  (present tense) means to put or place something on a surface • Lay  laid (past tense). I laid down my keys and lost them. • Lay  laid (past participle) I have laid down my keys on the table before • Lay laying (present participle). I am laying these papers on the table for you to sign.

5. When I get the urge to exercise, I lay down until it passes. • When I get the urge to exercise, I lie down until it passes.

6. A pile of dirty rags was laying at the bottom of the stairs. • A pile of dirty rags was lying at the bottom of the stairs.

7. Yesterday, I ___________ down for a nap. • Lay (past tense of lie) • I have often ______ down on the couch after work. • Lain • Yesterday, I __________ the book down on the table. • Laid (past tense lay (set))

8. Some of the tricky parts of these two words: • ‘Lied’ refers to a time when you didn’t tell the truth. • ‘Lay’ has meaning for both words, and so context becomes key. • The proper usage of these words often sounds strange, so the that rule of thumb may not apply.