If you're confused over whether to use lay
or lie--if
the "transitive vs. intransitive verb"
rule seems difficult to understand, the following examples and explanations should
help.
In formal writing, people have a
tendency to use lay
when in fact lie
should be substituted. "The patient should
lay on his back" is a common lay/lie
error. Someone can lay
a patient on his back, but the patient himself
does NOT lay there. He has to
lie
there. Why? Because the present
tense definition of lie
is to recline, and the present tense definition
of lay is to put or
place.
The sentence "Please lay
the check on the table" is correct, and
most writers have no problem with that.
But too many people also believe that "The
check is laying on the table" is
correct as well. It's NOT correct;
lying
is the proper verb for that sentence.
In informal speech, "I need to lay
down for an hour" may be acceptable. But
in formal writing, only "He was told to lie
down for an hour" is grammatically correct.
Past
Tense Examples
I lay down
yesterday. (Lie becomes
lay in the
past.)
I laid the check
on the table. (Lay
becomes laid in
the past.)
