If you've read a previous post or two of mine, you have probably figured out that grammar is not my strong suite. There are many rules that I just don't know or can't remember. For the most part I have I vs. Me down. I know the difference between there, their, they're. I know when to use its and when to use it's.
I am pretty pathetic when it comes to the correct use of commas. I never know when to use who vs. whom. I am sure I often misuse that and which. Another one that I never remember: Lie vs. Lay. Is it I need to go lay down or I need to go lie down? Neither one sounds terribly wrong to me, although lie does sound slightly better. But what's the rule? I took the time to look it up.
Lie is an intransitive verb and Lay is transitive. Transitive verbs require an object, whereas intransitive verbs do not. If you have a hard time remembering the difference just remember the prefix in- means not or without. The easiest way I can think of two remember which is transitive and which is intransitive is to memorize one thing: People lie down, chickens lay eggs. No object in lie down, but there is an object in lay eggs. Another way to try to remember it is, in the present tense lie means to recline and lay means to put or place. Lie out in the sun versus lay the book on the table. That takes care of the present tense.
The past tense gets a little tricky because the past tense of lie is lay. When I got dizzy yesterday, I lay down. To me, laid actually sounds better here, but there is no object so we use the past test of lie. The past tense of lay is laid. That one should be easy.
Now on to the present and past participles.
The present participle of lie is lying. I am lying in the sun and rather enjoying it. Another example would be lying in wait for someone. The past participle of lie is have lain. I have lain in wait for hours at a time.
The present participle of lay is laying. Simply add -ing. That chicken is laying an egg! The past participle of lay is laid. I had laid the book on the table yesterday, but now it is gone.
So to recap:
(recline) lie, lay, lying, lain
(put/place) lay, laid, laying, laid
I am prety sure I have a clear understanding now and got that all right. If I didn't, please feel free to correct me and tell me so!
I am hoping that the more I write in the blog the better my grammar will get. I hope to take the time to write something out on each of the rules above that I am never sure about.
Which grammar rules always trip you up?
I am pretty pathetic when it comes to the correct use of commas. I never know when to use who vs. whom. I am sure I often misuse that and which. Another one that I never remember: Lie vs. Lay. Is it I need to go lay down or I need to go lie down? Neither one sounds terribly wrong to me, although lie does sound slightly better. But what's the rule? I took the time to look it up.
Lie is an intransitive verb and Lay is transitive. Transitive verbs require an object, whereas intransitive verbs do not. If you have a hard time remembering the difference just remember the prefix in- means not or without. The easiest way I can think of two remember which is transitive and which is intransitive is to memorize one thing: People lie down, chickens lay eggs. No object in lie down, but there is an object in lay eggs. Another way to try to remember it is, in the present tense lie means to recline and lay means to put or place. Lie out in the sun versus lay the book on the table. That takes care of the present tense.
The past tense gets a little tricky because the past tense of lie is lay. When I got dizzy yesterday, I lay down. To me, laid actually sounds better here, but there is no object so we use the past test of lie. The past tense of lay is laid. That one should be easy.
Now on to the present and past participles.
The present participle of lie is lying. I am lying in the sun and rather enjoying it. Another example would be lying in wait for someone. The past participle of lie is have lain. I have lain in wait for hours at a time.
The present participle of lay is laying. Simply add -ing. That chicken is laying an egg! The past participle of lay is laid. I had laid the book on the table yesterday, but now it is gone.
So to recap:
(recline) lie, lay, lying, lain
(put/place) lay, laid, laying, laid
I am prety sure I have a clear understanding now and got that all right. If I didn't, please feel free to correct me and tell me so!
I am hoping that the more I write in the blog the better my grammar will get. I hope to take the time to write something out on each of the rules above that I am never sure about.
Which grammar rules always trip you up?
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