1. GingerCoffee

    GingerCoffee Web Surfer Girl Contributor

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    Lay and Lie in past tense

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by GingerCoffee, May 3, 2016.

    I know the difference between lay and lie: You lay the flowers on the table and now they lie there.

    But I wrote this sentence and "lied beyond" vs "lay beyond" has me confused.
    Doors and hallways led off in all directions piquing my curiosity as to what lay beyond.​
    That sounds right to me.

    While this doesn't:
    Doors and hallways led off in all directions piquing my curiosity as to what lied beyond.​

    What am I doing wrong?

     
  2. SethLoki

    SethLoki Retired Autodidact Contributor

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    Isn't lied the past tense of lying as in 'telling a porkie'? Lie, Lay, Lain are the three I use (and have struggled with them in the past).
     
  3. GingerCoffee

    GingerCoffee Web Surfer Girl Contributor

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    Thank you Sweetie but that's not helping. :)
     
  4. Wayjor Frippery

    Wayjor Frippery Contributor Contributor

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    Morning GC (well, it's morning for me...),

    lie — lies — lying — past = lay — past participle = lain

    lay — lays — laying — past + past participle = laid


    [ also not telling the truth:

    lie — lies — lying — past + past participle = lied ]


    In your example above, you want the first one (where lay is the past of lie) with its meaning of be located in a specific place or in a certain direction.

    Doors and hallways led off in all directions piquing my curiosity as to what lay beyond.

    I hope that helps.
    :)
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2016
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  5. GingerCoffee

    GingerCoffee Web Surfer Girl Contributor

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    Thanks.
     
  6. Wayjor Frippery

    Wayjor Frippery Contributor Contributor

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    Pleasure.
     
  7. SethLoki

    SethLoki Retired Autodidact Contributor

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    I'm her favourite; I got a sweetie :)
     
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  8. Wayjor Frippery

    Wayjor Frippery Contributor Contributor

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    with a capital 'S'.
     
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  9. GingerCoffee

    GingerCoffee Web Surfer Girl Contributor

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    Because Sweetie was a proper noun in that sentence. I love you both.:blowkiss:
     
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