1. sammykay

    sammykay New Member

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    lay or laid?

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by sammykay, Jul 30, 2010.

    confused at using this word. my editor changed it to "lay" when I had "laid"

    example:
    George laid down to get some sleep.

    She put lay instead of laid. Is that correct? This is the only main thing thats confusing for me when i write.
     
  2. Steerpike

    Steerpike Felis amatus Contributor

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    I believe your editor is correct. Someone getting some sleep "lies" down, and the past tense of that is "lay."

    At least, that's my understanding.
     
  3. Fedora

    Fedora Active Member

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    It's not worth it. Just pick another verb.
     
  4. sammykay

    sammykay New Member

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    yeah i was going to look for another verb for my next book im working on now :D

    i was researching this after i made the post, and you seem to be correct. im just going to try to use other words instead of lay also
     
  5. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Just use the dictionary. The past of the verb lie, meaning to rest in a horizontal position, is lay.

    The similar verb lay is used with an objecty, and means to place that object down. The past tense of lay is laid.

    It really isn't that difficult.

    Real writers learn correct usage. They don't run away from words, they master them.
     
  6. sammykay

    sammykay New Member

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    i understand the meaning of the words, my editor was right :D
     
  7. Fedora

    Fedora Active Member

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    EDIT: Listen to Cogito. He's right.
     
  8. dragonspirit

    dragonspirit New Member

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  9. Hazel Eyed Scribe

    Hazel Eyed Scribe New Member

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    Your editor is correct. Lay is the past tense of lie.
     
  10. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    listen to cog in all things... he's next to never wrong about any of 'em [and when he is, i usually call him on it ;-) ]
     
  11. zaffy

    zaffy Active Member

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    What about lain?
     
  12. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    As the dictionary will tell you, lain is the past participle of lie, as lie is used in this thread.

    Looking in the dictionary is much faster than posting here and waiting for a response. More reliable, too.
     
  13. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    lain needs an auxiliary verb... as in 'had lain in wait' and so on...
     
  14. Hazel Eyed Scribe

    Hazel Eyed Scribe New Member

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    There are also some really good threads that have been posted before on this topic if yuo do a quick search just type in "lay and lie" and they will come up. I read them and they fixed my confusion.
     

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