Verb Quiz: Lie/Lay

In each sentence, use a form of Lie or Lay:
lie, lay, lain, lying, lay, laid, laying

(Don't look at the answers at the bottom until you finish!)

1. Have you been _____ in the sun?


2. She _____ the book on the hall table.


3. Don't ______ on the sofa.


4. Mother has ______ down for a nap.


5. Was Dad ______ carpet in the den?


6. The dog ______ patiently in his kennel.


7. All his books are _______ on the desk.


8. The brick mason has finished ______ our new walkway.


9. George, please don't _____ on that dirty floor.


10. Where did you _____ the newspaper?

Refer to the October 18 blog for help with lie and lay.

Answers:

1. lying
2. laid
3. lie
4. lying
5. laying
6. lay
7. lying
8. laying
9. lie
10. lay

Correct Language Models

Research by Jeff Anderson and others has shown that kids need models of correct grammar if we expect them to learn to use it correctly. That's why it is so important for parents, and other people that our kids are around often, to use correct grammar. Remember: kids imitate what they hear.

And this is a wake-up call to TV newscasters too. We expect them to know how to use English correctly because this is their life, right? I cannot tell you how often I hear even the nationally known news anchors make mistakes, especially with the verbs lie and lay. One would think that they would care enough to know how to use these correctly. They are models for us as well as for our children, and they aren't stepping up to the plate.

What about school? Unfortunately, most teachers don't use English correctly either--even some English teachers are guilty. I know--I used to work with them.

But what about me? Did I grow up hearing correct language usage all the time? No, I didn't. Do I resent my family? Of course not! But I loved making A's, and I had wonderful English teachers who, back in the "dark ages," always used correct grammar in the classroom and made sure that we did also. We diagrammed sentences with verbal phrases, dependent clauses; we understood infinitives, gerunds, participles; we did what students don't do now so that we would know when to use the objective or nominative case of a pronoun--I could go on forever! That doesn't happen now, and our children are paying the price.

So how will they learn? The best way is from us--parents. My husband never cared about learning grammar when he was in school, but his mother was a terrific model for him. Even now he uses correct language, not because he has a clue as to the technical reasons but because he heard his mom and learned it from her. The same is true with my sons. Neither remembers all the grammar rules, but both know how to use them because they were modeled in our home.

For example, my older son Jason often says "revert back" and smiles. He understands the redundancy but loves to tease me with that expression used by so many who are unaware of their error. Once when he was asking the blessing at the dinner table, my younger son "Bubba" (William) said, "Thank you, God, for letting Jason and I--excuse me, Mom--Jason and me have such a good time fishing today."

Does that happen in your home? It can!

Now, moms and dads, what shall we do? Let's start brushing up on that grammar that isn't taught in schools these days and start modeling our very best language usage for our children.

We're going to visit the verbs lie and lay again soon and give you some sentences in which you'll be asked to use the correct verb. Who knows? It could be fun!

Lie and Lay -- Two of the most often misused verbs
We will right away get rid of the verb lie when it means to tell an untruth. Everyone knows how to use that one! Let's look at the ones that give us so much trouble.

Lie - to recline
lie - present tense
Examples: I lie down every afternoon for a quick nap.
My baby lies on the sofa for his morning nap.
lay - past tense
Examples: Yesterday I lay in the hammock and enjoyed reading my new book
The children lay on the floor and pretended to be asleep.

lain - past participle (used with helping verbs)
Examples: Have you lain on the new mattress?
To protect her skin, she has never lain in the sun.

lying - present participle (used with helping verb)
Examples: Were you lying down?
They are lying by the pool.
The book is lying on the table.

Lay - to place; to put

lay - present tense
Examples: I lay my keys in the same lace every day.
He always lays his books on the stairs.

laid - past tense
Examples: She laid the pillows on the bed.
I laid the comb on the dresser, and now it's gone.

laid - past participle (use with helping verbs)
Examples: Mom has always laid her purse on the hall table.
I wish I had laid my keys in a safer place.

laying - present participle (use with helping verbs)
Examples: Sue has been laying the rocks around the flower bed.
John and Buddy were laying bricks for the new wall.

Have you noticed anything about the examples? Of course!!! The verb lie never has an object; the verb lay always does!
Then why do we have so much trouble with using the right verb? Perhaps it is simply that the form lay appears in both. Here are some "always" rules to remember:
Never use laid when referring to reclining. It always means "placed."
Never say "I laid down" or "Please lay down."
Instead say "I lay down" or "Please lie down."