A Mini Grammar Lesson

[gnomi]

Today, "lay" vs. "lie."

Lay always takes an object. Lie never does. Thus:

I am tired and I am carrying a chicken. Suddenly, I spot a bed.

Present tense:

Lie: I lie on the bed.

Lay: I lay the chicken on the bed.

Past tense:

Lie: I lay on the bed.

Lay: I laid the chicken on the bed.

Past participle:

Lie: I have lain on the bed.

Lay: I have laid the chicken on the bed.

Present participle:

Lie: I am lying on the bed.

Lay: I am laying the chicken on the bed.

Comments

[dpolicar]

Then I lie to the chicken, who subsequently lays an egg.

[tygerseye.livejournal.com]

*adds to memories*

The beginning of this post has a strange Hitchhiker's Guide quality to it...

[elul-3.livejournal.com]

Lay: I am laying the chicken on the bed.

I think there's an alt.fetish group for people like you.

[ckd]

Well, there is the saying about the difference between "erotic" and "kinky": the former uses a feather, the latter uses the whole chicken.

[aunt-becca.livejournal.com]

where'd you get all the chickens?

[chris-owen.livejournal.com]

*eyes you*

Does this have anything to do with me? *hides if it does* Squashed keeps correcting me, too.

[tober.livejournal.com]

1. I think this also needs some kind of note about how the past tense of "to lie" which is the antonym of "to tell the truth" is different from the past tense of the "to lie" with which this post is concerned.

2. I now have the song "Lay Lady Lay" stuck in my head. This is not ok, oh so very not ok.

[badgerthorazine.livejournal.com]

Where the heck would I get a chicken in Boston? And why would I put it on my nice microfiber sheets? ;-)

Well, if it was a cheap bed, I suppose, or one that wouldn't hold me.

...and as long as the chicken doesn't get laid whilst I'm around!

[bluepapercup]

THis might necessitate another series of cartoons.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

I, personally, would not complain about another series of cartoons. :-)