BLOG 10c: To LAY and TO LIE
Today I discuss the near constant misuse of the verbs to “lie” and “lay”.
To “lie”, as in… “to lie down” simply means to recline. To “lay” does NOT mean the same, and the two verbs are NOT interchangeable. To “lay” means to put or place somewhere as in… “to lay the book on the table”.
As well as being different in meaning, the two verbs are also governed by different grammatical rules. To “lie” is an intransitive verb, and as such it may not take a direct object. Thus, it it correct to say…”lie down” but NOT “lay down”.
On the other hand, to “lay” is a transitive verb and, as such, it must be accompanied by a direct object as in…. “lay the book down on the table”, with the book being the direct object.
The two verbs are frequently misused and, for example, when you visit your doctor the nurse will often ask you to “lay down”. This is totally wrong on two counts because to lay means to put or place, and also requires the addition of a direct object. A possible way around this for those who insist on misusing the verb to “lay” is to say something like “lay yourself down on the bed”, with “yourself” being the required object. This now means “put/place yourself down on the bed”, which is correct in both meaning and grammar, but is a rather awkward way to speak.
Every language has a rule structure called grammar that develops over long periods of time. That is, both language and grammar evolve based on long term usage. However, we should not assume that change, as far as language is concerned, happens overnight, over several years, or decades. While new terms enter our current vocabulary every ten years, or so, grammatical rules and word meanings are much more stable and persistent and it may take fifty to a hundred years, or more, before we begin to see substantive changes in both grammar and word meaning.
Best advice: Learn the grammatical rules of your generation if you want to speak and write persuasively and effectively.
Andrew's Blogs 