grammar and storms SUCK

[mickeym]

I've already lost internet twice this evening, thanks to the storm outside. JOY.

Question for the grammarly proficient:

They lay there quietly, then, Jensen with his head on Jared's chest

'They lay' or 'They lie'?

*goes back to editing*

Comments

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Pretty sure it's lay.

[surevesta.livejournal.com]

They lay = past tense

They lie = present

depends on how you're writing it. At least I'm 98% positive that's how it is.

[nomelon.livejournal.com]

You lay the table. You lie in bed.

Yesterday I laid the table. Yesterday I lay in bed.

*jazzhands*

[jamesinboots.livejournal.com]

It depends on the tense and the way you're using lay/lie. You want lie in that particular situation - lay would indicate they're being placed there by some outside force, and that's not the meaning you want, I don't think.

(If in context the line is past tense, lay is fine because it's the past tense of lie, which is part of why these two words are so confusing.)

[miafeliz.livejournal.com]

I hate lie and lay. But I believe it's lie.

[rivers-bend.livejournal.com]

lay is what you do to an item. You lay a blanket over the bed. You lie down. you lie quietly. You lie there together.

Unless you did it yesterday. unfortunately, the past tense of lie is lay.

the past tense of lay is laid.

When I'm tired, I lie down and lay a cool cloth over my eyes.

Yesterday I lay down and laid a cool cloth over my eyes.

[rainbow.livejournal.com]

Yes, this. You lay down something but lie down on a bed.

I( am terribly prone to using "lied" as the past tense of lie, though.)

[girlmostlikely.livejournal.com]

Keep this bookmarked and you'll never have to wonder again:

http://aldiara.livejournal.com/193106.html

[maerhysetc.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this!

[ruby-jelly.livejournal.com]

vote "lie". Chickens lay - eggs!