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Victo Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

All correct? Lay and Lie

He lay in the sand. (A second ago)

He lies in the sand. (Right now)
NEVER: He lie in the sand.
He lay in wait for his prey. (A second ago)
He lies in wait for his prey. (Right now)
NEVER: He lie in wait for his prey.
Come over and lie down.
NEVER: Come over and lay down.
The dog lay by my feet. (A second ago)
The dog lies by my feet. (Right now)
The prisoners lay on the pavement. (A second ago)
The prisoners lie on the pavement. (Right now)
The prisoner lies on the pavement. (Right now)
The prisoners lay on the pavement. (A second ago)
Come lie down. Good?
He lies on the beach. (Right now)
He lay on the beach. (A second ago)
He had lain on the peach. (In the past)
NEVER: He lays on the beach.

The dog lies at my feet. (Right now)
The dog lay at my feet. (A second ago)
The dog had lain at my feet (At some point in the past)
NEVER: The dog lays at my feet)

He lies on the couch. (Right now)
Come lie on the couch. OK?
Come lie down on the couch. OK?
He lay on the couch. (A second ago)
He had lain on the couch. (At some point in the past)

Give the job to whoever wants it most. (HE wants it most; thus 'whoever.')
We will hire whoever/whomever you recommend. (You recommend 'him,' not 'he'; thus 'whomever is correct.)

Thanks.
  

Top answer

He is lying in the sand. (Right now) He is lying in wait for his prey. (Right now) The dog is lying by my feet.

  • He is lying in the sand.
  • (Right now) He is lying in wait for his prey.
  • (Right now) The dog is lying by my feet.
  • (Right now) The prisoners are lying on the pavement.
  • (Right now) The prisoner is lying on the pavement.
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3 Answers
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He is lying in the sand. (Right now)
He is lying in wait for his prey. (Right now)
The dog is lying by my feet. (Right now)
The prisoners are lying on the pavement. (Right now)
The prisoner is lying on the pavement. (Right now)
He is lying on the beach. (Right now)
The dog is lying at my feet. (Right now)
The dog had lai
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Why isn't 'He lies in wait for his prey', 'The dog lies at my feet', 'He lies on the couch', 'He lies on the beach' correct? Totally grammatically wrong? No good any way you slice it?

Also-

1) the danger that lies ahead
2) the dangers that lay ahead
3) the dangers that lie ahead


Are these thr
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Why isn't 'He lies in wait for his prey', 'The dog lies at my feet', 'He lies on the couch', 'He lies on the beach' correct? Totally grammatically wrong? No good any way you slice it?-- No good for the purpose you indicated, which was 'now'. Simple present for action verbs means 'timeless generality'.

Also-

1) the danger that lies ahead-- Yes (always - not just

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