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PreciousJones Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

lay

Can I say this in the present:

I'm a grown man, I'm not laying/lying next to you.

Is laying the past tense of lying? Which means it should be lying, but why is it that I hear laying used all the time!
  

Top answer

PreciousJones Is laying the past tense of lying? No - the present participle does not have a "past tense" The verbs "lay" and "lie" are frequently confused. Consult a good dictionary for the differences.

— AlpheccaStars

  • PreciousJones Is laying the past tense of lying?
  • No - the present participle does not have a "past tense" The verbs "lay" and "lie" are frequently confused.
  • Consult a good dictionary for the differences.
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5 Answers
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PreciousJonesIs laying the past tense of lying?
No - the present participle does not have a "past tense"

The verbs "lay" and "lie" are frequently confused. Consult a good dictionary for the differences.
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PreciousJonesit should be lying, but why is it that I hear laying used all the time!
It's just one of those mistakes that native speakers tend to make.

CJ
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CalifJim PreciousJonesit should be lying, but why is it that I hear laying used all the time!It's just one of those mistakes that native speakers tend to make.CJ
Like for example in Adam Sandler's new movie Jack & Jill, one of the characters keeps saying, " I just want to lay next to you!"

It's such an obvious mistake, so why is it that he keeps repea
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CalifJim PreciousJonesit should be lying, but why is it that I hear laying used all the time!It's just one of those mistakes that native speakers tend to make.CJ
So: I just want to lay next to you is wrong grammatically?

I've heard it so many times I honestly dont know what is right and wrong anymore.

Please clarify for me. Thank you
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PreciousJonesSo: I just want to lay next to you is wrong grammatically?
That's right. It is wrong. The correct version is I just want to lie next to you.

If it's any consolation to you, just this morning I had breakfast with a friend, a native speaker of English and college educated, who made the same mistake, using lay for lie.
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