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Hotmale Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Lay down/lie down
Hello,
I've got a question about lay down. I've read in a dictionary that "lay down" is a nonstandard for "lie down" in a sentence: "I lay down when I am tired".
Is it a reliable definition?
Thank you
I've got a question about lay down. I've read in a dictionary that "lay down" is a nonstandard for "lie down" in a sentence: "I lay down when I am tired".
Is it a reliable definition?
Thank you
Top answer
'Lay down' as a present tense form of the intransitive verb is wrong, though you can, for example, lay a baby down on a bed. Confusingly, 'lay' is the second form (past tense) of 'lie', so you can say "I lay down yesterday".
- 'Lay down' as a present tense form of the intransitive verb is wrong, though you can, for example, lay a baby down on a bed.
- Confusingly, 'lay' is the second form (past tense) of 'lie', so you can say "I lay down yesterday".
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4 Answers
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'Lay down' as a present tense form of the intransitive verb is wrong, though you can, for example, lay a baby down on a bed.
Confusingly, 'lay' is the second form (past tense) of 'lie', so you can say "I lay down yesterday".
Confusingly, 'lay' is the second form (past tense) of 'lie', so you can say "I lay down yesterday".
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I see. But that's what the dictionary said. That's why I was wondering if anyone uses such a form.
lay down
1. To give up and surrender: laid down their arms.
2. To specify: laid down the rules.
3. To store for the future.
4. Nonstandard To lie down.
lay down
1. To give up and surrender: laid down their arms.
2. To specify: laid down the rules.
3. To store for the future.
4. Nonstandard To lie down.
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Hotmale That's why I was wondering if anyone uses such a form.Many native speakers use 'lay' when the purists say they should use 'lie'.
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