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Ant_222 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Prepositions

Hello all!

In Star Heritage, there's this phrase:

"I lay on the sofa near the wall"

Wouldn't it be better to say "I lay down onto the sofa"?

I am not very experienced in these matters...

Thanks in advance,
Anton
  

Top answer

Is he already on the sofa, or moving to lay on it?

— Marius Hancu

  • Is he already on the sofa, or moving to lay on it?
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10 Answers
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Is he already on the sofa, or moving to lay on it?
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The second. So I guess you mean I have to use "lay down"...
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It should be "I lie (down) on the sofa". In "proper" English, "lay" is always transitive, and "lie" is always intransitive. "Lay" for "lie" is either a legitimate regional variation or a very common mistake, depending on your point of view.

"I lie on the sofa" and "I lie down on the sofa" are both fine. "Lie down" emphasises the act of getting into a lying position, rather than jus
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Thank you, Marius and Mr. Wordy.
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Mr. Wordy - past tense!

I lay on the sofa all day yesterday.

Without knowing which tense he's in, we can't say that "lay" is wrong.
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...and thank you, GG, for correcting Mr Wordy. I even had started to think that past tense of "lie" was "lie".
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Grammar GeekMr. Wordy - past tense!
Whoops! Sorry Ant!
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>In "proper" English, "lay" is always transitive, and "lie" is always intransitive.
Thank you for making the point, Mr. Wordy.
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Marius Hancu>In "proper" English, "lay" is always transitive, and "lie" is always intransitive.

Thank you for making the point, Mr. Wordy.

EXCEPT when "lay" is the past tense of "lie."

(I would have simply agreed completely if you had "to lay" and "to lie.")

If it makes you feel better, I will often look these up because the lie/l
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