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Seagull Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Why 'lays'
Dear Word Detective: I am reading “A Time of Gifts: On Foot to Constantinople: From the Hook of Holland to the Middle Danube” by Patrick Leigh Fermor, and I came across the word “clodhopper” — he lays in a bed of hay “with crossed legs still putteed and clodhoppered.” Can you inform us on the history and usage of the word “clodhopper” (which I always thought was North American, but evidently not).
In the above passage, why did the author use the the transitive 'lay(s)'? Is this some kind of mistake?
In the above passage, why did the author use the the transitive 'lay(s)'? Is this some kind of mistake?
Top answer
It's quite old. term=clodhopper&allowed_in_frame=0
- It's quite old.
- term=clodhopper&allowed_in_frame=0
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10 Answers
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Thank you so much, AlpheccaStars. But, that's not what I asked.
I'd like to know if the 'lays' in the passage is correct.
I'd like to know if the 'lays' in the passage is correct.
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seagullI'd like to know if the 'lays' in the passage is correct.No, it's not correct. It should be "he lies in a bed of hay." Note, however, that the part you're asking about is not a quotation from the book.
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seagull But, that's not what I asked.Hmm, look again at your original post.
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seagullDear Word Detective:I wondered why you began in this way. Then I discovered that the whole question was cut and pasted from here, where it had received an answer. Please don't waste our time by doing things like that.
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fivejedjon Please don't waste our time by doing things like that.And it was a very elaborate answer, indeed. The original was misquoted by that poster.
Don't waste our time with misquotes and questions where you can read the answers.
That is impolite.
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I think seagull was quoting the original text, and asking about the use of "lays", but it was not obvious that the clodhopper question was part of the quote, and not a question asked of us.
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I'm terribly sorry. Indeed, I should have checked my question before posting it.
I focused on quoting the whole paragraph too much and had forgotten that this part was a question in itself.
I apologize for the trouble I caused you all.
I focused on quoting the whole paragraph too much and had forgotten that this part was a question in itself.
I apologize for the trouble I caused you all.
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