short question on verb tenses

[The Tinman]

Hi all.

I usually have no problem with the lie (to recline)/lay (to put down) verbs. But of the following sentences, which would be correct?

The guard lie motionless on the floor.

The guard lay motionless on the floor.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

[Gary Kessler]

"lie" I think, because it's intransitive and there's no object. But I hate this one so much that in my own writing I rewrite so that there's no question of needing to make a choice between these two. (Whichever one you use, readers will stop to think about it--which you probably don't want them to do for something like this.)

[Emily MacGowan]

Hi Tinman,

I don't think it's that hard. "Lie" would be the proper verb, but the past tense form is "lay". So if the sentence is in present tense, it should be "The guard lies on the floor", and if it's past tense, it should be "the guard lay on the floor". Gary is right in that there's no object being acted on - nothing is being "laid" down. The guard is simply "lying" down.

If the guard got knocked out, and someone else dragged him to the basement, it would be "He lay the guard down" (present) or "he laid the guard down" (past).

I could be wrong!

[The Tinman]

Gary. I think it's lie because it's present tense, but I think lay sounds better. I originally had was lying, but I didn't like that either lol. And you're right about some readers stopping to think about it. Thanks!!!

[The Tinman]

Emily. I DO think it's lie, but what Gary said about the sentence distracting a reader is probably right. Guess I should just find another way to say it. Thanks!!!

[Miranda Clementine]

Coincidently, I'm teaching my 2nd grader about the difference between lay or lie today. Just thought I'd share. (:

[Kitty Foyle]

Coincidently, I'm teaching my 2nd grader about the difference between lay or lie today. Just thought I'd share. (:

Miranda, tell them when they LIE, they get smacked for whopper telling.

And when they LAY something down, chances are good it's a pistol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uESJlJAj7g

*_*

[Miranda Clementine]

lol... hadn't heard that one before. I thought you'd lost your marbles when you said "chances are good it's a pistol."

[Howtofreelance]

Hallo,
The forms depend on the type of verb; the irregular ones must be learnt by-heart (you use the second form, reserved for the Past Simple Tense), whereas the regular verbs add -ED to the Short Infinitive. There is only one form, for all the persons. The Negative and Interrogative are built with the auxiliary DID.
2. The function: to specify that a certain action (state) took place at a specific moment in the past. It is generally accompanied by an Object of Time; when we do not wish to specify WHEN the action took place we may use both the Past Tense and the Present Perfect. The Past Simple Tense is also used instead of the Past Continuous Tense if the respective verb belongs to one of the categories forbidding the use of the Continuous Aspect. The Simple Past can also be utilised for a short (or a succession of short actions) action:
".......", she said.
Thanks
Howtofreelance (Prince)

[John Oberon]

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