Fic Talk > General Discussion
Grammar 101...
RokofAges75:
--- Quote from: Carter-Orange on August 25, 2010, 08:14:29 AM ---OK, I looked back and we haven't had were, where and we're yet, so I'll do them. Here are some examples although I'm not as good as Julie with the explanations, so I'll leave that part out!
Where are you going?
We were at the Backstreet Boys concert last night and it was fantastic.
We're (we are) going to the cinema to see Toy Story 3 if you want to join us.
--- End quote ---
Good one! Thanks, Steph!
I hate when people just don't put the apostrophe in "we're," even though they know better. Even on a phone, it's not that tough to do; it just takes a few more seconds.
RokofAges75:
--- Quote from: TheDistantHeart on August 25, 2010, 04:00:48 PM ---Oh wait! I stumbled upon one this afternoon... OH YES!
When I write someone is for example going to bed.. is he/she lying down or laying down? Is it "he lied down" or "he layed down"? And is it "he lies down"? I'm confused 'cause you also got "You lied to me!" "Stop lying (lieying? that looks weird)". It's something I've been wondering for ages but always forgot to ask!
--- End quote ---
Ooh, this is a GREAT one!! Trust me, this is confusing even for native English-speakers, and many, many people mix them up.
To start out, there are two different verbs - "to lie" and "to lay." "To lie," as in "I'm going to lie down on my bed and take a nap," and "to lay" as in "I'm going to lay my outfit out on my bed." You use "lie" when referring to yourself and "lay" when referring to an object.
Where it gets really confusing is with the verb tenses. The past tense of "lie" (in that case) is "lay." The past tense of "lay" is "laid." So you would say "I lay down on my bed and take a nap" and "I laid my outfit out on my bed."
Also confusing is the fact that "to lie" can also mean to TELL a lie, but the past tense of that verb is "lied." I think most native English speakers know that it just sounds wrong to say "I lied down on my bed," though.
Here's an article that explains this in depth: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx I Googled it to double-check and make sure I was explaining this correctly, 'cause it really is easy to get confused!!
mare:
^ I have trouble with lay and lie. I always have to go back and look it up, always! lol
RokofAges75:
It really is ridiculously confusing! I'm good at the whole grammar thing, but I second guess myself on that one, too.
mare:
It's the past tense that gets me because it sounds so wrong to use lay in past tense. lol It's like my brain refuses to believe that it is correct.
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