There is often a lot of confusion surrounding the verbs \u201cto lay\u201d and \u201cto lie\u201d, and \u201cto sit\u201d and \u201cto set\u201d because they are so similar in a few of their forms. Let\u2019s look at how to determine when to use each verb and distinguish between their meanings.<\/p>\n
Lay and Lie<\/strong><\/p>\n First of all here are the different forms of each:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The key difference between these two verbs is that \u201cto lay\u201d is a transitive verb and \u201cto lie\u201d is an intransitive verb. Remember that transitive means that the verb takes a direct object (DO).<\/p>\n Here are examples with \u201cto lay\u201d:<\/strong><\/p>\n My annoying brothers lay<\/strong> their dirty feet on my bed. (General present)<\/em><\/p>\n Frodo lays<\/strong> his weary head against the soft pillow. (-S present)<\/em><\/p>\n Tree Beard laid<\/strong> Merry and Pippin down on the grass. (Past) <\/em><\/p>\n The soldiers were laying<\/strong> beams across the northern entrance. (-ing form)<\/em><\/p>\n I have laid<\/strong> decorative center pieces on the tables. (-En form)<\/em><\/p>\n In each of these sentences, there is a direct object after the verb. (For example, in the first sentence the direct object is feet<\/em>)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Here are sentences with \u201cto lie\u201d:<\/strong><\/p>\n My furry cat lies<\/strong> on my jacket. (-S present)<\/em><\/p>\n Cats lie<\/strong> on my fluffy jacket. (General present)<\/em><\/p>\n My furry cat lay<\/strong> on my jacket yesterday. (Past tense)<\/em><\/p>\n My furry cat was lying<\/strong> on my jacket. (-ing form)<\/em><\/p>\n My furry cat has lain<\/strong> on my jacket before. (-En form)<\/em><\/p>\n In these sentences, you see that \u201cto lie\u201d does not take any direct object.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sit and Set<\/strong><\/p>\n Typically, these two verbs are less confusing, but they are still worth discussing. Again, we have a difference of \u201cto set\u201d as a transitive verb and \u201cto sit\u201d as an intransitive verb.<\/p>\n First, here are the forms of each:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Example Sentences<\/strong><\/p>\n I sat<\/strong> with my back against the wall. (Past)<\/em><\/p>\n She sits<\/strong> next to her family. (-s present)<\/em><\/p>\n I was sitting<\/strong> there when he randomly introduced himself. (-ing form)<\/em><\/p>\n I have sat<\/strong> there before. (-en form)<\/em><\/p>\n Nobody should sit<\/strong> alone. (General present)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n My family has set<\/strong> a record for most family stickers on the car window. (-En Form)<\/em><\/p>\n I set<\/strong> my books on that table usually. (General present)<\/em><\/p>\n He sets<\/strong> up the stage scenery. (-S present)<\/em><\/p>\n He is setting<\/strong> up the stage scenery. (-ing form)<\/em><\/p>\n I set<\/strong> my hopes on a vacation to Japan or China. (Past)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There is often a lot of confusion surrounding the verbs \u201cto lay\u201d and \u201cto lie\u201d, and \u201cto sit\u201d and \u201cto set\u201d because they are so similar in a few of their forms. Let\u2019s look at how to determine when to use each verb and distinguish between their meanings. Lay and Lie First of all here … Continue reading English 362: Chapter 6: Problematic Verbs<\/span> \n
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