correct verbs

Re: correct verbs


Neighbors gathered around her as she lay in the street.

I might be wrong, but that sounds damned good to me.

Thanks, Gus.

I'll wait for the response from another member.

You're sober, aren't you?

I've just got up of bed.

I'm not necessarily sober, but I'm not seeing double yet.

Hi Gus

If you see double, take a taxi home. Leave your car in the carpark.

<looks around house for car -- doesn't see one>

Gus, I don't think Yoong Liat trusts you!

I have that same feeling, littlek.

Hi Littlek

Just to confirm whether Gus is correct. I trust Gus when he is sober.

Neighbors gathered around / over her as she was lying / lay in the middle of the street.

Which verbs should I use?

Many thanks.

Re: correct verbs

around/over: both are acceptable, although "around" would probably be more commonly used.

was lying/lay: the choice between "lie" and "lay" is difficult even for native English speakers. The difference is that "lie" is intransitive while "lay" is transitive. In other words, "lay" takes a direct object, "lie" doesn't. So "she lay in the middle of the street" is wrong (it raises the question: what did she lay in the middle of the street?). Consequently, "was lying" is the correct choice.

Re: correct verbs


As is seems to be for you! You get a bit confused about what "intransitive" means, I think...



Answer: Herself.

"To lie" is an intransitive verb. It describes an action undertaken by the subject, but it has no direct object. That is, the verb "to lie" does not express the kind of action that can be DONE TO anything. Think of it as meaning "to recline."

It is conjugated in this manner:

I LIE here every day. (She LIES here.)
I LAY here yesterday.

She lay in the middle of the street


I WILL LIE here tomorrow.

I AM LYING here right now.

I HAVE LAIN here every day for years.

"To lay" is a transitive verb. It describes an action and needs a direct object because it describes the kind of action that is DONE TO something. That is, something or someone in the sentence has to be receiving the action of the verb. Think of this verb as meaning "to place," "to put."

It is conjugated in this manner:

I LAY my book on the table every night before turning out the light. (She LAYS her book on the table.)
I LAID my book on the table last night.
I WILL LAY my book on the table tonight.
I AM LAYING my book on the table right now.
I HAVE LAID my book on the table every night for years.

Re: correct verbs

No, I'm not confused at all about what "intransitive" means, as your own example confirms. But you're correct: "lay" is the simple past tense of "lie." Thus, "lay" in Yoong Liat's sentence is acceptable. I'll add that "was lying" is also acceptable.