In Fields As They Lay (Lie, Laid, Had Lain)
Hubby and I just got back from a river cruise of Christmas markets along the Danube. It was amazing, and it got me thinking about the language of Christmas carols.
I started musing on “The First Noel,” which has angels talking to shepherds “in fields as they lay / In fields where they lay keeping their sheep.”
We all have our grammatical Achilles’ heels*, and mine is “lie” and “lay.” I know the basics: “Lie” is an intransitive verb, which means it is not followed by an object. “Lay” is a transitive verb, which must be followed by an object. We lie by ourselves; we lay other things somewhere. I know this much about the words in present tense:
Because of jet lag, I lie on the couch every afternoon.
Each year, I lay presents under the tree.
However, I start to panic whenever this lying and laying happen in the past:
To lie:
Because of jet lag, I lay on the couch yesterday afternoon. (past simple)
Since our return from vacation, I have lain down every afternoon. (past participle)
The first Noel the angels did say / Was to certain poor shepherds / In fields as they lay. (past simple)
To lay:
When I returned from my trip, I laid presents under the tree. (past simple)
Since I was a child, I have laid presents under the tree each year. (past participle)
Thus, the correct verb forms for “to lie” are lie, lay, and have lain. The verb forms for “to lay” are lay, laid, and have laid.
Can I tell you a secret? For several of the examples above, I had to consult a dictionary. Thus, like a parent who slips in a lesson among another lesson, I have a larger point to this month’s blog and newsletter. I am arguing not so much that you must memorize the correct verb forms of “lie” and “lay” (although that wouldn’t hurt) but that you should not be afraid to use tools such as a dictionary, thesaurus, Internet search, and so on.
I had hoped to include a link to book 4, A New Heart, but, alas, the book lies waiting for its cover to be finalized. I’ll send out a special newsletter when it launches.
FUN NEWS: Once again, author Liz Flaherty invited me to guest-blog a Christmas essay on her “Window Over the Sink” blog. It goes up December 17, so you’ll see it here on that day. My essay is about dealing with our constant search for the perfect Christmas.
Please click Read More and comment below, letting me know your issues with “lie” and “lay” or any other grammar pet peeves. And if you haven’t done so, please review any of the first three books in the Vacation Friends Romance series and sign up for this newsletter.
*I won’t mention that my husband has been seeing a physical therapist for a real Achilles’ heel injury after 30 minutes into his first foray into pickleball back in September!