Lay vs. lie

[geoff-h -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA]

 Beth Kane wondered about <<the rule for remembering which
 to use [lay vs. lie] but I can't seem to remember it!>>

 To which Buck Buchanan replied <<Here's an easy way to
 remember them: Lie is what Bush did about Iran-Contra
 Lay is what Clinton did/does.>>

 <big grin> Point taken, Buck, but not very helpful. Here's
 the less amusing summary. Lay is the past tense of "to lie"
 (I lay down for a short nap), the correct present tense for
 "to lie" in the imperative ("Damnit! Lie still!"), or the
 correct present tense for the mistaken use of "lie" (I lay
 the blame for this message squarely on Buck). "Lie" is
 always present tense, unless accompanied by "will", at
 which point it becomes the future. And for purists: the
 only way you can get layed is if a minstrel serenades you
 (laid is the past tense). How to put all this together?
 <musters all his powerful grammatical resources>

 "If pressed, I lie about whether I got laid when I lay down
 with Miss X; I don't kiss and tell! Lay the blame squarely
 on my upbringing if you will, but you can still expect that
 I will lie under these circumstances. Situational ethics?
 Perhaps, but I'll let that issue lie. And I'll rely on Matt
 'the soundman' to provide an example where these rules have
 been layed." <gdr>

 --Geoff Hart     @8^{)}     geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca
 Disclaimer: Speaking for myself, not FERIC.

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