I misuse lay/lie, but not because I don't understand the difference; I do. The reason is that my parents (although both sticklers for good grammar) both misused it all the time. When you grow up hearing it used incorrectly, it sounds awkward to say it correctly. I say "I laid your phone on the counter" instead of "I lay it on the counter" because "lay sounds like present tense. I'll say I'm going to lay down for a nap. I will write these correctly because I take time to think about them, however.
Originally Posted by
ptquilts
Lay and lie is pretty easy - Lay is a transitive verb, meaning it has an object. I lay the quilt on the bed. Lie is an intransitive verb, no object . I lie on the bed.
To clarify more, transitive verbs are followed by a noun. I bake the pie. I ride the bike. The same verbs can also be intransitive, I bake every morning. I ride to work most days.
Lie and Lay are mixed up by a lot of people.
I still say thongs and am probably the only person left who calls blue jeans, "dungarees". (almost 60 years old).
Thongs???
I was taught to remember there is "a rat" in separate. Works for me.