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July

(4,790 posts)

34. Past tense is "lay."

Sat Dec 1, 2018, 08:42 PM

Dec 2018

"Lain" is the past participle.

It's lie/lay/lain for the verb "to lie, meaning "to recline" (see a good dictionary for its other meanings).

He lies in state in Washington (present).
He lay in state for two days (past).
He has lain in state while citizens paid their respects (past participle).

It's lay/laid/laid for the verb "to lay," meaning most often "to place," though it has many meanings.

She lays one napkin on each plate (present).
We laid placemats at each seat (past).
We have laid silverware at each place (past participle).

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Trump will not lay in state when he dies [View all] brokephibroke Dec 2018 OP

Lie in state. He won't lie in state. PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2018 #1

That's because he lies in state all the time right now. ananda Dec 2018 #2

Trump will not lie itsrobert Dec 2018 #4

Even in death he might try to 'lay' another porn star! bobbieinok Dec 2018 #7

I think It's "lay in state" brokephibroke Dec 2018 #11

The New York Times has it as "lie in state." Jim__ Dec 2018 #18

It's lie. The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2018 #19

Ok, I see that brokephibroke Dec 2018 #25

While we're at it, "irregardless" isn't a word. The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2018 #32

I know that brokephibroke Dec 2018 #36

Do you get to blow the horn on the Engine? LakeSuperiorView Dec 2018 #38

Oh how I wish.... brokephibroke Dec 2018 #42

Past tense is "lay." July Dec 2018 #34

No, only chickens "lay." cwydro Dec 2018 #21

It's lie in state n/t malaise Dec 2018 #29

You are wrong DavidDvorkin Dec 2018 #35

I know the difference between lie and lay. PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2018 #37

Yes! On pain of very severe punishment! DavidDvorkin Dec 2018 #39

I made sure I taught my sons the difference between lie and lay. PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2018 #40

Even when he dies he will malaise Dec 2018 #27

I'm not sure what prisons do when inmates die realmirage Dec 2018 #3

Unless he's impeached AND imprisoned for crimes against the United States... ADX Dec 2018 #5

He is a fucking traitor... N_E_1 for Tennis Dec 2018 #6

An unmarked pauper's grave works for me. n/t Coventina Dec 2018 #8

unmarked? Ernesto Dec 2018 #14

Right! Let's put his gold toilet as his marker... Coventina Dec 2018 #15

You may be taking a piss ProudLib72 Dec 2018 #28

He may not lie in it; but he'll certainly lie to it. sandensea Dec 2018 #9

Did Nixon? crazycatlady Dec 2018 #10

Nope, Nixon's body lay in repose at the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda (n/t) Spider Jerusalem Dec 2018 #16

The stink will be too much..... ProudMNDemocrat Dec 2018 #12

Well if he does you'll be able to hear the soulful shriek of the wind lunatica Dec 2018 #13

Sure he will. A dumpster will easily fit in the Capitol Rotunda. Cyrano Dec 2018 #17

Float him in a urine filled Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool IADEMO2004 Dec 2018 #20

on a Russian air mattress Generic Other Dec 2018 #24

Do they do that for Americans who die in exile in Russia? Runningdawg Dec 2018 #22

His coffin will feature faux gold leaf Generic Other Dec 2018 #23

He might. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #26

Nightmare scenario ProudLib72 Dec 2018 #30

Lenin looks healthier dead than Trump does alive. guillaumeb Dec 2018 #31

That is so gross. Ilsa Dec 2018 #48

I don't know about that... Mike Nelson Dec 2018 #33

He'll be lucky to get an Osama funeral at this point. Initech Dec 2018 #41

That's actually a good idea. ooky Dec 2018 #45

He'll get stuffed and gold n/t plated TexasBushwhacker Dec 2018 #43

If he does lie in state he will set a new record ooky Dec 2018 #44

Trump will lie in shame when he dies. n/t KY_EnviroGuy Dec 2018 #46

This is true brokephibroke Dec 2018 #47