16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardPast tense of 'lie'

Standard English Conventions practice question

Yesterday afternoon she ____ on the sofa for hours with a book.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. layCorrect
  2. B. laid
  3. C. lied
  4. D. lain

Answer: A. lay

'lie' (to recline) has the past tense 'lay'. There is no object here, so it is 'lie', not 'lay' (to put something down).

Why the other answers are wrong

B. laid
'laid' is the past tense of 'lay', which needs an object ('she laid the book down').
C. lied
'lied' is the past tense of 'lie' meaning to tell an untruth.
D. lain
'lain' is the past participle and needs 'had': 'she had lain'.

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