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Random musings and observations from an individual with too much time on his hands
Friday, February 25, 2005
The Medriocraty of English Linguistics
Today's Lesson: Lie & Lay
From my old High School English book:
English has, apart from a few verbs sets such as: lie & lay, sit & set, and rise & raise; abandoned reflexiveness distinction. The first of the pairs is reflexive; you do it to yourself. The second is non-reflexive; you act on another object.
Now, if they explained the concept like this to students it would be so much easier to understand. English grammar, however is stuck in the first century, which is, unfortunately, before it developed.
I'll just have to preach from my box and hope someone listens.
From my old High School English book:
The verb lie is intransitive; that is, it never has an object. You can never 'lie' anything down.Well, they almost got it right. Actually, these two verbs are a throwback to older forms common in Indo-European languages. Any student of Spanish (and several others) will recognize them as reflexive and non-reflexive.
The Verb lay is transitive; that is it may have a object, or be in the passive voice.
English has, apart from a few verbs sets such as: lie & lay, sit & set, and rise & raise; abandoned reflexiveness distinction. The first of the pairs is reflexive; you do it to yourself. The second is non-reflexive; you act on another object.
Now, if they explained the concept like this to students it would be so much easier to understand. English grammar, however is stuck in the first century, which is, unfortunately, before it developed.
I'll just have to preach from my box and hope someone listens.
