LIE VS LAY
We’re all pretty clear on the lie that
means an untruth. It’s the other
usage that trips us up. Lie also means
to recline: “Why don’t you lie down
and rest?” Lay requires an object:
“ Lay the book on the table.” Lie is
something you can do by yourself,
but you need an object to lay. It’s
more confusing in the past tense.
The past tense of lie is—you guessed
it— lay: “I lay down for an hour last
night.” And the past tense of lay is
laid: “I laid the book on the table.”
BRING VS TAKE
Bring and take both describe
transporting something or someone
from one place to another, but the
correct usage depends on the
speaker’s point of view. Somebody
brings something to you, but you
take it to somewhere else: “ Bring me
the mail, then take your shoes to
your room.” Just remember, if the
movement is toward you, use bring;
if the movement is away from you,
use take .
