English is not my first language, so I have difficulty sometimes grasping the nuances of the language. Like for example the difference between lie and lay. My understating from reading about it is that we say "I want to lie down on the couch" because I lie myself but lay something or someone else. But, the other day I was watching a movie, and in a scene an actress said "I want to lay down on the couch". So, which one is correct? I mean is it possible that people in the movies use it incorrectly, or my understanding is not accurate?

Well, keep in mind that a lot of native speakers can't grasp the nuances of the English language. Also there's a difference between proper/academic English (usually written) and spoken (which will be influenced by dialects). We don't speak in proper grammar most of the time (at least not that I've noticed) and we don't necessarily use proper grammar in casual written communication. Also, at least in the US, grammar doesn't seem to be taught much before college. At least I don't remember that happening. Basically, by learning English as a second language, you might actually have a more comprehensive knowledge of proper grammar than a native speaker (at least in the US).

Back to your original question, I was pretty sure you were right (and the movie was just reflecting how English is usually spoken...at least from my experience). I mean, I know proper grammar for the most part (it's annoying complex), but I'm not usually going to worry about it when I speak. Especially in casual conversation. The point is, everyone still knows what you mean.

I don't know if that makes any sense at all.

[Crazy Hitch]

"To lie" means to "rest" yourself - "lie down on the couch"

If you use "lay" it refers to an object - "lay the table cloth on the dining room table" The object can also be a person - "he lay on the sofa"

[childofchaos831]

It's complicated. Lie is one tense of the word when referring to yourself.

I want to lie down is correct, and can be remembered by thinking of the word "recLINE" which rhymes. But lay is also past tense of lie.

There are three tenses of verbs in english. Lie lay lain. Then lay laid laid.

Lay is used for placing something like a book or even a baby down.

(BTW, I cheated and asked my mother who minored in English at University. )

[Travelinglady]

Often people speak incorrectly in movies and on TV, so don't go by that!

Thanks everyone. I don't know if it's because I'm a perfectionist, but I pay attention to grammar. I prefer to be formal in my written and spoken English.

So, it's correct to say "I want to lie down". I know that the past tense of lie is lay. Lie and lay in my original post are both in the present tense.

[Artchic528]

Well, considering the English language is a mish-mash of different words and whatnot from different languages over the years, it's considered one of the hardest languages to learn. Many non native speakers have trouble with things like the way the letter "C" is pronounced. Sometimes it's pronounced like the letter "S" and other times it sounds like the letter "K". Also, tenses for words are hard to learn too.

Originally Posted by Artchic528

Well, considering the English language is a mish-mash of different words and whatnot from different languages over the years, it's considered one of the hardest languages to learn. Many non native speakers have trouble with things like the way the letter "C" is pronounced. Sometimes it's pronounced like the letter "S" and other times it sounds like the letter "K". Also, tenses for words are hard to learn too.

Actually, English is not a difficult language to learn compared to other languages. English is a well-structured language. I took several courses in French and it's way more complicated in pronunciation, conjugation, and grammar.

[Artchic528]

Originally Posted by Mr. Stranger

Actually, English is not a difficult language to learn compared to other languages. English is a well-structured language. I took several courses in French and it's way more complicated in pronunciation, conjugation, and grammar.

Ah, I stand corrected.

[TishaBuv]

I want to lie down on the couch.
I want to lay down on the couch.
Lay down the baby on the couch.
I want to lie while laying down on the couch.
I want to get laid on the couch.

I grew up to say "I lie down', 'I lay myself down', 'I lay an object down'

Originally Posted by TishaBuv

...
I want to lay down on the couch.
...
I want to lie while laying down on the couch.
....

These are confusing. Are these grammatically correct?

Originally Posted by justafriend306

I grew up to say "I lie down', 'I lay myself down', 'I lay an object down'

So, when I use myself I use lay and not lie? But isn't myself implied when I say I lie (myself) down?

[*Laurie*]

People lie down. I lie down. You lie down.
Chickens lay eggs.

[bronzeowl]

The movie was grammatically incorrect. That's not uncommon. Many people don't know the difference (or even that there is one).

Lie implies that you yourself are lying down. "I want to lie down" as you said. To lay implies you're laying someone or something down. "I am going to lay the baby down so she can sleep." for example. Or, "I am going to lay the book down on the table."

It's a bit pedantic to nitpick it, though, so I seldom do. Many books, songs, movies, etc incorrectly use one or the other. For example, the song... I don't remember the title, but it goes something like... "If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me..." anyway. It uses them correctly sometimes, incorrectly others.

Don't stress over it. Either way, people will know what you mean.

Don't even get me started on past tense of each, and past participle. (lay, laid, lain, etc)

Originally Posted by Mr. Stranger

So, when I use myself I use lay and not lie? But isn't myself implied when I say I lie (myself) down?

'myself' is the object in this sentence structure. You 'lay' an object down.

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by TishaBuv View Post
...
I want to lay down on the couch.
...
I want to lie while laying down on the couch.
....
These are confusing. Are these grammatically correct?

Lol....they are showing many other words that even mean something different but are the same word pronunciation. CONTEXT is seriously important.

I want to "lie"....while laying on the couch. The "lie" in this case means "to tell something that is untrue" & has nothing to do with laying anything down at all.

Pointing out that there are many words in english that have the same spelling & same pronunciation but mean something entirely different.....& yes, grammatically correct.

Originally Posted by bronzeowl

The movie was grammatically incorrect. That's not uncommon. Many people don't know the difference (or even that there is one).

Don't stress over it. Either way, people will know what you mean.

Yes. This is absolutely correct.

I try to be correct but admit I make my own grammatical mistakes. Who vs whom is the one that always defies me.

[-jimi-]

When you lie down you don't lay something else. Then it is lie.

If you lay something down, you use lay.

I like to lie in bed. Yesterday I lay in bed. I have lain in bed.

I lay the baby down. Yesterday I laid the baby down. I have laid the baby down.

Some people say they lay in bed (right now). It is incorrect but is seen as acceptable just because many people say that. It's not too much trouble if you don't use past tense, then it becomes trickier.

I would say that more people (especially Americans) say lay when they mean lie, more than people saying it correctly.

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

'myself' is the object in this sentence structure. You 'lay' an object down.

It would be lie unless you actually not just imply but say the word, then it is lay.

Like Now I lay me down to sleep.

This is not usually how we say it though.