![]() ![]() Since the couch is a more or less flat surface for you to lie on, “lying” is the correct present participle describing your condition at that moment. Similarly, when you are in the horizontal position on your couch, you are lying on the couch. Therefore, when you are in bed already, you are lying in bed.Īgain, “laying in bed” is never correct, so the correct present participle to use in this context will always be “lying.”įor more information regarding “-ing” verbs, read our article on “I wonder” or “I am wondering.” Is It Laying on the Couch or Lying on the Couch? “Lying” is the present participle form of the verb “lie,” and “lie” can also refer to the condition of being in a horizontal position on a flat surface. So, if you are in bed already, you are not laying in bed.ĭon’t let the spelling of the participle “lying” mislead you since “lying” can also refer to the act of deceiving. ![]() In other words, it means you set something down. “Laying” is the present participle form of the verb “lay,” which refers to the act of putting something in a horizontal position. We form the present participle from the infinitive verb “to lay” or “to lie” by adding “-ing” ( source). Is It Lying in Bed or Laying in Bed? Lyingīeing or remaining in a horizontal positionĪgain, “laying” and “lying” are the present participles of the verbs “lay” and “lie.” A participle has the characteristics of a verb and an adjective. We’ll examine the differences between the present participles as well as other forms of the verb “lay” and “lie.” There is often much confusion that results from their definitions and verb tenses, so we’ll discuss those along the way. Both “laying” and “lying” are the present participles of the verbs “lay” and “lie.” “Lay” is a transitive verb that refers to putting something in a horizontal position, while“lie” is an intransitive verb that refers to being in a flat position. Sadly, that's all I can remember of the story its title is lost to me forever.Two words in the English language that confuse native speakers and English language learners alike are “lay” and “lie.” Both words involve someone or something in a horizontal position, but which one should you use? Is it “laying in bed” or “lying in bed?” ² Why do I like this particular word? Because I once read a wonderful short story about a living car, and one line the admiring narrator used to describe it was something like "*That car didn't park, it reposed.". ¹ Don't confuse prostrate and prostate (with only one r), please. So, if you need to capture both the physical and mental states, you can say something like " I was relaxing on the floor", or " I was just floating there" (metaphorically invoking the image of floating on water), or, heck, " I was so relaxed, I just gave myself up to gravity". Peace, tranquillity īut again, that lacks the explicit physical state of laying flat on the floor. If the actual physical arrangement of your body is less important than the mental state of relaxation you're trying to convey, then you can use my personal favorite word from this particular constellation²:Ī state of resting after exertion or strain "prisoners are chained to their beds, spread-eagle, for days at a time" īut I strongly recommend you avoid that term. Spread-eagle: stretched out with one's arms and legs extended. ![]() Now, if you truly need to capture that physical arrangement, you can use: You'll notice that none of these words explicitly describe one's arms and legs being outstretched. Prone: lying flat, especially face downward. boxers who have been knocked out) and corpses is: Prostrate: lying stretched out on the ground with one's face downward Īs a verb, prostrate¹ often carries an active connotation of laying face down in reverence or submission.Ī more passive synonym, often used of the unconscious (e.g. Now, there are a couple of other words which are often used to mean lying on one's back, but in a strict technical sense, they actually mean lying face down: Which I like because it has hints of "recline" and "slumber". Recumbent: (especially of a person or human figure) lying down. Which I like because its spelling reminds me of "supple" (relaxed, like a loose, floppy noodle). There are a few terms which specifically capture the physical state of lying on the ground, face up, but they're fairly clinical and lack the mental overtones you describe (of complete relaxation, etc). ![]()
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