lying vs lain down

Status
Not open for further replies.

Offroad

Key Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2008
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
Dear teachers

Do any of these sentences read well?

I saw a man lain down in the road. He'd hit a horse with his bike.
I saw a man lying in the road. He hit a horse with his bike.

Thank you
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
I saw a man lying in the road. He had hit a horse with his bike.
 

Offroad

Key Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2008
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
So, can we assume the use of 'lie down' implies someone lies intentionally?

Many thanks
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
So, can we assume the use of 'lie down' implies someone lies intentionally?

Many thanks

Often that is the case, but in the case of a man lying in the road after an accident, it would not be the case.
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Perhaps the action "to lie down" is deliberate, but once someone or something is on the ground (or other flat surface), he/she/it is lying. If I drop my clothes on the floor, they just lie there. It annoys my husband that my clothes are always just lying all over the place.
 

probus

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
Lain down is either poetic or archaic, not everyday usage.
 

Offroad

Key Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2008
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
Either way, the poor man was rushed to hospital. It was raining heavily - I could barely see him.
Never heard what happened to the horse.
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Lain down is either poetic or archaic, not everyday usage.

That may be so, but as the past participle of 'lie' (intr), without 'down', 'lain' is alive and well.

'The wreckage of the Titanic has lain at the bottom of the Atlantic since 1912.'

For many other recent examples, students can read more here.

Rover
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top