Is the following sentence correct ?
If the black guy lay down, he might survive.
If the black guy would lie down, he might survive.
If the black guy lies down, he might survive.
or should it be
If the black guy lied down, he might survive.
If the black guy had lain down, he might have survived.
Thanks
2006Is the following sentence correct ?
If the black guy lies down, he might survive. :tick:
Thanks
2006
***NOT A TEACHER***diegoami, good afternoon. What a great question. As a native speaker, I am ashamed that I cannot give you an answer with 100% confidence. All I can do is offer a few points until you get a better answer: (1) Well, "lied" is, of course, wrong. "Lied" is the past tense of "to lie" (not tell the truth). (2) Maybe (maybe!!!) "If the guy lay down, he might survive" is grammatically correct. (3) I DO know that many Americans refuse to use "lay" for the past tense of "to lie" (be on your back). Many Americans say, "Yesterday I laid on the beach." (Of course, "laid" is the past of "to lay" (put something). (4) I cannot prove it, but maybe "lay" sounds "strange" to Americans because they are so used to the past ending in an -ed sound. (5) By the way, I linked to that comic strip that you saw. Of course, if you were describing what happened, you would have said: Sadly, the guy died when the train hit him. If he had lain down, he would have survived because the train would have passed over him. (6) That's all I can offer. Let's see whether someone can explain to you -- and me -- why "If he lay down, he might survive" is "wrong." Have a nice day.Is the following sentence correct ?
If the black guy lay down, he might survive.
or should it be
If the black guy lied down, he might survive.
Thanks
Your sentence is correct.Is the following sentence correct ?
If the black guy lay down, he might survive.
or should it be
If the black guy lied down, he might survive.
Thanks