One of my readers, one whom I suspect is both more astute and more anal than I am re: grammar, actually cottoned on to the fact that no one ever does anything but recline or otherwise splay themselves about in my NC-17 scenes. The reason? No matter how often I've read explanations on the distinction, I just can't figure out which is correct, so I avoid lie/lay at all costs, unless someone is telling an untruth. ;-)
Also, this is why the song "Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol" is at once loved and hated by me. "If I lay here/ If I just lay here..." What an egg? Then: "Would you lie with me?" showing he does know the other form of the word, but is choosing to be incorrect! Grr!
I'm not familiar with the song, but I was actually teaching a college-level grammar course when I discovered the reason The Talking Heads had what had always sounded (to me) an entirely wrong line in the song Dream Operator.
(wow ... and yes, that is a convoluted sentence above ... I'm waaaayyyy too tired tonight, LOL! My apologies).
The lines went: You wish you were me, I wish I were you,
... and this drove me crazy for years. I thought it should be "I wish I was you," ... until I finally learned nope, the line is spoken in the subjunctive ("what if"), and therefore is absolutely correct.
Grammar Nerdz Unite! ;-)
(Though please take pity on the exhausted person tonight and let my effusive use of commas and elipses stand uncorrected. *begs*)
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Date: 2008-04-18 04:48 am (UTC)Also, this is why the song "Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol" is at once loved and hated by me. "If I lay here/ If I just lay here..." What an egg? Then: "Would you lie with me?" showing he does know the other form of the word, but is choosing to be incorrect! Grr!
I'm not familiar with the song, but I was actually teaching a college-level grammar course when I discovered the reason The Talking Heads had what had always sounded (to me) an entirely wrong line in the song Dream Operator.
(wow ... and yes, that is a convoluted sentence above ... I'm waaaayyyy too tired tonight, LOL! My apologies).
The lines went:
You wish you were me,
I wish I were you,
... and this drove me crazy for years. I thought it should be "I wish I was you," ... until I finally learned nope, the line is spoken in the subjunctive ("what if"), and therefore is absolutely correct.
Grammar Nerdz Unite! ;-)
(Though please take pity on the exhausted person tonight and let my effusive use of commas and elipses stand uncorrected. *begs*)