O.K. - I teach developmental English, and my curriculum requires me to teach three difficult irregular verbs: lay/lie, raise/rise, and sit/set. Never had a problem with it before, but have a very astute class this semester and now I'm second guessing myself on one question I put on my most recent quiz:
1) My legs are sore because I ____________ tile in the kitchen all day.
(lie,lay)
The answer I've always given them is "was laying". Most students put "laid" arguing that it was simple past tense. I tell them no;first of all because "are" is present tense. Then after thinking about it,(and surfing and finding your site), now I'm sure it's not "was laying". (darn... break out the white out for the grade book!) However, I don't think it's "laid" either (??). Rationale being that the legs being sore is a direct result of laying the tile, right? so..past perfect?? "have laid"
Thanks!
KateH
Past Simple or past Continuous
O.K. - I teach developmental English, and my curriculum requires me to teach three difficult irregular verbs: lay/lie, raise/rise, and sit/set. Never had a problem with it before, but have a very astute class this semester and now I'm second guessing myself on one question I put on my most recent quiz:
1) My legs are sore because I ____________ tile in the kitchen all day.
(lie,lay)
The answer I've always given them is "was laying". Most students put "laid" arguing that it was simple past tense. I tell them no;first of all because "are" is present tense. Then after thinking about it,(and surfing and finding your site), now I'm sure it's not "was laying". (darn... break out the white out for the grade book!) However, I don't think it's "laid" either (??). Rationale being that the legs being sore is a direct result of laying the tile, right? so..past perfect?? "have laid"
Thanks!
KateH