Things I'll never learn

[amari_z]

When I was a kid I had the hardest time distinguishing between 'b' and 'd' and between 'p' and 'q.' It gave me fits and many tears were shed. Although it took me a while, I've pretty much gotten those straight, but there are still a number of words or rules of grammar that I can never, ever keep in my head. The top contenders:

lie, lay--I often get it right by chance, but if I have to be sure, I must look it up. Every single damn time.

loose/lose and choose/chose--for some reason I can't get these right, even though I know which one to say--I just can't seem to spell the one I want.

breathe/breath--same as above.

effect/affect--I know the rule, but I still get it wrong sometimes when I don't think about it.

like/as--I've pretty much surrendered on this one. I'm sure I use 'like' incorrectly all the time. I blame my California upbringing.

Not to say, of course, that I don't have many, many other problems. Feel free to point them out.

Comments

[far-mountain.livejournal.com]

Okay, I give up. Is there an easy way (such as a pneumonic device or ditty) to determine when to use lay and when to use lie?

Thanks for the assistance.

[amari-z.livejournal.com]

You're asking the wrong girl, as was the point of my little post. : ) Anna points out that hens lay eggs--which is probably a good way to remember. Lay takes a direct object, lie (not to fib, but to recline) does not.

I don't really have a problem remembering that part--it's the conjugation. Lie, lies, lay, has lain. Lay, lays, laid, has laid. Lie (fib), lies, lied, has lied. I have to run though it every time I'm using anything but the present tense when someone is either reclining or something is being placed. For me, it's something like a mental block at this point.