Grammar of the Day

[mrv3000]

So...

"I use to watch E.R." or "I used to watch E.R."

And in the personal milestone department, I think I've finally gotten the laying/lying, lay/lie thing. Seems simple now, but for some reason it never really registered before.

Oh, hey! Do they still teach sentence diagrams in school?

And in final news, I think I've lost my writing mojo for now, as everything I type does not relate to anything. The muse has gone emo on me, and I'm gearing up for a bitchslapping.

Comments

[debs7.livejournal.com]

I'd say I used to watch ER but my grammer is wonky at the best of times.

*gives your writing mojo flowers and chocolates*

[joyfulfeather.livejournal.com]

According to m-w.com:

used in the past with to to indicate a former fact or state < we used to go more often > < didn't use to smoke >

So "I used to watch E.R." is right.

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

I can't say either cause I never done watched E.R.

[ramdonomo.livejournal.com]

'Used'.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Mojo says to say thanks!

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhh. "Used" for things that happened in the past. Makes sense. Thanks!

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Well, you're no help.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Ta!

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

You ain't the first one to tell me that.

But I'm sulking now. I let my Megaupload account lapse and I'm hoping I can re-instate it with all the files intact. :(

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

D'oh!

[solielle.livejournal.com]

I did sentence diagrams in school, but I was in an advanced English class, and I think the regular classes didn't bother with grammar. Lucky them.

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

Double D'oh

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I think everyone got the sentence diagrams at the school I went to. They were a pain.

[sensiblecat.livejournal.com]

"I think I've finally gotten the laying/lying, lay/lie thing."

Hee. I once quoted "Chasing Cars" in a chapter, and my beta, who's a teacher, exploded and said I was making her job way too difficult.

Personally I think of "lay" as a transitive verb and always expect it to involve producing eggs.

[fiona-conn.livejournal.com]

It's, "I used to watch E.R." =)

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Hee. I once quoted "Chasing Cars" in a chapter, and my beta, who's a teacher, exploded and said I was making her job way too difficult.

*snickers*

Personally I think of "lay" as a transitive verb and always expect it to involve producing eggs.

HA! And...I'll probably now do the same as I won't be able to think of anything but chickens now.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[poohmusings.livejournal.com]

Used to.

Do they still teach sentence diagrams in school?

I don't know, but I hope so. I always found those fun. Much better than figuring out math problems. :)

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

Hrm. Perhaps there is something in the stars regarding lay/lie etc? Because it came up twice for me yesterday -- trying to remember it, and then I had to explain it to someone else. *makes x-files theme noises*

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

*reads comments*

AHAHAHA, you were actually asking a grammar question about ER? I thought you were being snarky, because you need to use [drugs] to watch ER these days. ;)

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Freaky!!

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Mwah! I actually was asking a grammar question. :D