Lie and lay need close attention. These are the forms:--
_Present Tense._ _Past Tense._ _Pres. Participle._ _Past Participle._
1. Lie lay lying lain 2. Lay laid laying laid
The distinctions to be observed are as follows:--
(1) _Lie_, with its forms, is regularly _intransitive_ as to use. As to meaning, _lie_ means to rest, to recline, to place one's self in a recumbent position; as, "There _lies_ the ruin."
(2) _Lay_, with its forms, is always _transitive_ as to use. As to meaning, _lay_ means to put, to place a person or thing in position; as, "Slowly and sadly we _laid_ him down." Also _lay_ may be used without any object expressed, but there is still a transitive meaning; as in the expressions, "to _lay_ up for future use," "to _lay_ on with the rod," "to _lay_ about him lustily."
261. Sit and set have principal parts as follows:--
_Present Tense._ _Past Tense._ _Pres. Participle._ _Past Participle._
1. Sit sat sitting sat 2. Set set setting set
Notice these points of difference between the two verbs:--
(1) _Sit_, with its forms, is always _intransitive_ in use. In meaning, _sit_ signifies (_a_) to place one's self on a seat, to rest; (_b_) to be adjusted, to fit; (_c_) to cover and warm eggs for hatching, as, "The hen _sits_."
(2) _Set_, with its forms, is always _transitive_ in use when it has the following meanings: (_a_) to put or place a thing or person in position, as "He _set_ down the book;" (_b_) to fix or establish, as, "He _sets_ a good example."
_Set_ is _intransitive_ when it means (_a_) to go down, to decline, as, "The sun has _set_;" (_b_) to become fixed or rigid, as, "His eyes _set_ in his head because of the disease;" (_c_) in certain idiomatic expressions, as, for example, "to _set_ out," "to _set_ up in business," "to _set_ about a thing," "to _set_ to work," "to _set_ forward," "the tide _sets_ in," "a strong wind _set_ in," etc.
Examine the forms of _lie_, _lay_, _sit_ and _set_ in these sentences; give the meaning of each, and correct those used wrongly.
1. If the phenomena which lie before him will not suit his purpose, all history must be ransacked.
2. He sat with his eyes fixed partly on the ghost and partly on Hamlet, and with his mouth open.
3. The days when his favorite volume set him upon making wheelbarrows and chairs,... can never again be the realities they were.