To Lie, To Lay or To Lie?

Infinitive	Simple Past	Past Participle	Progressive
1) to lie	lay	lain	lying
2) to lay	laid	laid	laying
3) to lie	lied	lied	lying

1) To Lie - to put oneself on a horizontal position; to rest in a horizontal or flat position. It doesn't have an object. It's an intransitive verb.
If you lie in the sun too long you'll get a sun-stroke instead of tan.

2) To Lay - to put down in a certain position; to place in proper position. It always has an object. It's a transitive verb.
I can't remember where I laid my hat.

Note
The verb to lie can express involuntary actions whereas the verb to lay can't.
The carpet has been lying at the door.
She has been laying her head on his shoulder for ten minutes.

3) To Lie - to speak falsely; to tell lies.
People who lie are never corageous.

Say or Tell?

- To Say
a) to say something
The teacher said she was not satisfied with the work of some of the students.

b) to say something to someone
What he said to his employer resulted in his dismissal.

- To Tell - to tell someone something.
He told the audience several amusing jokes.

Expressions with the verbs Say and Tell.
To Say:
- a story
- a good word
- goodbye

To Tell:
- a story
- the time
- the truth
- lies
- a secret
- the difference
- fortunes

Present Perfect Progressive

Uses:
The Progressive form is used to emphasize the length of time up to the present. The tense is more often used with verbs which have the meaning of prolonged action such as: live, stay, work, read, sleep, syudy.

Note:
The adverbs used with this tense often have all before them.
I have been waiting for you all morning.
She has been sleeping all afternoon.

Present Perfect Tense

Uses:

1. indefinite time in the past
He has lived in many countries.

2. from some point in the past to the present.
They have worked here for seven years.
She has studied French since April.

3. a very recent happening.
I have just arrived.

Special Notes
It is used with adverbs such as these: now, just, today, this morning (week, month), still, ever, never, not yet, already, recently, lately.

Line - Idiomatic Expressions

The nouns line, used in idioms in most case has its meanings related - in one way or another - to the ideas of communication or position (both literally and metaphorically speaking).

- a party line: a telephone line which is shared by to or more subscribers.

- to be in / out of line (with): to be in agreement / disagreement (with something).
Your suggestions are out of line with the former proposals.

- to be (next) in line (for something): to be (the next person) due for something.
Who's next in line for promotion in your department?

- to come / fall into line (with somebody): to agree with someone, to accept his opinion.
I'm sure Sue will fall into line with us on this matter when she realizes how serious it is.

- to drop someone a line (inf.): to write to someone.

- to read between the lines: to understand or sense more than the actual words (spoken or written) appear to mean or express.
She didn't tell me directly, but reading between the lines, I think she's going to take the job.

- to shoot a line (inf.): to lie or exaggerate about one's successes, capabilities, etc.

- to take the firm / hard / strong line (with someone) (over/on something): to deal decisively (with someone) (over/on a certain matter).
Some of the employees have produced bad work. The management will have to take a firmer line with them in future.

- all along the line: at every point, in all matter, with everyone.
Since he started wearing contact lenses and washing his hair, he's been a success all along the line.

- to toe the line: to obey orders, submit to discipline.
If Joe doesn't toe the line in future, he'll be dismissed from the team.

- to cross the line: to go beyond accepted standards of behavior. Sometimes, cross a boundary.
His outburst crossed the line between heated argument and offensive vilification.

- down the line: in all ways; thoroughly; fully.
It's a fine house right down the line—well-built, roomy, attractive.

- to draw the line: to impose a restriction; limit.
They might exaggerate but would draw the line at outright lying.

- to go up in one's lines (in theater): to forget one's part during a performance. Also, British, to go up on one's lines.


- along the lines of (on the lines of): roughly similar or in keeping with. This idiom uses line  in the sense of "a direction or procedure".
We told the architect we want a design along the lines of his own house but smaller.
Jane asked the caterer for a menu on the lines of the Morgans' wedding reception.

-  down-the-line
adjective: complete, full, unreserved, or whole-hearted: a down-the-line endorsement.
adverb: fully; completely; whole-heartedly: Will you support it down-the-line?

- to draw a line: reasonably object (to) or set a limit (on)
I draw the line when it comes to lending money to friends!

- to draw the line at: refuse to go any further than. This expression alludes to a line drawn at a stopping point of some kind.
I draw the line at giving them more money.


- end of the line (end of the road): the conclusion or final outcome. This idiom alludes to the point where a road or line stops.
The editorial pointed out that it was the end of the line for the President; he'd never be reelected.
It was obviously the end of the road for this television series.

- to feed someone a line: cue an actor with his or her next line (or lines), or tell someone what to say.
Some contestants become tongue-tied, so someone has to feed them a line.
Eric still has trouble learning a part; he needs someone to feed him his lines .

- to hand someone a line: lead someone on, deceive with glib or exaggerated talk.
He really fed them a line about his important new position.
Don't hand me a line I know exactly how much you paid for it.

- firing line: the forefront of any action or activity, especially a controversy.

- get a line on (have a line on): acquire information about something or someone, come to know.
Sue got a line on some possible tennis partners.
The realtor has a line on a number of vacant apartments.
Similarly, means "provide information about". This idiom uses line  in the sense of "a direct course."
The librarian gave me a line on the books I would need.

- hard line: an uncompromising or unyielding stand, especially in politics; adhering rigidly to a dogma, theory, or plan; uncompromising or unyielding: hard-line union demands.

- to hold the line: to keep a telephone line open.

- hook, line, and sinker (inf.): entirely; completely.
He fell for the story—hook, line, and sinker.

Short - Idiomatic Expressions

Although the adjective short has several different meanings, three of them appear to be the most recurrent, consequently the most important for those who wish to get practical mastery over this rather interesting field of English Language: idioms.
So, basically, short expresses the concepts of insufficiency, brevity and exceptionality (this last one having a reduced presence in the expression with short largely used nowadays).

- a short drink: a strong alcohol drink served in small quantities.

- to be on short time: to work fewer hours or days than usual because the employer has not enough work for the workmen.

- to be short (of something): not to have enough (of something)
of time, money, food...

- to cut something short: to bring something to an end before the proper time.
We had to cut short our discussion because the boss had to go to a meeting somewhere else.

- to fall short (of something): to be inadequate, not enough, disappointing (of hopes, expectations)
His profits for the first year of business have fallen short of his expectations.

- to have a short temper: to become angry easily, frequently and quickly.

- to run short (of something): to come to the end of one's supply (of something).
I've run short of sugar. Could you lend me some?

- for short: as an abbreviation
Katherine is always called 'Kate' for short.

- in short: briefly, in a few words.

- short of: except, apart from
They say he's capable of anything short of murder.

- by the short hairs: under one's complete control. This expression is often used with get or have. It is in effect a euphemism for have someone by the balls, the hairs in question being public hair.
She had her husband by the short hairs.

- caught short: found to be lacking something one needs, especially money. This idiom uses short  in the sense of "lacking money".
Can you pay the check? I seem to be caught short.

- in short supply: less than is needed, lacking.
Skilled operators were in short supply.
The hotels are all full, and beds are in short supply.

- life is too short: do not waste time on unimportant matters or unworthy emotions, such as anger or anxiety. This phrase, possibly echoing the ancient Latin proverb, Ars longa, vita brevis  ("Art is long-lasting, life is short"), is often used to dismiss an unimportant or unworthy concern.
I could get my revenge by snubbing Tom, but life's too short.
Don't spend all day waiting for his call life is too short.

- make a long story short: get to the point. Although the idea of abbreviating a long-winded account is ancient, this precise phrase dates only from the 1800s. Henry David Thoreau played on it in a letter of 1857: "Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long time to make it short."
To make a long story short, they got married and moved to Omaha.

- make short work of: to finish or dispose of quickly.
We made short work of the chocolate layer cake.

- nothing short of: the equivalent of, the same as.
His accusation is nothing short of slander.
This term is slightly stronger than little short of ,  meaning "almost the same as"
Her claim is little short of stupid.

- sell short: contract for the sale of securities or commodities one expects to own at a later date and at a lower price.
Selling short runs the risk of a market rise, forcing one to pay more than one expected.

sell someone short: underestimate the true value or worth of someone.
Don't sell her short; she's a very able lawyer.

- stop (one) short: check abruptly.
When we tried to cross the street, the barrier stopped us short.

Cause someone to stop speaking.
I was about to tell them the date when my father stopped me short.

stop short of: not go so far as to do or say something.
He may embroider the truth but he stops short of actually lying.

- in short order: quickly, without delay.
The children got ready in short order to go to the mall.

Raise or Rise?

- To raise . raised . raised = to lift, to rear, to set up, to produce, to create.

It always has an object. It's a transitive verb.

He raised his hat to the lady.

- To rise . rose . risen = to stand up, to get up, to ascend.

It doesn't have an object. It's an intransitive verb.

Everybody rose when he entered the room.

Carry or Fetch? Bring or Take?

- To Carry means only to transport, without any relation to the speaker's position.
She carried her bags from the train to the taxi.

- To Fetch means to go from the place of speaking, find something and bring it back to the place of starting.
Please, fetch me some coke when you go there to buy yours.

- To Bring means to carry to the place where the speaker is.
The postman brought a letter to her yesterday.

- To Take means to carry from the place where the speaker is.
The mother took away the knife from the baby.

The Past Progressive Tense

Uses:
1. Something was happening continuously in the past.
It was raining all day yesterday.

2. Something was happening when something else happened.
I was reading when he gave me a ring.

3. Something was happening at the same time as something else was happening.
She was singing as I was talking.

4. Intention in the past with these verbs: going to, planning to, trying to.
I was going to tell you but I forgot it.

5. Reported Speech.
He is looking out of the window.
She said he was looking out of the window.

Special Notes
The Past Progressive Tense is the most usual form in time clauses introduced by as, when and while.

The Past Simple Tense

Uses:
1. It is used for actions completed in the past ast a definite time.
I met her yesterday.

2. It is used when the time is asked about.
When did you meet her?

3. When the action clearly took place at a definite time, even though this time is not mentioned.
The bus was twenty minutes late.

Special Notes
The Past Simple Tense is generally used with past time expressions, such as yesterday, last (week, month, year, etc) ago, the previous day.
She went to Paris last week.
The ship sank five years ago.

High - Idiomatic Expression

High can mean different things when it is used idiomatically. But the basic meaning is 'elevated'.

- high life, high living: luxurious and pleasurable living.

- high noon: 12 o'clock in the middle of the day, then the summer is at its highest.

- to be high (inf.): to be extremely high-spirited after taking alcohol or drugs.

- to be / get on one's high horse: to behave in a proud manner. In a haughty manner or mood; bossy.  Larry is on his high horse again, bossing people around.

- high and dry: isolated, stranded.
Jack was left high and dry when he lost all his money.

- high and low: everywhere.

- high-powered: of great vitality, dynamic, intense.

- to be for the high jump (inf.): due to be hanged (for murder).

- fly high: to be full of hope or elation.
His stories began to sell, and he was flying high.

- high on (inf.): enthusiastic or optimistic about; having a favorable attitude toward or opinion of.

- blow sky-high: destroy by explosion, explode.
Once the charge is set, get away fast or you'll be blown sky-high.

- hold one's head high / up: behave proudly; maintain one's dignity.
After the bankruptcy Mr. Jones still held his head high.
Grandma told Brian he could hold his head up because he'd tried extremely hard.
After that newspaper article, I'm not sure I'll ever hold up my head again.

- knee-high to a grasshopper: of very short stature.
I knew you when you were knee-high to a grasshopper.

- in high dudgeon: furiously, resentfully.
He stormed out in high dudgeon.

- ride high: Enjoy success
He's been riding high ever since they made him vice-president.

- stink / smell to high heaven: be of very poor quality; also, be suspect or in bad repute. This expression alludes to something so rank that it can be smelled from a great distance.
This plan of yours stinks to high heaven.
His financial schemes smell to high heaven; I'm sure they're dishonest.

- run high: be intense. This expression, first recorded in 1711, transfers the strong currents or tides that make for high waves to human concerns.
Feelings are running high on the issue of raising taxes.

Dead - Idiomatic Expressions

Dead can mean many different things when it is used idiomatically. The basic meaning is 'no longer living', but there are also other meanings, such as 'complete' and 'exact'.

- dead beat / tired (inf.): extremely tired, exhausted.

- dead drunk: completely drunk.

- to be dead against sth/sb: to be completely against or opposed to that thing or person.
My father is dead against my entire college.

- a dead-end job: a job without prospects.

- to beat / reach/ come to a (total) deadlock: to fail to agree or to compromise or to settle a dispute.

- to be at / reach / come to a dead end: to be at the stage where you cannot make further progress, usually because of problems or difficulties.

- to cut (sb) dead: to ignore sb, treat him as if you do not know him.

- to flog / beat a dead horse (inf.): to waste one's time or efforts.
Explaining grammar to Peter is like flogging a dead horse. He just can't take it in.

- to make a dead set at sb: to make a deliberate attack on sb, often with words.

- to wait for a dead man's shoes: to wait for an advantage which will result from sb's death.

- dead in the water: completely inactive or inoperable; no longer in action or under consideration.
Our plans to expand the business have been dead in the water for the past two months.

- dead to rights: in the very act of committing a crime, offense, or mistake; red-handed.

- dead from the neck up: stupid or unintelligent.

- dead to the world: unaware of one's surroundings, esp fast asleep or very drunk.

- knock (so) dead definition: to put on a stunning performance or display for someone.
She knocked us dead with her stunning performance.

- more dead than alive: exhausted, in poor condition. This idiom may be used either hyperbolically or literally.
By the time I got off that mountain I was more dead than alive.

- over my dead body: in no way, under no circumstances. This hyperbolic expression is often used jokingly.
Over my dead body will you drop out of high school.

Lack or Waste?

To Lack - to be without; not have; have less than enough of
He lacks courage.

To Waste - to use without a good purpose or result; spend extravagantly or uselessly
Don't waste your energy.

Lose or Miss?

To Lose
a) to have no longer, to have taken away from one (by accident, misfortune, carelessness, separation, death, etc)
He lost all his money at that card game.

b) to become unable to find
I've lost my new gold pen.


To Miss
a) to fail to hold, catch or reach
He tried to catch the ball but missed it.

b) to fail to get, hear, see, notice or understand
I missed the first part of the speech.

c) to be too late for, falis to get, catch, meet, etc
I got up very late yesterday and missed the 7 o'clock bus.

d) to feel regret at the absence of
She'd miss her husband if the died.

Make or Do?

Many languages have only one verb for do and make, but in English these two verbs are found in a number of more or less fixed expressions.

Basic Meanings

Make - to create or cause to exist by combining parts or by giving form to some material.
We make paper into many things.

Some expressions:
- to make a dress / cake / sandwich
- to make bread / dinner / breakfast / lunch
- to make a fire / a camp / a mistake
- to make the beds / a journey / a sound / a noise
- to make something from something
- to make something out of something
- to make somebody do something


Do - to perform an action, to act in general
He does what he likes to do.

Some expressions:
- to do a test / an exam / an exercise / a composition
- to do a sum / a course / algebra/one's lesson / the homework
- to do a puzzle / one's duty
- to do something to somebody
- to do good to somebody
- to do one's best
- to do with/without something

The Present Progressive Tense

Uses:
1. Actions happening ate the moment of speaking;
The students are listening to the teacher now.

2. Futurity;
I am flying to Paris tomorrow.
He is going home next week.

3. Temporary habit;
He is dieting this summer.

4. With 'always' for a frequently repeated action;
Tom is always going away for weekends.

5. Common adverbs used with this tense:
- now
- at present
- at this moment
- still

Special Notes
The are a number of common verbs wich do not often use in the Progressive Tense when we are describing an action at the moment of speaking. These verbs are generally used in the Present Simple Tense because they describe which cannot be stopped or started at will.
These are the principal verbs of this type:
- Verbs of the sense: see, hear, smell, notice, recognize, feel, taste
- Verbs of emotion: want, desire, refuse, forgive, wish, need, hate, love, like
- Verbs of mental processes: think (opinion), believe, understand, know, mean, suppose, remember, mind
- Verbs of possession: own, owe, belong
- Seem, appear (=seem), contain, consist

I believe he is telling the truth
I understand what you are saying

The Present Simple Tense

Uses:

1. Habits;

I get up at 7 o'clock every day.

2. Natural laws;

The sun rises in the morning. (permanent truths)

3. In time clauses (those introduced by conjunctions such as: when, as soon as, until, before, after, the moment that, now that, by the time that);

When she arrives, I will call him up.

4. Describing activities, planned beforehand (principally travel) in the future and according to a fixed timetable with the verbs of going and coming, such as: go, come, leave, arrive, get, return, embark, take off, sail, fly.

The 'Queen Mary' sails next Monday.

Special Notes

Common adverbs are associated with the Present Simple (always, often, sometimes, usually, generally, seldom, frequently, whenever); and adverbial phrases such as: every day (week, etc), once, twice, a week (month, etc).

She often sings in her bath.

He visits his relatives whenever he can.

They go to the movies twice a week.