There are many posts about lays/lies on the internet, but half of them contradict the others. It's an important letter - which is the proper form?
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5"Where my heart lays" is correct if your heart is a chicken.– Jim MackCommented Oct 21, 2015 at 0:33
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@JimMack - Of course you are right. However there are more meaningful phrases possible, e.g. "Where my heart lays its burden..." See my answer for some real-life examples.– chasly - supports MonicaCommented Oct 21, 2015 at 1:42
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1 Answer
This is easily answered by consulting a dictionary. The verb 'to lie' is intransitive. The verb 'to lay' is transitive. Therefore if you want to use the word 'lay' you must give it a direct object.
Examples
Hens lay eggs.
Please lay the table.
Now I lay me down to sleep.
A heart cannot lay anything. Therefore the answer is 'lie'.
Definition
lie verb
1. ..
2. be, remain, or be kept in a specified state.
Answer
Where my heart is = Where my heart remains = Where my heart lies.
P.S.
I lied when I said a heart can't lay anything. Here are some examples:
And my heart lays claim to a mighty share Of desire and despair
Lyrics of the Middle Ages: An Anthology By James J. Wilhelm
My conscience is yelling a different kind of dream crystallizes and my heart lays a pure pledge
Pangarap at hinagpis. Aida F. Santos
My heart lays down its load.
Literary genres in Tamil: A. Ve Cuppiramaṇiyan̲, Shu Hikosaka, G. John Samuel
Of course, that fits in with my statement that 'to lay' is transitive.
answered Oct 21, 2015 at 0:40
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Now only to look up the word "didactic". Thank you very much chasly from the UK!– anonCommented Oct 21, 2015 at 0:56
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@anon - I've added to my answer. I should have asked you in the first place for a complete sentence. You could say, for example, "Where my heart lays its burden" and I just assumed that was not what you intended. Slapped wrist for me. Commented Oct 21, 2015 at 1:38