Question

Fill in the blank with the most suitable word from the options given below:-
The nurse asked the patient to _______ down and take some rest for speedy recovery.

• A. lain
• B. lie
• C. lay
• D. laid

Hint:

Quick check:
Is there a direct object?
- No object $\rightarrow$ use lie (“lie down”).
- Has object $\rightarrow$ use lay (“lay the book down”).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept:
One of the most frequently tested areas in English grammar is the distinction between the intransitive verb lie (to assume a horizontal resting position) and the transitive verb lay (to place or put something down). An intransitive verb does not take a direct object, whereas a transitive verb requires an explicit direct object. Following an infinitive marker (“to”), standard grammar demands the base (uninflected) form of the appropriate verb.

Step 1: Verb Conjugation and Transitivity Rules:
- Lie (Intransitive - to recline/rest):
$\text{Base form: } \textit{lie} \quad \mid \quad \text{Past: } \textit{lay} \quad \mid \quad \text{Past Participle: } \textit{lain} \quad \mid \quad \text{Present Participle: } \textit{lying}$
- Lay (Transitive - to place something down):
$\text{Base form: } \textit{lay} \quad \mid \quad \text{Past: } \textit{laid} \quad \mid \quad \text{Past Participle: } \textit{laid} \quad \mid \quad \text{Present Participle: } \textit{laying}$

Step 2: Sentence Analysis and Selection:
- In the sentence, the patient is performing the action of reclining their own body; there is no direct object being placed down.
- The structure “asked the patient to [blank] down” requires the bare infinitive of the intransitive verb after “to”.
- Thus, the base form lie must be used: “to lie down”.
- Options “lain” and “laid” are participles and cannot follow “to” here, while “lay” in the present infinitive would incorrectly denote placing an object down.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct word to fill in the blank is “lie”, corresponding to Option (B).