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Guerrilla Tactics for the GRE™*:

Secrets and Strategies the Test Writers

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GRE Preparation

Guerrilla Tactics for the GRE

Sample 1: Table of Contents
Sample 2: Vocabulary Tips for the GRE
Sample 3: Rates and Distances
Sample 4: Lie vs. Lay

Math Word Problems for the GRE

Sample 1: Table of Contents
Sample 2: Interest on Financial Products
Sample 3: Sample Problems with Statistics
Sample 4: Problems with All Variables

Guerrilla Review for the GRE

Table of Contents
Sample Section: Verbal 9
Sample Section: Answer Key for Verbal 9

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Sample Excerpt: Lie vs. Lay

No GRE would be complete without a question on the proper use (and conjugation) of the verbs lie and lay.

The verb lay means to place, while the verb lie means to rest. They are conjugated as follows:

Examples of Proper Usage:

Before she goes to bed, Grace lays her book on the nightstand.
Every night, Grace mediates while she lies on her brass bed.

When she returned from the store, Ellen laid her bag on the table.
When she returned from work, Ellen lay on the bed for a quick nap.

Joe spent 30 years laying bricks for a living.
Joe spent 30 minutes lying in a hot tub.

On the GRE, the test writers capitalize on the confusion that surrounds these two words - and by the tendency for students to be distracted by answer choices that sound eerily similar. Here are two typical examples:

Example 1. If Grace would have lain her purse on the table, it might not have been stolen in the robbery.

(A) would have lain
(B) would have laid
(C) had laid
(D) had lain
(E) had lay

Solution: First, we must decide which verb is correct, lie or lay. In this sentence, Grace is placing an item somewhere, which means the correct verb is lay. Next, we must select the correct tense and conjugation. The correct revision is choice C:

If Grace had laid her pursue on the table, it might not have been stolen in the robbery.

Example 2. Because Gina had laid in bed for several months after her accident, she developed atrophy in her leg muscles.

(A) had laid
(B) lies
(C) is laying
(D) has lay
(E) had lain

Solution: First, we must decide which verb is correct, lie or lay. In this sentence, Gina is resting in bed, which means the correct verb is lie. Next, we must select the answer choice that matches the verb tense in the second half of the sentence. Answer choice E is correct:

Because Gina had lain in bed for several months after her accident, she developed atrophy in her leg muscles.

Appendix 6 offers a detailed list of the most commonly confused verbs on the GRE, including lie/lay, leave/let, raise/rise and sit/set. If possible, try to review the list before the test.

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