it stay open

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it stay open" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "it stays open." Example: "The store usually stays open late on weekends."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"How late does it stay open?" I inquired.

The New York Times

This time, we want to make it stay open".

The Guardian - Film

And after seeing how some housekeepers worked too late to have lunch in the staff dining room, he gave orders that it stay open longer.

The New York Times

The hospital is deeply in debt and losing money, and its hopes for survival were dashed when it was unable to find a stronger partner to help it stay open.

The New York Times

B.C.'s safe injection site has reduced over-doses, the spreading of disease and criminal activity and even though the Harper government tried to get the site closed earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled it stay open.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It stays open when we have art openings.

The New York Times

If he opens a window, it stays open.

The Guardian

Nobody came there except in July and August, but it stayed open year-round.

The New Yorker

(The latest it stays open now is 8 p.m. two days a week).

The New York Times - Books

"But my right eye was open, and it stayed open throughout the journey.

The Guardian

It stayed open all day and all night, and it was a popular meeting place.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to an object or place that remains accessible, use "it stays open" or consider using stronger verbs like "remains", "continues", or "persists" depending on the desired nuance.

Common error

Ensure that the verb agrees with the subject. "It" is a singular pronoun and requires a singular verb form. Therefore, avoid using "it stay open"; instead, use "it stays open".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it stay open" functions as a clause, where "it" is the subject and "stay open" acts as the predicate, describing a state or condition. However, this construction is grammatically incorrect, as highlighted by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it stay open" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "it stays open". Ludwig's analysis, drawing from various sources, indicates that the intended meaning is to describe something that remains accessible or in an open state. Although prevalent in News & Media, it's essential to correct the verb conjugation to align with standard English grammar. Alternatives like "it remains open" or "it continues to be open" offer grammatically sound options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it remains open

Uses "remains" instead of "stay" to offer a more formal alternative with a similar meaning.

it continues to be open

Rephrases using "continues to be" to emphasize ongoing state.

it is kept open

Changes the construction to passive voice.

it was kept open

Changes the tense to past and construction to passive voice.

it will remain open

Shifts to future tense, indicating a future state of being open.

it stayed open

Conjugates in the past simple tense.

it has stayed open

Conjugates in the present perfect tense.

it is still open

Emphasizes the current state of being open.

it must stay open

Adds a sense of necessity or obligation.

it must remain open

Expresses necessity with a formal tone.

FAQs

How do I properly conjugate the verb after the pronoun "it"?

The pronoun "it" requires a singular verb form. So, instead of saying "it stay", you should say "it stays".

What can I say instead of "it stay open"?

You can use alternatives like "it remains open", "it continues to be open", or "it is kept open" depending on the context.

Is "it stay open" grammatically correct?

No, "it stay open" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "it stays open", as the singular pronoun "it" requires the singular verb form "stays".

What's the difference between "it stays open" and "it remained open"?

"it stays open" implies a present and ongoing state, while "it remained open" refers to a past state that continued for some time. The choice depends on whether you're describing a current or past situation.