that might lay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that might lay" is not correct in standard English; it should be "that might lie." You can use it when discussing a possibility or hypothetical situation regarding something being in a certain position or state.
Example: "The documents that might lie in the archives are crucial for our research."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

This primal crudity was necessary to purge through in order to get to the real creative gold that might lay beneath.

The Guardian

THOUSANDS of high-school students in New Jersey walked out of class yesterday to protest looming school budget cuts that might lay off teachers, increase class sizes, and axe music, art, sports, and extracurricular programmes.

The Economist

Recently, he suggested that autumn leaves turn brilliant colors not simply as a result of their loss of green chlorophyll, as is commonly believed, but as a way to warn off insect pests that might lay eggs on the tree, red and orange being common warning colors in nature.

The New York Times

The x2 on the other hand is more rugged, featuring knobby wheels and an elevated chassis for clearing obstacles that might lay in your path.

TechCrunch

The actual infinite division of all matter is, of course, sufficient to rule out any standard picture of material atomism since any body that might lay claim to being an indivisible atom would itself be actually subdivided into smaller sub-bodies.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It was such an overly cute affectation that it disguised any depth that might lie behind their penmanship.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, the incipient glow that might lie in such work has been snuffed out by the gallery installation.

The New York Times - Arts

Expose him to life on other levels, and he might not sustain his irrepressible brilliance through the next two years, let alone the 10 that might lie ahead of him.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's like looking at a bunch of Christmas gifts that are wrapped," Mr. Domenech said, speaking of the riches that might lie under the ocean bottom.

The New York Times

Against a backdrop of weaker global growth, the chancellor said a surplus was necessary to ensure that Britain was ready for any storms that might lie ahead.

The Guardian

And I know that I'll lose at least an hour looking at photographs of all the other bugs that might lie hidden in the herbage.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "lie" when referring to something being in a certain position or state. "Lay" is a transitive verb that requires a direct object (e.g., "lay the book down"), while "lie" is intransitive (e.g., "the book lies on the table").

Common error

Avoid using "lay" when you mean "lie". Remember that "lay" needs an object, and "lie" does not. For example, don't say "the treasure that might lay buried"; instead, say "the treasure that might lie buried".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that might lay" functions as a relative clause, attempting to modify a noun by expressing a potential state or location. However, due to the incorrect use of "lay" instead of "lie", the phrase violates standard English grammar. As Ludwig AI explains, the correct form is "that might lie".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "that might lay" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "that might lie". This relative clause aims to express a potential state or location but fails due to the misuse of the verbs "lay" and "lie". As Ludwig AI confirms, using "lie" is essential for grammatical accuracy when referring to something being in a certain position or state. While the phrase appears in various sources, including news and science, its incorrect usage lowers its overall quality and appropriateness for formal contexts. Remember to use "that might lie" for proper grammar and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that could lie

Replaces "might" with "could" for a similar level of possibility, while using the correct verb form "lie".

that may lie

Substitutes "might" with "may", indicating a possibility with the correct verb form "lie".

that potentially lies

Rephrases using "potentially lies" to emphasize the possibility while maintaining grammatical accuracy.

that may be located

Replaces "lie" with "be located" to describe a potential position or existence.

that might be found

Uses "might be found" to indicate the possibility of discovery in a particular place.

that could be situated

Employs "could be situated" to express where something might be positioned.

that may exist

Replaces the concept of location with a more general expression of potential existence.

that might be present

Indicates a possibility of something being there, using "might be present".

that could be concealed

Suggests that something is hidden or not immediately visible, using "could be concealed".

that may be hidden

Rephrases to suggest something is possibly hidden, replacing "lie" with "be hidden".

FAQs

How do I properly use "lie" vs "lay" in a sentence?

"Lie" is an intransitive verb meaning to recline or be situated. "Lay" is a transitive verb meaning to place something down. For example, "I lie down to rest" versus "I lay the book on the table."

What is the correct way to say something might be situated in a certain place?

The correct phrasing is to say something "might lie" in a certain place. For example, "The answer might lie in the data" is correct, while "The answer might lay in the data" is incorrect.

What can I say instead of "that might lay"?

You can use alternatives like "that could lie", "that may lie", or "that potentially lies" depending on the context.

Is "that might lay" grammatically correct?

No, "that might lay" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "that might lie". The verb "lie" is used to indicate position or state of being, while "lay" requires a direct object.