Grammar Puzzles Solved (13): What is your opinion on native speakers of English who say things like, it would of been ok, instead of, it would have been ok, and I was laying on the beach, instead of, I was lying on the beach? by ndxx5 · Published April 4, 2025 · Updated May 25, 2025 These kinds of mistakes are quite common among native speakers, particularly in informal speech and writing. They usually happen because of phonetic similarity and a lack of conscious attention to grammatical structures. “Would of” instead of “would have” This mistake occurs because would have is often contracted to would’ve in speech, which sounds very similar to would of. Many people write it the way they hear it, even though would of is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is always would have, as have functions as an auxiliary verb in perfect constructions. “Laying” instead of “lying” This mistake happens because lay and lie are frequently confused. Lie (intransitive) means “to recline,” while lay (transitive) means “to put something down.” Since lay is also the past tense of lie, many speakers mistakenly say I was laying on the beach instead of I was lying on the beach. Correct usage: I was lying on the beach. ✅ (Past continuous of lie) I was laying my towel on the beach. ✅ (Past continuous of lay, which needs an object) My Opinion These errors are natural in spoken English and casual writing, but they should be avoided in formal writing or professional communication. Even highly educated native speakers make these mistakes in speech, often without realizing it. However, in contexts where precision matters, using the correct forms enhances credibility and clarity.
0 Grammar Puzzle Solved- Welcome Note May 25, 2025 by ndxx5 · Published May 25, 2025 · Last modified May 28, 2025
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