• Lie (to rest or recline) – Verb

• Lie (to tell an untruth) – Verb

Pronunciation

These words are homonyms, meaning they are spelled the same, sound the same, but have different meanings.

• Lie (Verb): Pronounced /laɪ/ (LYE) — To recline.

• Lie (Verb): Pronounced /laɪ/ (LYE) — To tell an untruth.

Listen to the audio. They sound the same.

What makes them different is your intonation, expression, and context, or the other words in the sentence.

Instruction

Read each sentence aloud and practice identifying the meaning of "lie" in context.
Can you tell which “lie” is being mentioned as you read each sentence?

Example Sentences

1. She likes to lie on the grass and watch the clouds.
   a. To rest or recline
   b. To tell an untruth

2. He told a lie to avoid getting into trouble.
   a. To rest or recline
   b. To tell an untruth

3. You can lie on the couch if you’re tired.
   a. To rest or recline
   b. To tell an untruth

4. The witness was caught in a lie during the trial.
   a. To rest or recline
   b. To tell an untruth

5. Please lie still while I take your photo.
   a. To rest or recline
   b. To tell an untruth

6. He knew it was wrong to lie about what happened.
   a. To rest or recline
   b. To tell an untruth

7. The book lay open on the table.
   a. To rest or recline
   b. To tell an untruth

8. She asked him not to lie to her again.
   a. To rest or recline
   b. To tell an untruth

9. I love to lie on the beach and soak up the sun.
   a. To rest or recline
   b. To tell an untruth

10. The child admitted to telling a lie after being questioned.
    a. To rest or recline
    b. To tell an untruth

Answers

1. a

2. b

3. a

4. b

5. a

6. b

7. a

8. b

9. a

10. b

Intonation

Instructions: Intonation is controlling the rise and fall of your voice. When we do this with words and phrases, we send the listener a specific message.

Lie (to rest or recline)

1. She likes to lie in the sun for hours. (Stress lie to emphasize relaxation.)

2. The cat will lie on the warm blanket by the window. (Highlight lie to show the action of resting.)

3. He decided to lie down after a long day of work. (Emphasize lie to focus on resting.)

Lie (to tell an untruth)

1. It’s wrong to lie to your friends. (Stress lie to show the moral issue.)

2. He told a bold-faced lie to cover up his mistake. (Highlight lie to focus on the falsehood.)

3. The student got caught in a lie during the test. (Emphasize lie to show the dishonesty.)

Expression

The following explains how stressing or emphasizing the bolded words alters the tone or focus of the sentence and offers some helpful tips. Practice stressing these words when speaking.

Lie (to rest or recline):

1. Lie down: Suggests relaxation or resting.

   • Tip: Highlight down to indicate the action.

   • Sentence: She decided to lie down after a tiring day.

2. Lie still: Focuses on remaining motionless.

   • Tip: Stress still to emphasize the need for no movement.

   • Sentence: The doctor asked the patient to lie still during the scan.

3. Lie in the sun: Describes enjoying sunshine.

   • Tip: Highlight sun to emphasize the setting.

   • Sentence: They love to lie in the sun on their beach vacations.

Lie (to tell an untruth):

1. Tell a lie: Highlights the act of deception.

   • Tip: Stress lie to focus on dishonesty.

   • Sentence: It’s hard to regain trust after you tell a lie.

2. Caught in a lie: Refers to being exposed for dishonesty.

   • Tip: Highlight caught to show the result of lying.

   • Sentence: The suspect was caught in a lie during questioning.

3. Bold-faced lie: Suggests an obvious and deliberate untruth.

   • Tip: Stress bold-faced to emphasize the severity of the falsehood.

   • Sentence: He told a bold-faced lie to avoid punishment.

Things to Remember:

The word "lie" is used in different contexts:

• Lie (to rest or recline): Often paired with phrases like "lie down," "lie still," or "lie in the sun."

  • Example: She decided to lie down after working all day.

• Lie (to tell an untruth): Commonly used with "tell a lie," "caught in a lie," or "bold-faced lie."

  • Example: He was caught in a lie about where he had been.