# Grammar Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-question/452803>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 13, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-question/452803 "2008-06-13T13:57:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-question/452803/1 "2008-06-13T13:57:44Z")

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OK, my kids call me Captain Grammarica, but the truth is, I just correct them on the simple things like “lie down” -vs- “lay down.” (ok maybe a few other things too)

I was walking to my car after Screen on the Green last night (You Atlanta people know what I’m talking about) when my friend commented on how bright it was. I said (I think); “Yes it’s very well lighted here.” My wife and my friend thought it should be ‘lit’; whereas in my mind ‘lit’ is past tense, and I was talking about the condition of how bright it was at that time.

Educate me please.

E3

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-question/452803/2 "2008-06-13T14:04:15Z")

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Both “lighted” and “lit” are the past tense of “to light.” Either is acceptable in the phrase.

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**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-question/452803/3 "2008-06-13T15:00:18Z")

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[QUOTE=pulykamell]  
Either is acceptable in the phrase.  
[/QUOTE]

Concur. _To light_ is transitioning from irregular to regular. Enjoy it while you can.

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**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-question/452803/4 "2008-06-13T15:34:41Z")

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Thanks everybody!