233. Darwin was not the first to advance a theory of evolution; his tremendous originality lay in the fact that he proposed the idea of natural selection as the means by which evolution worked.
(A) lay in the fact that he proposed the idea
(B) lay in the fact of his proposing the idea
(C) laid in the fact of his proposing the idea
(D) laid in his proposal
(E) lay in his proposal
Solution:
Tense + Meaning
Meaning is important to get this one right. The originality did not lay in proposing the idea but in the proposal itself. Thus, A, B, and C can be eliminated.
Laid- the past tense of verb to lay (after the clothes are dry, lay it flat to iron it)
Lay- the past tense of the verb to lie (the courage lies in brain and not the brawn)
Obviously, lay is the correct usage.
Hence, E is the best choice.
Sentence Correction - 1000 Questions with Solution:
(A) lay in the fact that he proposed the idea
(B) lay in the fact of his proposing the idea
(C) laid in the fact of his proposing the idea
(D) laid in his proposal
(E) lay in his proposal
Solution:
Tense + Meaning
Meaning is important to get this one right. The originality did not lay in proposing the idea but in the proposal itself. Thus, A, B, and C can be eliminated.
Laid- the past tense of verb to lay (after the clothes are dry, lay it flat to iron it)
Lay- the past tense of the verb to lie (the courage lies in brain and not the brawn)
Obviously, lay is the correct usage.
Hence, E is the best choice.
Sentence Correction - 1000 Questions with Solution: