a person is put on their stomach

[alpacinou]

Can the verb lie get a subject and an object?

The police lied him on his stomach by force and put handcuffs on him.

If not, what verb can I use in the above sentence?

 

[5jj]

No. You need the transitive verb lay-laid-laid.

Incidentally, the verb meaning be in a lying position is lie-lay-lain. The verb meaning tell an untruth is lie-lied-lied.

 

[alpacinou]

No. You need the transitive verb lay-laid-laid.

Incidentally, the verb meaning be in a lying position is lie-lay-lain. The verb meaning tell an untruth is lie-lied-lied.

Is this okay?

The policeman laid him on his stomach by force and put handcuffs on him.

 

[5jj]

No. We don't lay people by force, which I should have said in my earlier post. I would say The policeman forced him face down to the ground and handcuffed him.

 

[alpacinou]

No. We don't lay people by force, which I should have said in my earlier post. I would say The policeman forced him face down to the ground and handcuffed him.

I want to put emphasis on the fact that he was lying on his stomach.

Can I say this?

The policeman forced Jack on his stomach.

 

[GoesStation]

I want to put emphasis on the fact that he was lying on his stomach.

Can I say this?

The policeman forced Jack on his stomach.

No. 5jj's post already says face down. You don't need to mention his stomach.

 

[alpacinou]

No. 5jj's post already says face down. You don't need to mention his stomach.

Yes. I wanted to see if there were other ways. Okay, let's say the suspect was on a table. Would this work?

The policeman forced him face down on the table and handcuffed him.

I know the situation is unusual but I want to see if it works. I mean his stomach was on the table.

 

[GoesStation]

The policeman forced him face down onto the table and handcuffed him.

I know the situation is unusual but I want to see if it works. I mean his stomach was on the table.

It works fine with my correction.