A toy was lying

[99bottles]

A toy was lying/was placed on the table.

Are both options correct/natural?

 

[5jj]

I don't really understand what you are getting at by your question/s.

A toy was lying on the table.
A toy was placed on the table.

Both these sentences are grammatically correct. They have different meanings. How natural they are depends on the contexts in which they are uttered.

 

[99bottles]

I don't really understand what you are getting at by your question/s.

A toy was lying on the table.
A toy was placed on the table.

Both these sentences are grammatically correct. They have different meanings. How natural they are depends on the contexts in which they are uttered.

Does 'was placed' mean that someone had already placed it there?

 

[jutfrank]

Yes. Or at least it gave the impression that someone had placed it there.

 

[5jj]

Without more context, it could also mean Somebody placed a toy on the table.

 

[99bottles]

Without more context, it could also mean Somebody placed a toy on the table.

So, does the context make it clear which of the two meanings it has?

 

[Tarheel]

It would if there was any context. (There isn't.)

Why is it necessary to say somebody put the toy on the table?

 

[99bottles]

It would if there was any context. (There isn't.)

Let's say I describe a room and say, 'A toy was placed on the table.'

 

[Tarheel]

That doesn't give me any additional context. Besides, if I needed to say there was a toy on the table I would say exactly that.

 

[emsr2d2]

If you're simply describing a room (or its contents), you need only "There's/There was a toy on the table".

 

[99bottles]

If you're simply describing a room (or its contents), you need only "There's/There was a toy on the table".

Ok, but that sounds a little bland. How about, 'A teddy bear was neatly placed on the table'?

 

[5jj]

Ok, but that sounds a little bland.

Do you want to make a big thing of the toy being on the table?

 

[emsr2d2]

Ok, but that sounds a little bland. How about, 'A teddy bear was neatly placed on the table'?

The problem with "was placed" is that it can suggest that someone was doing the placing at the time of looking. To make it clear that the teddy bear was already there, use "had been placed". I don't like the use of "neatly" for just one item. How would you put a teddy bear on a table messily?!

 

[99bottles]

The problem with "was placed" is that it can suggest that someone was doing the placing at the time of looking. To make it clear that the teddy bear was already there, use "had been placed". I don't like the use of "neatly" for just one item. How would you put a teddy bear on a table messily?!

Interesting. May I ask something similar about another sentence?

He was sitting on the pier. His basket was placed next to him.

Should I reword this too?

 

[Tarheel]

Interesting. May I ask something similar about another sentence?

He was sitting on the pier. His basket was [STRIKE]placed[/STRIKE] next to him.

Should I reword this too?

Only delete "placed" in that sentence.

What was in the basket? Lunch?

 

[99bottles]

What was in the basket? Lunch?

Does it matter?

 

[emsr2d2]

Does it matter?

Not at all.

There is no need for "placed" there. Generally, we use "place" as an active verb. It's not impossible to use it as a description of position but in the examples so far, it's not natural.

He was sitting on the pier with his/a picnic basket next to him.

 

[Tarheel]

Does it matter?

No, not at all.

 

[Tarheel]

Ron: What are you doing?
Rob: Fishing.
Ron: What's in the basket?
Rob: Nothing.
Ron: Nothing? Why don't you have anything in the basket?
Rob: It's for the fish.
Ron: It's for the fish?
Rob: That's right. Any fish I catch will be going in the basket.
Ron: OK. Good luck!
Rob: Oh! Oh! Oh! I got a bite!
Ron: All right!

 

[99bottles]

Ron: What are you doing?
Rob: Fishing.
Ron: What's in the basket?
Rob: Nothing.
Ron: Nothing? Why don't you have anything in the basket?
Rob: It's for the fish.
Ron: It's for the fish?
Rob: That's right. Any fish I catch will be going in the basket.
Ron: OK. Good luck!
Rob: Oh! Oh! Oh! I got a bite!
Ron: All right!

Poor fish.