Teach me grammar

[g6civcx]

I am not a native English speaker. Therefore I don't fully understand American grammar.

Does anybody want to teach me something about grammar? Anything?

I keep seeing things that don't really make sense to me, and since I never had proper grammar classes, I really want to know.

Like this one for example:

Originally Posted by http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/10/georgia.russia/index.html

Tskhinvali, the capital of the separatist Georgian province of South Ossetia, lay in smoldering ruins Sunday after three days of fighting between Georgian troops and Russian forces.

Is that the correct form to use? What's the difference between "lay" and "lie"?

I know most of you = , but I'm really confused