Lay vs Lie

IMPORTANT NOTE: To help not confuse you, this lesson does NOT include the verbs “to lie” (= to not tell the truth,) and “to lay eggs” (= chicken produces eggs)

 

Question: Do you lay down or lie down for a nap?

 

Lay

= to place or put something or someone somewhere

(Lay is a transitive verb = It requires a direct subject and one or more objects)

present tense of lay = lay

past tense of lay = laid

perfect tense  (=used with has, have, or had) of lay = have laid

Ex: I lay (place) a book on the table. (present tense)

Ex: You lay (place) a baby in the bed. (present tense)

Ex: Yesterday, you laid the baby in the bed (past tense)

Ex: He has laid my fears to rest (past perfect tense)

*Sometimes we use the phrase “get laid” to refer to have had sex.

Lie

= to recline, rest, or remain

(lie is a intransitive verb = doesn’t need an object)

present tense of lie = lie

past tense of lie = lay

perfect tense of lie = have lain

Ex: You lie (remain) in bed. (present tense)

Ex: The Andes mountains lie (rest) between Chile and Argentina. (present tense)

Ex: You lie (recline) down for a nap. (present tense)

Ex: Yesterday, you lay down for a nap (past tense)

Ex: The report has lain on his desk all week. (past perfect tense)

Popular phrase:  Let sleeping dogs lie.  It means to leave something alone if it causes trouble.

Tips to remember the difference:

LAY has a long A sound, like PLACE has a long A sound.

    LIE has a long I sound , like RECLINE has a long I sound

 

Eric Clapton has a famous song called “Lay Down Sally”

The song’s title is grammatically incorrect.

Quiz

1. The dog is (a–laying, b– lying) on the couch.

2. Why don’t you (a–lie, b– lay) down for a nap?

3. The wounded man (a–laid, b–lay) in the street.

4. She has (a–lain, b–laid) asleep all morning.

5. The items have (a–laid, b–lain) on the shelf all month.

6. Did you (a–lay, b–lie) on the beach last weekend?

Answers: (1.= b) (2. = a ) (3. = b) (4. = a) (5. = b)  (6. = b)

BACK to Grammar Tips

Open modal