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Lay vs. Lie: Grammar Guide

The document discusses the differences between the verbs "to lay" and "to lie". To lay means to place something down, such as laying a table. The past tense is laid and the past participle is also laid. To lie means to be in a horizontal position or to tell an untruth. The past tense of lie is lay, and the past participle is lain. The document provides examples of how to use each verb and its tenses correctly.

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492 views3 pages

Lay vs. Lie: Grammar Guide

The document discusses the differences between the verbs "to lay" and "to lie". To lay means to place something down, such as laying a table. The past tense is laid and the past participle is also laid. To lie means to be in a horizontal position or to tell an untruth. The past tense of lie is lay, and the past participle is lain. The document provides examples of how to use each verb and its tenses correctly.

Uploaded by

ClaudiaCG
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Lay and Laid

To lay means to put place something in a position, especially a horizontal position.


Examples:
The maids lay the table for dinner at 7 o'clock.
Sudan urges rebels to lay down arms.
Put your hands up, and lie down your weapons.

(should be lay down)

In April, our white spotted bamboo shark began to lay eggs.


The past tense is laid:
Examples:
Annabelle laid the puppy in the basket.
They laid the body on the bank and notified the coroner.
The past participle is also laid:
Examples:
According to the pamphlet, we should have laid old sheets on the floor to prevent paint splashes
landing on the decking.
A teenager killed by a shark in northern New South Wales has been laid to rest.
Lie, Lied, Lay and Lain
The verb to lie has two unrelated meanings:
To say something which is untrue in order to deceive.
Did you lie about your age to join the Army?
Your eyes betray you when you lie.
My reflexologist says I am lying about my health. He says that my feet, however, do not lie.
(present participle = lying)
The past tense is lied:
Malcolm lied his way past the doormen.
Billy lied so often about his boxing achievements, he forgot the truth.

The past participle is also lied:


Malcolm had lied his way past the doormen.
To be in, or move into, a horizontal position.
I think I'll lie down for 20 minutes after lunch.
Lie on your back and look at the stars.
Clutching his betting slip, Mr Reynolds screamed, "Get up! Don't just lie there."However, Paul
was just lying on his back with one eye on the referee while the count went ahead.
(present participle = lying)
My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income.
to lie can simply mean to be.)
The past tense is lay:
An alibi? I just lay on the sofa all night, watching The Simpsons.
The snow lay on the field all week.
The past participle is lain:
Mark had lain at the foot of the knoll for hours.
How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home?

(As in this example,

She lays it down, laid it down, has laid it down, is laying it down.
(The verb to lay takes an object; to lie doesn't.)
She lies down, lay down, has lain down, is lying down
LIE

first person

third person

present I lie in bed

she lies in bed

past I lay in bed

she lay in bed

I have lain in
bed

she has lain in


bed

participle I am lying in
form bed

she is lying in
bed

perfect form

LAY

first person

present I lay it down


past I laid it down
perfect form

I have laid it
down

participle I am laying it
form down

third person
she lays it down
she laid it down
she has laid it
down
she is laying it
down

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/notorious/lay.htm

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