ENGLISH GRAMMAR
LAY vs LIE
The difference between the verbs 'lay' and 'lie'.
The verbs 'lay' and
the two forms of 'lie' are often misunderstood or misused by learners of English
(as well as some native speakers) who regularly confuse them.
LAY means to place something or to put someone or something down.
LAY means to place something or to put someone or something down.
'Lay' is followed by a direct object.
"She is laying food on the table."
1) LIE (lied – lied) is a regular verb meaning to say something that is not true.
"The actress lied about her age."
2) LIE (lay – lain) is an irregular verb meaning to rest, recline or be in a flat position.
"The dog lay in the sun all day yesterday."
| LAY vs LIE | ||||
| VERBS | Present Simple | Past Simple | Past Participle | Present Participle |
| LAY | lay | laid | laid | laying |
| LIE (say something untrue) |
lie | lied | lied | lying |
| LIE (rest, recline) |
lie | lay | lain | lying | EXAMPLES: |
| LAY (place, put) | Subject | Verb | Direct Object | extra information |
| Present Simple | Dad | lays | bricks. | He's a bricklayer. |
| Past Simple | Emily | laid | her essay | on the teacher's desk. |
| Present Perfect | Tom | has laid | his glasses | beside his book. |
| Present Continuous | The nurse | is laying | a blanket | over the patient. |
| LIE (say sthg untrue) | Subject | Verb | --- | extra information |
| Present Simple | People | lie | --- | occasionally. |
| Past Simple | Sarah | lied | --- | about why she was late. |
| Present Perfect | The boy | has lied | --- | time and time again. |
| Present Continuous | The actress | is lying | --- | about her age. |
| LIE (rest, recline) | Subject | Verb | --- | extra information |
| Present Simple | The cat | lies | --- | beside the fire regularly. |
| Past Simple | Johnny | lay | --- | on the sofa all day yesterday. |
| Present Perfect | The dog | has lain | --- | in the sun all morning. |
| Present Continuous | The baby | is lying | --- | in his cot. |