Lay vs. Lie: The Grammar Headache Everyone Shares

The Core Rule

• Lay = to put or place something (needs an object)
• Lie = to recline or be in a position (no object needed)

Lay: Requires an Object

When you “lay” something, you’re placing it somewhere:

• “Lay the book on the table.” ✓
• “She lays her keys by the door.” ✓
• “The hen lays eggs.” ✓

Ask: “Lay what?” If there’s an answer, you’ve got it right.

Lie: No Object Needed

When you “lie” down, you’re the one reclining:

• “I need to lie down.” ✓
• “The dog lies in the sun.” ✓
• “The town lies in a valley.” ✓

There’s nothing being placed—just someone or something in a position.

Where It Gets Messy: Past Tense

Here’s why everyone struggles—the past tense of “lie” is “lay”:

Verb	Present	Past	Past Participle
Lay (place)	lay	laid	laid
Lie (recline)	lie	lay	lain

So “lay” is both present tense of one verb AND past tense of the other.

Past Tense Examples

Lay → Laid:

• “Yesterday I laid the tiles.” ✓
• “She laid her cards on the table.” ✓

Lie → Lay:

• “Yesterday I lay in bed until noon.” ✓
• “The cat lay there for hours.” ✓

The Trick That Helps

Substitute “put” or “place”:

• If it works → use a form of lay
• If it doesn’t → use a form of lie

“I need to _____ down.” → “I need to put down.” ✗ (doesn’t work) → Use lie

”_____ the book here.” → “Put the book here.” ✓ (works) → Use lay

Common Mistakes

Wrong: “I’m going to lay down.” Right: “I’m going to lie down.”

Wrong: “She was laying on the couch.” Right: “She was lying on the couch.”

Wrong: “He laid there all afternoon.” (if reclining) Right: “He lay there all afternoon.”

The Full Conjugation

Lay (to place):

• Present: lay / lays
• Past: laid
• Present participle: laying
• Past participle: laid

Lie (to recline):

• Present: lie / lies
• Past: lay
• Present participle: lying
• Past participle: lain

Remember

• Lay = place something (lay it down)
• Lie = recline yourself (lie down)
• Past of “lie” = “lay” (the source of all confusion)