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Lie/Lay
These are the principle parts of the verbs sit and set. Notice :
 | Lie Changes to form the past tense |
| Infinitive |
Present Participle |
Past |
Past Participle |
| lie (to rest in a reclining position) |
lying |
lay |
(have) lain |
| Lay remains the same in the past and past participle. |
| Infinitive |
Present Participle |
Past |
Past Participle |
| lay (to place/to put) |
laying |
laid |
(have) laid |
You will not have trouble
deciding which whether to use a form of lie or a form of lay if you remember the
following.
| Lie means "to rest in
a reclining position" or "just to be in a place. Like sit it seldom has an
object. |
Lie down for 10 minutes. (No direct object)
The cat is lying on the
window sill. (No direct
object)
Mary lay in bed until 9:00
A.M. yesterday. (No direct
object)
She has lain in bed until
9:00 A.M. every day this week. (No
direct object)
| Lay (present tense) means
"to put or place something." Like set it usually has an object. |
- Lay the money on the counter. (What are you placing on the counter? Money is the object of the verb lie.)
- Helen is laying her books on my desk. ( What is
Helen placing on my desk? Books is the object of the verb is laying.)
- John laid his backpack on his bedroom floor this morning. (What did John place on his bedroom floor? Backpack is the object of the past tense verb laid.)
- They have laid their notebooks in the wrong place. (What have they placed in the wrong place?
Notebooks is the object of the verb have laid.)
Right click on the following link and select "open in a new window." This will allow you to practice using
the principle parts of lie and lay correctly and still leave this window open so you can
refer back if needed.
Practice quiz
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