DANIEL PRESTON

JULY 16, 2010

Lie v. Lay

Lie (present tense) means to rest or recline on a surface

Lie lay (past tense). I lay down yesterday. Lie lain (past participle) I have lain down

before Lie lying (present participle). I am lying

down right now.

Lay (present tense) means to put or place something on a surface

Lay laid (past tense). I laid down my keys and lost them.

Lay laid (past participle) I have laid down my keys on the table before

Lay laying (present participle). I am laying these papers on the table for you to sign.

When I get the urge to exercise, I lay down until it passes. When I get the urge to exercise, I lie down until it

passes.

A pile of dirty rags was laying at the bottom of the stairs. A pile of dirty rags was lying at the bottom of the

stairs.

Yesterday, I ___________ down for a nap. Lay (past tense of lie)

I have often ______ down on the couch after work. Lain

Yesterday, I __________ the book down on the table. Laid (past tense lay (set))

Some of the tricky parts of these two words: ‘Lied’ refers to a time when you didn’t tell the truth. ‘Lay’ has meaning for both words, and so context

becomes key. The proper usage of these words often sounds

strange, so the that rule of thumb may not apply.