The verblaymeans ‘to put something down carefully in a flat position’. It must have an object. It is a regular verb, but note the spelling of the past simple and-edform:laidnotlayed:
Shall Ilaythe tray on the bed?
A wonderful wooden floor has beenlaidin the dining room.
Not: …floor has been layed…
Lieis a verb which means ‘to be in or put yourself into a flat position’. It is an irregular verb and it doesn’t take an object. The-ingform islyingand the past simple islay. The-edform,lain, is very formal and is rarely used:
I love tolieon a beach and read.
Shelayon the bed and gazed at the ceiling, daydreaming.
The dog waslyingby the gate waiting for me to come home.
Liecan also mean ‘say something which is not true’. In this case, it is a regularverb:
Iliedto my teacher about my homework.
base form | lay(put something down) | lie(be horizontal) | lie(say something that is not true) |
past simple | laid | lay | lied |
-edform | laid | lain | lied |
Typical errors
We don’t uselayto talk about being in a flat position.Laymust have an object:
My mother hates when the catlieson our beds.
Not: …when the cat lays on our beds…
The past form oflieislay:
Ilayon the grass and watched a plane fly overhead.
Not:I lied on the grass…