The Difference Between Lay and Lie

The Difference Between Lay and Lie

 


LIE - to recline Present: lie Present participle: lying Past: lay Past participle: lain

LAY - to place something down Present: lay Present participle: laying Past: laid Past participle: laid

Here's the difference;
Lie is something you do to yourself. There is no object involved.
Lay is something you do to something or someone else. An object is involved.

 

LIE - to recline Present: I lie on the bed. Present participle: I am lying here. Past: Yesterday, I lay on the bed. Past participle: I had lain on the bed all morning.

LAY - to place something down (note the baby is the object) Present: I lay the baby on the bed. Present participle: I am laying the baby on the floor. Past: Yesterday, I laid the baby down. Past participle: I had laid the baby down.

  • I laid on the bed. << WRONG Yesterday,
  • I lay the baby down. << WRONG
  • I am laying here << WRONG (unless you are a chook!)

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