Lay and Lie

There is often confusion over the verbs to lay and to lie. The confusion arises because to lay [to place something in a horizontal position] and to lie [to be in a horizontal position] have similar meanings. The confusion is not helped by the past tense of to lie (when it means to be in a horizontal position) being lay.

Here are the most common terms with to lie and to lay:

• To lay something flat (e.g., a table cloth)
• To lie flat (i.e., to be in a lying position)
(Remember, "He lay flat" is correct for the past tense.)
• To lie low (to keep a low profile)
("He lay low" is correct for the past tense.)
• To lie down (to get into a lying position)
("He lay down" is correct for the past tense.)
• To lie ahead (to be in the future or farther down the road)
("It lay ahead" is correct for the past tense.)

To Lay (Past Tense: Laid)

To lay means to place something in a position, especially a horizontal position. For example:

• The maids lay the table for dinner at 7 o'clock.
• The policeman urged the boys to lay down their weapons.
• Put your hands up, and lie down your weapons.
(This should be lay down.)
• We are expecting our white spotted bamboo shark to lay eggs in April.

The past tense of lay is laid. For example:

• Annabelle laid the puppy in the basket.
• They laid the body on the bank and notified the coroner.

The past participle is also laid. For example:

• According to the pamphlet, we should have laid old sheets on the floor to prevent paint splashes landing on the decking.
• A teenager killed by a shark in northern New South Wales has been laid to rest.

To Lie (Past Tense: Lied)

The verb to lie (with the past tense lied) means to say something untrue in order to deceive.

Examples:

• Did you lie about your age to join the Army?
• Your eyes betray you when you lie.
• My reflexologist says I am lying about my health. He says that my feet, however, do not lie.
(The present participle of to lie is lying)

Remember, the past tense of to lie in this meaning is lied. For example:

• Malcolm lied his way past the doormen.
• Billy lied so often about his boxing achievements, he forgot the truth.

The past participle of to lie is also lied:

• Malcolm had lied his way past the doormen.

To Lie (Past Tense: Lay)

The verb to lie (with the past tense lay) means to be in, or move into, a horizontal position.

Examples:

• I think I'll lie down for 20 minutes after lunch.
• Lie on your back and look at the stars.
• Clutching his betting slip, Mr Reynolds screamed, "Get up! Don't just lie there." However, Paul was just lying on his back with one eye on the referee while the count went ahead.
(The present participle of to to lie is lying.)
• My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income.
(As in this example, to lie can simply mean to be.)

Remember, the past tense of to lie in this meaning is lay. For example:

• An alibi? I just lay on the sofa all night, watching The Simpsons.
• The snow lay on the field all week.

The past participle of to lie in this meaning is lain. For example:

• Mark had lain at the foot of the knoll for hours.
• How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home?