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Use of Verbs 'lay' and 'lie'

Some Tips to Note

Lay means 'put down flat/carefully'.

Lie means 'to be down or become horizontal'.

Lay is a transitive verb. So it always needs an object.

But lie is an intransitive verb which has no object. Therefore, lie is never used in its passive form. Whenever there is an object, use the appropriate form of lay.

The verb lie (meaning 'to say things that are not true') adds to the confusion.

Additionally, there is a tendency to use lay in cases where Standard English has lie.

 Eg: I am going to lay down for a while (standard English is lie down).

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1. Tom has laidwas lyingwas layingI don't know tiles on the floor when his friend visited him yesterday.

2. Please lie downlainlays downI don't know on the floor for a while.

3. Let the sleeping children lielayslainI don't know without being disturbed.

4. I lain downlays downlie downI don't know for a short while before lunch every day.

5. The hen never layinglaysliesI don't know more than one egg in a day.

6. The invoice for payment has laidhas been laidhas lainI don't know on the director's table for more than a week as of today.

7. Tom had laidlay downhas liedI don't know for a nap a few minutes ago.

8. Peter lieslayslyingI don't know carpet for a living.

9. Tom was layinghas lainhas laidI don't know down his keys when someone took them.

10. Peter laylieslaysI don't know in the sun for an hour yesterday evening.

11. Please lainlielayI don't know the child on the sofa for a while.

12. He laidlainliesI don't know the child in its crib.