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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 was layingwas lyinghas laidI don't know tiles on the floor when his friend visited him yesterday.

2. Please lays downlie downlainI don't know on the floor for a while.

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

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

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

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

7. Tom lay downhas liedhad laidI don't know for a nap a few minutes ago.

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

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

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

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

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