Differences between LAY and LIE :
LAY is a regular verb - except for its spelling.
Its forms are to lay, laying, laid & laid.
LAY - (verb) : (Transitive verb + object + adverb / preposition
It means - to put, especially, carefully - in a flat position
It means – to place
1. They laid the injured woman down on the grass.
2. Lay the tent down on the grass and I'll see how to put it up.
It means - to lay a table = to put plates or knives on the table)
It means - to lay an egg (a birds's way of having a baby)
1. She laid the table.
2. She covered it with a cloth, knives and fork ready for a meal.
LIE is an irregular verb.
Its forms are to lie, lying, lay & lain.
It means - to be down & to be flat.
It has no object.
1. Don't lie in bed all day.
2. I threw myself on the bed and lay there all day.
LIE - (verb) : lay - lain
Present participle - lying
It means - to be or remain in a flat position on surface.
1. Don't move. Lie still
2. The final decision lies with the minister.
LIE - (verb) lied - to make an untrue statement in order deceive
Present participle lying
1. He lied himself out of trouble.
Differences between LAY and LIE
Differences between LAY and LIE To HOME PAGE
The Grammar Index