Important note: this lesson does not include to lie = to not tell the truth, or to lay eggs.
Question: Do you lay down or lie down for a nap?
Lay = to place or put something or someone somewhere
(transitive = needs an object)
present: lay
past: laid
perfect (has/have/had): have laid
Ex: I lay a book on the table. (present)
Ex: You lay a baby in the bed. (present)
Ex: Yesterday, you laid the baby in the bed. (past)
Ex: He has laid my fears to rest. (perfect)
Sometimes people use get laid to mean have sex.
Lie = to recline, rest, or remain
(intransitive = no object)
present: lie
past: lay
perfect: have lain
Ex: You lie in bed. (present)
Ex: The Andes mountains lie between Chile and Argentina. (present)
Ex: You lie down for a nap. (present)
Ex: Yesterday, you lay down for a nap. (past)
Ex: The report has lain on his desk all week. (perfect)
Popular phrase: Let sleeping dogs lie. = leave something alone if it causes trouble.
Tips
LAY has a long A sound, like PLACE.
LIE has a long I sound, like RECLINE.
Eric Clapton's song Lay Down Sally is grammatically incorrect.
Quiz
1. The dog is (a) laying (b) lying on the couch.
2. Why don't you (a) lie (b) lay down for a nap?
3. The wounded man (a) laid (b) lay in the street.
4. She has (a) lain (b) laid asleep all morning.
5. The items have (a) laid (b) lain on the shelf all month.
6. Did you (a) lay (b) lie on the beach last weekend?
Answers: 1-b, 2-a, 3-b, 4-a, 5-b, 6-b