Lie vs Lay Definitions Lie To be in
Lie vs. Lay
Definitions • Lie: To be in a state of rest, to do nothing • Lay: Has action to it. Things, are changing. If you can substitute put or place, chances are you use lay.
Active vs. Passive voice • Lie: The subject of the sentence receives the action: The key lies on the table. (Passive voice) • Lay: The direct object (after the verb) receives the action: Jane lays the key on the table. (Active voice)
So you distinguish the two by deciding if there is an object
Tenses • To lie: lie (present), lay (past), lain (with helping verbs such as have, had), lying • My tip: with past tense lay and lain think of stay, stayed • To lay: lay (present), laid (past), laid (with helping verbs such as have, had), laying • A link to help with verb tenses
A comparison charge Present Past Present Participle Past Participle Lay Laid Laying (had) Laid Lie Lay Lying (had) Lain
But watch out for infinitives • Infinitives consist of the word “to” plus a verb (in its simplest "stem" form, that is present tense) and function as a noun, adjective, or adverb. • She refused to lie down (needs to be present tense)
And for special sayings
Some common ones • Lay: • The pioneers laid claim to the lands they found. (past tense) • He needs to lay his cards on the table and tell us why he is really here. • The officer laid it on the line and told me not to drive over 65 m. p. h. (informal speech- past tense)
• Lie • The pirates lay low until they could escape without anyone seeing them. (past tense) • He won't take that lying down. He will surely fight back
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