Writing Wednesday: Lie or Lay?

Lay: Lay means “to place something down.” It is something you do to something else.

Lay Cont: Incorrect: Lie the book on the table. Correct: Lay the book on the table. (The action is being done to something else)

Lie: Lie means “to recline” or “be placed.” It does not act on anything or anyone else.

Lie Cont: Incorrect: Lay down on the couch. Correct: Lie down on the couch. ( It is not being done to anything else.)

Past Tense: The reason lay and lie are confusing is their past tenses. The past tense of lay is laid. The past tense of lie is lay.

Past Tense Cont: Incorrect: I lay it down here yesterday. Correct: I laid it down here yesterday. ( The action is being done to something else.) Incorrect: Last night I laid awake in bed. Correct: Last night I lay awake in bed. (The action is not being done to something else.)

Past Participles: Lie The past participle of lie is lain. Ex: I could have lain in bed all day. ( Sounds weird, I know, but this is RIGHT.)

Past Participles: Lay The past participle of lay is the same as its past tense: laid. Example: They have laid an average of 500 feet of telephone line per day. LAYED IS A MISSPELLING AND DOES NOT EXIST! USE LAID.

Mrs. P is my hero! She is amazing, wise, & overwhelmingly attractive!!