I have begun questioning my usage of lay and lie, asking myself each time I use them if I’m using the correct one.
Of course we know that lie is telling a mistruth, but what about when we’re talking about something being horizontal?
I’ve looked the usages up so many times that I thought I should share them with you. I mean, chances are I’m not the only one having this problem, right? Note: Please just nod in agreement so I don’t feel like a big dummy.
So, here’s how you know if you should use lay or lie. Lay requires a direct object. Lie does not.
For example, You lie down on the couch. See how you’re taking an action and there’s no direct object?
You lay the pen next to your notebook. This is because lay refers to the pen, a direct object.
So, if you’re talking about yourself, you probably use lie. If you’re talking about another object, use lay.
Now that we’ve conquered the present tense, allow me to blow your mind. You use entirely different words when you refer to putting something down in the past tense.
The past tense of lie is lay. For example, Did you lay down for a while?
Yep. I think they did that just to confuse us.
The past tense of lay is laid. For example, He laid the book down and forgot it.
So, it’s lie/lay and lay/laid, depending on present or past tense usage.
I think I need to lie down after writing this post!
Is that simple enough? I certainly hope so. If not, you can use this post as your common reference point for determining which to use. I bet I’ll be doing the same.
Now go forth and use words correctly!
dtapscott says
MeghanMBiro profkrg Depends whether or not you’re a chicken..
MagistraManning says
csctfl depends on the rest of the clause…
morettiphd says
Hans_Hirschi profkrg Doesn’t that depend upon whether I’m telling the truth 🙂
cupcake0804 says
MartinaMcGowan profkrg LUV THIS!! Had 2 LAY my phone down after reading it & I will probably LIE down later. HAPPY MONDAY!! U0001f60a
MartinaMcGowan says
cupcake0804 profkrg 🙂
Sweet_Madness says
AndreaBils My 6th grade teacher taught us this by playing “Truly Madly Deeply” in class & explaining they used “lay” wrong! Still helps me.