Common Mistakes: Lay Vs. Lie

Misuse of the words ‘lay’ and ‘lie’ is so common that it has almost become ubiquitous, especially in modern speech. As a result of how accustomed we are to hearing and using these two verbs incorrectly, it can be difficult to distinguish the correct form! In academic writing, however, it is important that you mark yourself out as a competent writer by using both verbs and their past participles correctly.

Lie

For the purposes of distinguishing between ‘lay’ and ‘lie’, the other definition of the verb ‘to lie’, meaning to tell a falsehood, will not be discussed here.

The verb ‘to lie’ means to recline, sit back or rest and does not take a direct object. It would be used in a sentence like this:

‘He lies on the sun lounger, sunbathing’.

Lay

‘To lay’ is a verb meaning to place or put something down. Lay always takes a direct object and would be used in a sentence like this:

‘I lay my book on the table’

The real confusion stems from the fact that the word ‘lay’ is both the present participle of the verb ‘to lay’, meaning to place or put something down, and the past participle of the verb ‘to lie’, meaning to recline. This means that both of the sentences:

1) ‘I lay my keys on the kitchen table’ and

2) ‘Peter lay down on the bed’

are correct. The first is in the present tense and the second is in the past.

‘Peter lay his book on the bed’ is incorrect. The past participle of ‘to lay’ is ‘laid’, so it should instead read, ‘Peter laid his book on the bed’.

The word ‘lay’ is quite often used incorrectly in the place of the word ‘lie’. Remember that ‘lay’ does not mean to lie down but rather to place or put something down. The exception to this rule is if ‘lay’ is used as the past participle of ‘to lie’, as in the sentence, ‘She lay on the sofa’.

Otherwise, it is correct to write:

‘The dog is lying in his bed’

And incorrect to write:

‘The dog is laying in his bed’.

The latter sentence prompts the question of WHAT the dog is laying (placing or putting down) in his bed? Remember that the verb ‘to lay’ always takes a direct object.

The table below, detailing the various verb forms of each word, is a helpful tool to consult when deciding upon the correct word choice.

Tenses of ‘to lay’

Present: ‘I lay my book on the table’

Past: ‘He laid his book on the table’

Past participle: ‘She had laid her book on the

table’

Present participle: ‘I am laying my book on

the table’

Tenses of ‘to lie’

Present: ‘I lie down on the bed’

Past: ‘He lay down on the bed’

Past participle: ‘She had lain down on the

bed’

Present participle: ‘I am lying down on the

bed’

If you are still struggling with the meanings and various tenses of these verbs or others, or would like more help with your writing, get in touch with the professionals at Proofread My Essay today!