Lay vs Lie
Lay needs an object — you lay something down (lay, laid, laid). Lie takes no object — the person reclines (lie, lay, lain). The trap: the past of 'lie' is 'lay'.
The one-line answer
Lay needs an object — you lay something down (lay, laid, laid). Lie takes no object — the person reclines (lie, lay, lain). The trap: the past of 'lie' is 'lay'.
lay
verbto put something down — always needs a direct object (lay – laid – laid)
- She laid the baby in the crib.
- Please lay the documents on my desk.
- They are laying new carpet upstairs.
lie
verbto recline — no object needed (lie – lay – lain)
- I need to lie down for a while.
- He lay on the sofa all afternoon.
- The cat has lain in that spot all day.
Memory trick
Lay = pLAce something (needs an object). Lie = reclIne yourself (no object). For the past: 'lie' becomes 'lay' — that's the only overlap, so watch the object.
Lay vs Lie: Test yourself
Question 1 of 2She ___ the map on the table and studied it.