Do you know when to use lay or lie?

The action word is lay. It takes a direct object. Laid is the form for its past tense and its past participle. Its present participle is laying.

When lie means to make an untrue statement, the verb forms are lie, lied, lying.

Lie also has various other meanings, including to recline, to be situated or to exist. It does not take a direct object. Its past tense is lay. Its past participle is lain. Its present participle is lying.

Some examples:

PRESENT OR FUTURE TENSES:

Right: I will lay the book on the table. The prosecutor tried to lay the blame on him.

Wrong: He lays on the beach all day. I will lay down.

Right: He lies on the beach all day. I will lie down. The village lies beyond the hills. The answer lies in the stars.

IN THE PAST TENSE:

Right: I laid the book on the table. The prosecutor has laid the blame on him.

Right: He lay on the beach all day. He has lain on the beach all day. I lay down. I have lain down. The secret lay in the fermentation process.

WITH THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE:

Right: I am laying the book on the table. The prosecutor is laying the blame on him.

Right: He is lying on the beach. I am lying down.

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Notes of Nagesh

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