Choosing betweenlieandlaycan be bad for two reasons . One , layis both its own verb and the preceding - tense form oflie . And two , multitude utilize the incorrect verb so often that the right one might sound faulty in sure contexts .
The primal difference between the two verbs is thatlieis an intransitive verb , have in mind it ca n’t be conform to by a direct object ; andlayis transitive , meaning it must have a direct objective . If you sprawl out on your bed , you lie on your bed . If you place your baby in the crib , you lie your baby in the pony ( your babyis the unmediated object ) . In other words , you ca n’t liesomething , but you have to laysomething .
The preceding tense is where it gets tricky , because , as we advert to begin with , layis also the past - tense form oflie . So if you want to bring that you sprawl out on your bed in the past , you should say , “ I lay on the bed . ” It might sound more natural to say , “ I laid on the bed”—butlaidis the past - tense form oflay , so it involve a direct aim . you may say “ I pose the babe on the bed . ”
The past participles can be a short confusing , too . Forlie , it’slain ; as in , for model , “ I have never lain on such a well-to-do bed . ” Forlay , it’slaid — for example “ I have laid my baby in the trot , and now it ’s time to watchSuccession . ”
In insouciant conversation , it ’s pretty rough-cut to uselayand its other forms for everything , and just saveliefor formal writing . There ’s nothing inherently wrong with that — andaccording to Merriam - Webster , people have been mixing up the two verbs for a good seven centuries anyway .
But if youdowant to make an effort to use the “ correct ” words , here ’s a chart to avail you keep them square :
Infinitive
eccentric of Verb
Present Tense
Past Tense
Past Participle
Example
To consist
Intransitive ( no direct object )
lie down
lie in
lie
I lie / lay / have lain on the sofa .
To lay
Transitive ( call for direct object )
lay
I lay / put / have put my baby in the crib .
