Lay vs Lie | Definitions & Difference
Lay means to “position someone or something horizontally or flatly, either in a resting position or to serve as a layer that covers another surface.” Lie means “to be or put oneself in a horizontal, reclined position on a surface.”
The difference between these two commonly confused words is that “lay” is a verb that is done to someone or something else (e.g., “I asked him to lay the cloth down on the table), whereas “lie” describes an action or state of being one does themselves (e.g., “My dog likes to lie in the sun”).
| Examples: Lay in a sentence | Examples: Lie in a sentence |
|---|---|
| I will lay my baby sister down in her crib and then go downstairs to help clean. | I will go and lie in bed early tonight since I am not feeling well. |
| The dog sitter likes to lay newspapers on the floor as a precautionary measure. | Belle’s favorite pastime is to go to the beach and lie on the sand. |
| Do you mind if I lay this down on the table before we begin? | Thomas likes to lie under the stars and name the constellations. |
Is it lay or lie?
“Lay” and “lie” are both action verbs with similar meanings (i.e., “lay” means “to place something horizontally” and “lie” means “to be or put yourself in a horizontal position”). And although they are both in the infinitive and present tense form of their respective verbs, they have key distinctions that dictate when these words are used.
“Lay” is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (i.e., the thing or person that receives the action of the verb). “Lie,” on the other hand, is intransitive, meaning it does not require a direct object.
Therefore, you should use “lay” when describing an action done to someone or something else and “lie” when describing one’s own position.
| Examples: Lay in a sentence | Examples: Lie in a sentence |
|---|---|
| I asked him to lay the shelf down on the floor and thoroughly clean under it. | Uncle Tim loves to lie in the hammock when it’s sunny and breezy outside. |
| Can you lay the centerpiece on its side so I can have a better view of the screen? | My oldest son likes to lie alone in bed, while my youngest prefers that I tuck him in. |
| She typically lays a mat on the grass for the kids to play on. | On Sundays, I like to have a lazy day and lie by the pool. |
When used in this sense, “lie” is typically used as an intransitive verb (e.g., “He lied”), but can sometimes function as a transitive verb in certain sentence constructions (e.g., “She lied her way out of the meeting”).
Laying vs lying
The present participles of “lay” and “lie” are “laying” and “lying.” When used in this form, “laying” remains a transitive verb, so it always has a direct object (e.g., “I am laying the blanket down on the grass”). “Lying” is an intransitive verb (e.g., “I feel like lying down”).
| Examples: Laying in a sentence | Examples: Lying in a sentence |
|---|---|
| The construction workers are laying bricks for the new path in our garden. | The squirrel likes lying in the sun to enjoy the warmth after a harsh winter. |
| We spent the afternoon laying tiles in the garage. | After a long trek, I was lying on the sofa for an hour, too tired to move. |
| My kids are currently laying out their clothes for their first day of school. | There’s a book lying on the table that I’ve been meaning to read. |
Remember, when using the present participle of “lie,” the correct spelling is “lying,” not “lieing.”
- I was lying outside without my phone when you called.
- I was lieing outside without my phone when you called.
Past tense of lay
The past tense of “lay” is “laid.” Like “lay,” “laid” is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.
She gently laid the newborn baby in the crib.
They laid the foundation for the bridge about a month ago.
Past tense of lie
The past tense of “lie” is “lay.” “Lay” does not require a direct object (when used as the past tense of “lie”).
By the time the sun began to rise, my boyfriend lay peacefully asleep.
The snow lay untouched for hours until my children ran outside and made snow angels.
Frequently asked questions about lay vs lie
- Is it lie down or lay down?
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The choice of lay or lie in this phrase depends on the verb tense you are using. When referring to the act of putting yourself in a horizontal resting position, the correct phrase is “lie down” (e.g., “I’m going to lie down on the couch”). When referring to something you’re going to do to something else, “lay down” is the appropriate phrase to use (e.g., “I’m going to lay down this lamp so it doesn’t fall”).
However, it’s important to note that “lay” is also the past tense of lie, so it makes sense to use “lay down” when referring to putting yourself in a horizontal position in the past (e.g., “Yesterday I lay down for an hour after practice”).
In short, when describing the act of reclining yourself horizontally in the present tense, use “lie down.” But when describing a past act of reclining yourself, use “lay down.”
QuillBot’s paragraph rewriter can help you vary your language to accurately express your meaning.
- Is it lying down or laying down?
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Use “lying down” as the present participle of “lie down.” In other words, use “lying down” when describing the reclined position one is in (e.g., “She’s lying down on the towel). However, it’s also acceptable to simply use “lying” (e.g., “She’s lying on the towel).
Use “laying down” when referring to the action of placing something or someone in a horizontal position (e.g., “He’s laying down flowers across the path”). Remember, “lying” and “laying” are the present participles of “lie” and “lay,” respectively.
QuillBot’s paragraph rewriter can help you vary your language to accurately express your meaning.
- What is the past participle of lie?
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The past participle of “lie” is “lain” (e.g., “The never-before-seen documents had lain undisturbed for centuries”).
“Lie” means “to put oneself or be in a horizontal position.” It’s an intransitive verb, meaning it does not require a direct object.
- What is the past participle of lay?
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“Lay” is a regular verb, meaning it has the same past tense and past participle: “laid.” Like “lay,” “laid” is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object to receive the action (e.g., “He laid the blanket down for us to have a nice picnic”).
