Lay or Lie?

5 years ago

 Difference Between Lay and Lie

Lay – lie – have laid - laying
Lie – lay- have lain – lying  
Lie – lied - have lied - lying

Lay means "to place something down flat."
Lie means "to be in a flat position on a surface." 

The key difference is that "lay" is transitive and requires an object to act upon, and "lie" is intransitive, describing something moving on its own or already in position. Beyond the present tense it can become confusing as "lay" is the past tense of "lie," and "laid" is the past tense of "lay."

And then there's the unrelated verb meaning "to tell an untruth." That lie goes lie, lied, have lied, lying.

Lay is transitive; it requires that the verb have an object; there has to be a thing or person being placed: 
EXAMPLES:
Lay it down. 
Lay your books down on the table.
Hens lay eggs.
Please, lay the table for dinner. The food is ready.
Construction workers lay brick.
She laid the baby in his crib for a nap.
She laid her case before the commission.
I never laid eyes on her before today.

Lie, on the other hand, is intransitive. It's for something or someone moving on their own or something that's already in position: 
EXAMPLES:
You can lie down there.
I'm going to lie down, I’m tired.
I was told to lie down. I lay down. I have lain here since. I'm still lying here.


  
Source: Merriam-Webster dictionary