Grammar 101

For some reason I can never keep the past tense of lay and lie straight in my mind. (Click here for help with other confusing words.)

Lay vs. Lie

                                  Present          Past         Participle

To recline                    lie, lying          lay           has/have/had lain

To put or place
(verb followed
by an object)              lay, laying       laid           has/have/had laid

To tell a falsehood       lie, lying          lied           has/have/had lied



Examples in the Present Tense:

I like to lie down for a nap at 2:00 p.m.
I am lying down for a nap today.
The hens lay eggs.
The hen is laying eggs.
I am tempted to lie about my age.
I am not lying about my age.


Examples in the Past Tense:

I lay down for a nap yesterday at 2:00 p.m.
The hen laid two eggs yesterday.
He lied on the witness stand.


Examples with a Participle (has, have):

I have lain down for a nap every day this week.
The hen has laid two eggs every day this week.
He has lied each day on the witness stand.