I lie down every afternoon. / He lies on the sofa. (No object needed)
📌 Lay (transitive) - to put or place something
Please lay the book on the table. / She lays the baby in the crib. (Needs an object)
📊 Conjugation Table
Verb
Present
Past
Past Participle
Present Participle
Lie (recline)
lie
lay
lain
lying
Lay (place)
lay
laid
laid
laying
💡 Memory Trick: You lay something down (object required). You lie down yourself (no object).
📝 Examples
• I feel tired. I'm going to lie down.
• Yesterday I lay in bed all morning.
• Please lay the documents on my desk.
• She laid the baby gently in the crib.
• The cat lies in the sun every afternoon.
• He laid his cards on the table.
• Don't lie to me! (different meaning - to tell a falsehood)
• The chicken lays eggs every day.
• I lay awake last night.
• She laid the blanket over the child.
• The dog lies at my feet.
• He lay on the sofa watching TV.
• Please lay the dishes on the table.
• I have lain here for an hour.
• She laid the foundation carefully.
• The snow lies thick on the ground.
• He laid his head on the pillow.
• The book lies on the table.
• She laid the table for dinner.
• The truth lies somewhere in between.
⚠️ Common confusion: The past tense of "lie" is "lay" (identical to the present tense of "lay"). Pay attention to context!