Grammar Highlight

 

Lay vs lie

Lay
Lay means 'put something down carefully'. Its verb forms are lay, laid, laid. It always has an object.

• When I eat I lay a cloth on the table.
• I laid the baby in her cot.
• She hasn't laid the duvet on the bed.

Lie
Lie means 'be in a flat position' or 'put yourself in a flat position. Its verb forms are lie, lay, lain. It doesn't require an object.

• Tonight I want to lie on the sofa and watch a film.
  
• Yesterday Sian lay on the beach and read a book.
• I've never lain on a futon before.