Grammatically Correct 10/19/04
A weekly grammar tip created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors.
University of Houston-Victoria
3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, TX 77901
Lie versus Lay
by Shawn Brett

Lie and lay are two of the most confusing words to use properly in writing. Understanding the different forms of these words will help you to develop well-constructed and meaningful ideas.

Lie and lay are both verbs, but the difference is that lay is a transitive verb meaning “to put down”; it requires a direct object. Lie is an intransitive verb meaning “to recline”; it takes a subject but not a direct object. Each verb has its own conjugated forms.

Base Form
Past
Past Participle
Present Participle
lie
lay
lain
lying
lay
laid
laid
laying

**Notice how the past tense of lie is the same as the base form of lay.

Use lie and its forms when referring back to the subject of a sentence.

Ex: Mike lies down to a nap every afternoon.
Ex: Yesterday, Mike lay in bed all day.
Ex: Mike has lain in the tent for weeks.
Ex: Mike is lying over there.

**Notice how all forms of lie refer back to Mike (subject).

Use lay and its forms when it “takes” a direct object within the sentence. In other words, you lay/laid/laid/laying SOMETHING down (some object).

Ex: The workers are ready to lay the cement. [Notice here that the object is cement.]
Ex: Mike laid the papers on the table. [Here the object is papers.]
Ex: Mike has laid the report on my desk. [Report is the object in this sentence.]
Ex: Laying his keys down, Mike looked tired. [The object in this sentence is keys.]

Definitions

transitive verb
A verb that must have an object. There must be something (some type of item, place, person, or other object) that receives the action of the verb.
For example: Sue hates spinach. “Hates” is a transitive verb and “spinach” is the object.

intransitive verb
A verb that has a subject, but no object.
For example: They arrived. “Arrived” is an intransitive verb and “they” is the subject.

Definitions are from Longman Advanced American Dictionary.

Recommended Grammar Website of the Week
by Shawn Brett
In addition to our own website, this week we recommend Indiana University’s Resources for Writers. This web site contains excellent information on constructing topic sentences, paragraphs, thesis statements. There are also sections of the site devoted to explaining how to cite sources in both MLA and APA format.

Visit Indiana University’s Resources for Writers at http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets.shtml
Test Your Knowledge
by Shawn Brett
Test your understanding by choosing the correct word in the following sentences.

1. I need to (lay, lie) down for a few minutes.

2. The flagpole (lay, laid) in the grass in front of the school after the big storm.

3. The dog has (laid, lain) in the garage for several days.

4. She is (laying, lying) in bed.

5. You should (lay, lie) the flooring very carefully.

Answers

1. I need to lie down for a few minutes.

2. The flagpole lay in the grass in front of the school after the big storm.

3. The dog has lain in the garage for several days.

4. She is lying in bed.

5. You should lay the flooring very carefully.

 

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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