Somewhere in our minds, many of us hear the faint echoes of a teacher, aunt, or mother gently correcting our use of lie or lay. For those whose memories only retain the shadows of that scene and not the substance of the language lesson, here's a brief refresher.
1) Why lay and lie are different
The actions associated with lie and lay are almost the same. But lay is transitive, meaning the action must be received by someone or something. Lie, on the other hand, is intransitive, meaning a direct object (separate receiver) is not part of the picture. The action only concerns the person who performs it.
Lay describes the action of placing an object or person on a surface. For example,
Please lay the expense report on my desk.
Lay the baby down to be measured and weighed.
Lie describes the action of placing one's own body into a reclining position. For example,
I'm going to lie down. This headache is awful!
You look a little faint; you are welcome to lie on the couch for a while.
2) The effect of inflection
The seemingly simple difference between lay and lie becomes complicated when the verbs--both irregular--are inflected. In first-person singular usage,
Lay
Present: I lay down my burdens.
Past: I laid down my burdens.
Present perfect: I have laid down many a burden.Lie
Present: I lie down for a nap.
Past: I lay down for a nap.
Present perfect: I have lain down for a nap every afternoon this week.
Fortunately, there is very little variation between persons: only the third-person singular is slightly different.
Lay
Present: Sheila lays down the law.
Past: Sheila laid down the law.
Present perfect: As a sheriff's deputy, Sheila often has laid down the law.Lie
Present: Sheila lies down with a headache.
Past: Sheila lay down with a headache.
Present perfect: Sheila has lain down with a headache and woken up with chenille imprints on her face.
3) A simple spelling rule
When combined with -ing to create a progressive, lie takes a spelling change.
Bert is lying [not "lieing"] on the sofa, eating chips, and watching football.
Like its infinitive and most of its present forms, this form's spelling is identical to that of the word describing the act of fabricating a story. However, context easily clarifies meaning. A reader will not mistake Bert's prone state for a false one merely because of the spelling.
Now, lay down your fears about confusing these verbs. Just lie still briefly while your mind files away these details.
© 2008 by AnnaLisa Michalski