lie, lay, lain

[Nittanylizard]

Somebody on another forum wrote this all up. I copied it into a word file over a year ago for my own use, though, and I don't remember who originally posted it. I've found it to be very useful, however, so I'm pasting it here for everyone else who also can't keep these words straight:

lie (reclining)
present participle: lying
past: lay
past participle: lain

lay (putting down)
present participle: laying
past: laid
past participle: laid

lie (telling a falsehood)
present participle: lying
past: lied
past participle: lied

I don't know of any "layed."

Employees are laid off. Eggs are laid in a nest. I need to lay me down to sleep.

To lie (to tell an untruth):
He will lie tomorrow.
He is lying now.
He lies every day.
He lied yesterday.
He has lied before.

To lie (to recline):
He will lie on the bed tomorrow.
He is lying on the bed now.
He lies on the bed every day.
He lay on the bed yesterday. **note past tense
He has lain on the bed before.

To lay (to put an object down, to have sex with someone, or to emit an egg):
He will lay the book on the table tomorrow.
He is laying the book on the table now.
He lays the book on the table every day.
He laid the book on the table yesterday.
He has laid the book on the table before.

[Keira]

Thanks for posting that, Liz. I never realized that we use so may variations and meanings of lie. The English language never ceases to amaze me.

I used to always use "layed" but I think that's just the bad grammar in me, lol.