“Lay” vs. “Lie”: What’s the Difference?
Jun 7, 2023
Engram
The difference between “lay” and “lie”
- The main difference between "lay" and "lie" is that "lay" requires a direct object, while "lie" does not.
- Another difference is that "lay" is an action you do to something, while "lie" is a state of being.
- Finally, the past tense forms of the two words are different and are often confused, with "laid" being the past tense form of "lay" and "lay" being the past tense form of "lie."
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What is the definition of “lay” and “lie”?
Lay
- "Lay" is a transitive verb that means to put or place something down in a certain location.
- It requires a direct object and is usually used with an object that can be picked up or moved.
- Some examples of past tense forms of "lay" are "laid" and "had laid."
Lie
- "Lie" is an intransitive verb that means to recline or rest in a horizontal position.
- It does not need an object and is usually used to describe the position of a person or thing.
- Some examples of past tense forms of "lie" are "lay" and "had lain."
Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?
“Lie” is the more popular variant on the web.
Lay
628,000,000 results on the web
Examples
- I will lay the book on the table.
- She lay the baby down in the crib.
- He often lays his cards out on the table before playing a game.
More popular
Lie
710,000,000 results on the web
Examples
- The cat likes to lie in the sunbeam.
- We should lie down and rest for a bit.
- The old ruin lies in the middle of the field.
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