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Lay means 'to place something down flat,' while lie means 'to be in a flat position on a surface.' The key difference is that lay is transitive and requires an object to act upon, and lie is intransitive, describing something moving on its own or already in position.
1 sty 2024 · This English vocabulary game is to help you learn the difference between the verbs LAY and LIE in English. Includes the following conjugations of the verbs: lay, lays, lie, lies, lied, laid, lain, laying, and lying. Choose the correct alternative.
Test yourself on the differences between LAY and LIE. Online quiz, can also be printed out for use in class. Vocabulary for ESL learners and teachers.
1) LIE (lied – lied) is a regular verb meaning to say something that is not true. "The actress lied about her age." 2) LIE (lay – lain) is an irregular verb meaning to rest, recline or be in a flat position.
Lie is a verb which means ‘to be in or put yourself into a flat position’. It is an irregular verb and it doesn’t take an object. The -ing form is lying and the past simple is lay. The -ed form, lain, is very formal and is rarely used: I love to lie on a beach and read.
The verb lay is transitive. You lay something on the table. The verb lie is intransitive. You lie on the table when you are operated upon. The confusion comes because the past tense of lie is lay: He lay on the table for two hours before he was operated upon. Few native speakers get this right.
lay and lie are easy to confuse. Lay means to place something down (i.e., you lay something). Lie means to be in a lying position (i.e., you lie down). You do not lie something down. That would be lay something down.
