Grammar Rules · Lie vs. lay

Lie vs. lay.

"Lie" means to rest yourself, and takes no object: "I lie down". "Lay" means to put something down and needs an object: "lay the book on the table". The past tenses cross over and trip everyone: lie, lay, lain; lay, laid, laid. Casual speech often uses "lay down" for "lie down", but careful writing keeps them apart.

Wrong → right

Common mistake Corrected
I'm going to lay down for a nap. I'm going to lie down for a nap.
Please lie the baby in the crib. Please lay the baby in the crib.
He laid on the couch all afternoon. He lay on the couch all afternoon.
She lay the documents on my desk this morning. She laid the documents on my desk this morning.
The dog was laying by the door. The dog was lying by the door.

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