Step 4: The two meanings of "Lay"
The Difference Between "Lay" and "Lay"
Here's the final problem with "lay" and "lie": The two verbs share a common word: "lay."
To use "lay" and "lie" correctly, you first have to learn to use "lay" and "lay" correctly.
There are the two different verb forms spelled "lay":
| Verb | "to lay" | "to lie" |
|
Present Past Present Participle Past Participle |
lay laid laying laid |
lie lay lying lain |
Although these two words are spelled the same (lay), they are different and unrelated words.
Using "Lay" and "Lay" Correctly
You write, correctly,
"I now lay the book on the table"
(taking the verb from column 2, as a the present tense of "lay") and
"Yesterday at 2 p.m., I lay down for a nap"
(taking the verb from column 3, as the past tense of "lie").
The Secret:
Learn to distinguish
- lay from lie in the present tense
- laid from lay in the past tense
Look back at the chart above and study these two pairs of confusing words that derive from the confusion of "lay" with "lay."
Here's some practice in distinguishing lay from lay by learning to distinguish lay from lie and laid from lay (Tim's socks).