Lay and Lie

Which is which????Do you think you know?

Lay and Lie

• Both are VERBS- meaning they indicate an action of some sort.

• Both of words have completely different meanings just like the words hippopotamus and apple.

• They are NOT variants of the same word.

The Difference

LAY- is a “TRANSITIVE” verb which indicates that something is being done to someone or something.EXAMPLE: Every morning, I lay the newspaper on the kitchen table.

I (the subject) do something to the news paper (direct object) every morning.

The Difference Continued….

LIE- is an “intransitive” verb. It does NOT indicate that anything is being down to anything or anyone. EXAMPLE: In the afternoon, my dog, Danny, lies on the living room couch.

Danny is NOT doing anything to anyone or anything. Danny is simply lying on the couch.

Why then all the Confusion…

• People DO NOT confuse the word hippopotamus with apple, so why LAY and LIE???

After all, if you LAY an apple on the table, the apple LIES on the table…..if you LAY a hippopotamus…..well, LET’S move on…….

WORTH WRITING DOWN!

• BASE FORM PAST PAST PRESENT TENSE PARTICIPLE PARTICIPLE---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lie (to stretch lay lain lyingout, recline)

Lay (to place, to laid laid layingput)

Let’s Practice

• CORRECT FORMS OF LAY

1. Sarah lays her head on the pillow when she lies in bed.

2. The workers have laid the new tile in the kitchen.

3. John laid his books down when he walked through the door.

Keep Practicing!

• CORRECT FORMS OF LIE

1. Jen lies on the couch every day after school.

2. That apple has lain on the table for two days now.

3. Michael is lying on his bed under the warm blanket.

TIME FOR YOU TO TRY…..

1. Please ______ the cloth on the table.2. Will you ____ down for a rest this afternoon?3. _____ your books next to mine.4. Every evening Sam _____ her clothes out.5. My pen was _____ on the table.6. The teacher told us to _____ our work aside.7. The old tugboat has _____ on its side since

last winter’s storm.

How did you do???

1. Please LAY the cloth on the table.2. Will you LIE down for a rest this afternoon?3. LAY your books next to mine.4. Every evening Sam LAYS her clothes out.5. My pen was LYING on the table.6. The teacher told us to LAY our work aside.7. The old tugboat has LAIN on its side since last

winter’s storm.

PRACTICE AGAIN…….

1. The teacher_____ her plans on the table.2. He yelled at his dog, “____ down!”3. My mom ____ her spoon next to the stove.4. Susan has ____ on a raft in the pool all

afternoon.5. The police ordered the thieves to ____ down

in the street.6. My brother ____ around in bed all day.