Lay vs Lie
Lay and Lie look and sound the same, but they have different meanings and uses. Lay is a verb meaning to put something down. Lie, on the other hand, means to be in a reclined or flat position. Lay needs an object to act upon (i.e., lay the tablecloth) because it is a transitive verb, whereas lie does not. It describes an object acting on its own.
Here are some definitions and examples to help clarify the tricky difference between these words.
Lay (verb)
To put something down.
Examples:
I lay the rug on the floor.
The worker lays the grass over the sod.
The soldiers laid down their arms.
In the first example, an individual put a rug (the object) down. In the second example, an individual put grass (the object) down. Both of these examples take place in the present. In the third example, the laying down occured in the past, so the past tense form of lay, laid, is used.
Lie (verb)
To be in a reclined or flat position.
Examples:
I needed to lie down after dinner.
The cat likes to lie next to the window in the sun.
Note how in both examples, lie describes an object acting on its own—in the first example, an individual, and in the second example, a cat.
Main Points
- Lay is a verb meaning to put something down.
- Lie means to be in a reclined or flat position.
- Lay needs an object to act upon (i.e., lay the tablecloth) because it is a transitive verb, whereas lie can describe an object acting on its own.