Lie vs. Lay Definitions • Lie: To be in a state of rest, to do nothing • Lay: Has action to it. Things, are changing. If you can substitute put or place, chances are you use lay. The action • Lie: The subject of the sentence receives the action: The key lies on the table. • Lay: The direct object (after the verb) receives the action: Jane lay the key on the table. Tenses • To lie: lie (present), lay (past), lain (with helping verbs such as have,had), lying – My tip: with past tense lay and lain think of stay, stayed • To lay: lay (present), laid (past), laid (with helping verbs such as have,had), laying A comparison charge Present Past Present Participle Past Participle Lay Laid Laying (had) Laid Lie Lay Lying (had) Lain But watch out for infinitives • Infinitives consist of the word “to” plus a verb (in its simplest "stem" form, that is present tense) and function as a noun, adjective, or adverb. • She refused to lie down (needs to be present tense)