Lie vs. Lay vs. Laid

'Lie' is an intransitive verb. 'lie' is something you do to yourself

'Lay' is transitive. 'lay' is something you do to something/someone else.

Lie:

You look tired. Lie down and rest.

Lay:

Lay down the keyboard and step away from the computer!

The past tense of 'lie' is 'lay', and the past tense of 'lay' is 'laid'.

He lay in his bed listening to music

She laid the baby in her crib

Comments: 12

Shaunee C. Sep 15, 2006, 12:29pm EDT

I just took a course on this from Barnes and noble but I don't mind learning more to improve my writing skills.

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Carol Roach Sep 15, 2006, 1:39pm EDT

you know I never knew this rule, thank you so much.

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Mary H. Sep 15, 2006, 1:56pm EDT

Thanks, this is good stufff! Keep it coming!

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gautami tripathy Sep 15, 2006, 2:51pm EDT

Though I used these words the right way intuitively, but I wasn't aware of the rules either until one day my nephew asked.

I looked it up and only than I understood the difference properly.

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Lynn G. Sep 15, 2006, 5:41pm EDT

Excellent examples.. thank you!

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John L. Sep 15, 2006, 8:13pm EDT

remember when they used to call it a GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
Gautami, when will you get to my favorite peeve....
LESS/FEWER.

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Prudence C. Sep 15, 2006, 10:16pm EDT

my peeve - good/well

you are good, and you do well.

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Bonnie Sayers Sep 15, 2006, 11:35pm EDT

I struggle with using worse and worst

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gautami tripathy Sep 16, 2006, 8:45am EDT

Thank you all for the overwhelming response to this new group. All are welcome to touch any aspect of grammar they want to.

One of my pet peeves is till/until. Will touch that next.

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