English grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary.
Lie flat on the floor.
I was laying the blanket on the floor.
Because you need a direct object only with lay you will know that the past tense is laid.
On the other hand the verb to lie means to take on a recumbent position typically stretched out on your back or side.
Beyond the present tense the pair can become more confusing because lay is the past tense of lie and laid is the.
Use a d when there is a direct object.
You ve been lying down all day.
The past tense of lie as in to tell an untruth is lied as you can see the past tense of lie is lay but the past tense of lay is laid which is a recipe for confusion to remember that laid as opposed to lain is the past tense of lay just memorize this phrase.
Lay or lie.
A carpet or rug put a small pile of paperback books under your head to a comfortable height about 2 small paperback novels for many people point your knees at the ceiling so your feet are flat and your lower back is comfortable.
The verb to lay means to place something in a particular position.
A classroom trick is to say the word out loud.
If there is then use a form of lay.
Your best bet when deciding between the variations of lay and lie is to determine whether there is a direct object you re referring to.