Does a book lay or lie?
For example, when you lay a book down, lay is the verb and book is the direct object. Conversely, if you lie down on a pillow, there is no direct object. You are the one performing the action.
What is the difference between lay and lie?
Difference Between Lay and Lie Lay’s most common meaning is “to place (something or someone) down in a flat position.” Lie’s corresponding meaning is “to be in a flat position on a surface.” Lay is transitive; it requires that the verb have an object; there has to be a thing or person being placed: Lay it down.
How do I use lay in a sentence?
Here are a few example sentences that use the word “lay”:
- I lay the baby in the cradle. (present tense)
- The chicken lays eggs. (present tense)
- Yesterday, he laid the book on the shelf. (past tense)
- He is laying each loaf of bread in the basket. (present participle)
- She laid the fruit on the counter. (past participle)
Is lay down or lie down?
You lie down, but you lay something down. Lie does not require a direct object. Lay requires a direct object. The same rule applies to laying and lying (not lieing—beware of spelling).
What is the difference between Lie and lay?
As a starting guideline, remember that lie means either “to recline” or “to tell a falsehood.” It also is an intransitive verb (i.e., it does not take a direct object). The verb lay means “to put or place.” It is a transitive verb (i.e., it takes a direct object).
What is the verb form of Lie?
The correct form of the verb is lie. In the present tense, the verb lay does take an object. Therefore, you can write “I lay my head on the pillow,” since the word head is the object. What is the past progressive form of “lie”?
Which is correct lies or lies?
Since your sentence is in the present tense and “lays” does not have a direct object, use the verb lies. So, which is correct? Being the inquisitive child that he was, he opened the bag and in it lie a spread of dog-eared sports magazines.
How to proofread your writing for correct usage of Lie and lay?
When proofreading your writing for correct usage of lie and lay, it helps to ask yourself if you are talking about a person or a thing.