PAIRS AND SNARES VI

LAY - LIE - LAID - LAIN - LAYING - LYING

These words are certainly among the most (if not the most) frequently confused words in English. Can you give a simple definition of each one that shows the difference between them?

Answers:

LAY - Place something down flat

(I was told to lay the book down.) 

LAY requires an object.

 

LIE - To be in a flat position on a surface

(I was told to lie down on the couch.)  

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Past Tenses, Participles, and Present progressives:

 

LAID is the past tense and past participle of LAY.

(I laid the book on the table.)

(I laid it down as I have laid other books down.)

LAYING is the present progressive form of LAY

(I will be laying more books down in the future.)

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LAY is the past tense of LIE.

(I lay down down on the couch.)

LAIN is the past participle of LIE

(I have lain on the couch for an hour.

LYING is the present progressive of LIE

(I'm still lying here as we speak.)

More confusion:

The word LIE can also meaning to not tell the truth.

(Would I lie to you?)

In this sense, the past tense and past participle of LIE is LIED.

(You lied to me yesterday.)

(You have lied to me before.) 

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The present progressive of LIE in this sense is LYING.

(I think you're lying right now.)

 

LYING is the present progressive of both LIE (lying on the couch) and LIE (not telling the truth.)