Lay vs Lie: Usage Guide with Sentence Examples

This ultimate guide gives you a detail look at differences and examples of lay vs lie and how they are used to avoid confusion.

The two words ‘lay’ and ‘lie’ which are used in a present tense seem to cause a lot confusion between people. It is important to note that ‘lay’ and ‘lie’ have to very different meanings.

The difference between these two words is that ‘lay’ refers to sitting an object down and ‘lie’ refers to someone lying their body down.

For example: you do not lie a book down because it is not a living thing. It is an object, therefore, you lay it down.

You cannot use the word ‘lay’ to refer to you lying down as you are not an object. The correct term is lie, so you are lying down.

How to Use Lay Use in Sentences

The word ‘lay’ is used to put an object down carefully or gently onto a surface.  Have a look at some examples to see how it is used.

• I am going to lay my book down on my bedside table.
• I need to lay this blanket down.
• We lay on the grass.
• I am going to lay this tarpaulin down so we don’t make a mess.
• She lay awake for hours thinking about her studies.
• I’m just going to gently lay this paper down so it doesn’t get damaged.
• I need to lay the table and get it prepared.

How to Use Lie in Example Sentences

The word ‘Lie’ is used To be in a position of rest, horizontally on a surface. Have a look at some sentences to know how it is used.

• I need to go lie down.
• Just give me a minute; I want to lie down for a bit.
• He is lying in bed.
• I can’t get him to lie down.
• Please lie down, I can’t see!
• I can’t wait to lie down for once.

You can clearly see the differences between ‘lay’ and ‘lie’ in the above examples.
You can also use ‘lay’ in present and past tenses.

LAY

LIE

Note: This may be confusing, but when using the term ‘lie’ in a past tense, it becomes lay.
Lay is the past tense of lie. The past tense of lay however, is laid.