Common errors in English: Usage of Lie and Lay

Lie and Lay


Incorrect : I am going to lay down for an hour.


Correct : I am going to lie down for an hour.


Incorrect : Please lie the book on the table. 


Correct : Please lay the book on the table.


Incorrect : You are laying to me. 


Correct : You are lying to me.


Incorrect : The hen has lied an egg. 


Correct : The hen has laid an egg.


Note: "Lie' means “remain in a flat position on a surface’. It is an intransitive verb and never has an object. Its past and past participle forms are lay and lain respectively. For example: 


He lay down on the sofa. 

He has already lain down.


"Lie" also means “to make an untrue statement to deceive someone'. Its past and past participle forms are lied and the present participle form is lying. 


"Lay' is a transitive verb which takes an object after it. It means "to put' or “to produce eggs'. In both senses, its past and past participle forms are laid and laid. You can say:


The hen laid an egg in the morning and Zinnia laid it on a plate.


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