Whats the diference between lay down and lie down or which is the correct form?

Answer 1

Yeah, you are from the southern United States, aren't you?

I had to PROVE with a grammar book to my disbelieving ex-husband, a southerner, years ago that it is not correct to say "lay down" when ordering your kids to go to sleep. It is only correct to say "lie down".
Now that I live in the south, I almost never hear people say it correctly. It is ubiquitous --I hear "lay down:" everywhere.

Correct form is to say lie down.

Lay down is to lay down a piece of paper yesterday.

Answer 2

"Lay" down is done TO an object. "Lie" down is done BY or TO a person.

The words "lay" and "lie" with "down" are used interchangably by most folks, and most don't mind. English teachers, writers, and those caring about word useage between England and USA written standards care.

Here is some really indepth ideas on "lay" and "lie" as a writer, if you care:

People have had problems with this since the 14th century where spelling had no continuity. In the 1770's standardized school books for writing came around in England; this was when folks began to care.The general population did not care, and still really does not, which is fine. Writers care because "lie" is a transitive word, or a usage implying an object (noun). "Lay" is intransitive, or no object (noun) implied. Such as, "I'm just laying around" you may or may not be the object because we realize socially that you really are not doing it. Yes, lots of confusion, but it does matter when talking different types of writing and reading from different times. This is one way we can tell writers apart is by the way words are used.

Answer 3

the spelling is about the only difference, they are both accepted, however I prefer to use lay as lie shares the spelling of lie as in lie to someone. of course if you want to be really picky and gramatically correct:

Lay= put down flat
Lie= be down

of course the main difference occurs in the past tenses
Lay Laid Laid
Lie Lay Lain

Answer 4

This is one of my pet peeves!

I lie in bed. (present tense)
I lay in bed (preterite tense)
I had lain in bed.
I am lying in bed.
Lie down, Rover!

The hen lays an egg.
She laid it in the nest.
She had laid the egg.
She is laying an egg.

Answer 5

Only Kauriwol and helpfulh have the right answer. I guess they don't teach grammar in school anymore ? ! ? !

Answer 6

lay down is passed tense and lie down is immediate..