Which is correct: lay or lie down!!????

Question

When I type a letter or email using Microsoft Office, at times I will write I am going to lay down. All of a suddent the little man pops out of the side and says that is wrong, it says I should use lie. So which one is correct?????

Answer 1

When using "lay" in a sentence (unless it's the past tense of lie), you should be able to replace it with "put" and have the sentence still make sense.

"He lay (put) the book on the table."

If you can't replace it with "put," use "lie," such as:

Lie down.
The book is lying on the table.

Answer 2

You lie down on the bed your self
The mortician will lay your body on the slab.
If you do not know the truth you will lie by telling a lie.
The little Microsoft man wants you to lay down the law, or lay down whatever you are carrying, then he will leave you alone.

Answer 3

You may be confusing the marked verb with a similar sounding verb. Some verbs must have a direct object to complete their action and to make sense in a sentence, while other verbs cannot take a direct object.
Instead of; Julie lays on the couch
Consider; Julie lies on the couch

Answer 4

I use lie down when I am going to sleep. I use lay down when I am placing an object on a table or other surface.

Answer 5

The proper word is
"I am going to lie down."

1. in present tense
You "lie" down, but you "lay" [an object] down.
You "sit" down, but you "set" [an object] down.

"lie" is to "lay"*
as
"sit" is to "set"*

* "lay" or "set" is used with a direct object that you are actively "placing" by "laying" or "setting" down.

So if you can substitute the word "sit" then it should be "lie."
If you can substitute the word "set" then it should be "lay."

2. The confusion is with 'past tense'
The "past tense" of lie is lay.
The "past tense" of lay is laid.
So that is where people confuse two uses of "lay."

LIE: lie, lay, have lain
LAY: lay, laid, have laid

I lie down when I am tired, I lay down yesterday, I have lain on the bed all day, I have been lying in bed all day.

Chickens lay eggs, they laid eggs yesterday, they have laid six eggs already, they have been laying eggs all day.

Answer 6

A person is lying down. But I would be laying my pencil down.

Answer 7

You lie down and you lay something down.

Answer 8

in my opinion, i use both. I go to lie down, and people say to go lay down. i think it has to do with who says it.

Answer 9

lie down is the correct tense when you add the word down

Answer 10

The correct answer is "lie down". Your computer may be programmed to spelling words from a "Greece orign" or which every language......