Proper word to use?

Question

Lie and lay.

If I were to say "I'm going to ___ down.", which is the proper word to use?

Same for "I just ____ down.". Laid or lied?

Answer 1

I'm going to lie down.
I just lay down.
In the past, I have lain down.

Also, I'm going to lay the book on the table.
Yesterday, I laid the book on the table.

Hmm...that's funny...when I answered this question, the first answer above was simply the word LIE and now it's a novel...

Answer 2

First one, lie. Second one, lay or lain. You lie down but you lay an object down. Here's a link that might help. http://web.ku.edu/~edit/lie.html

Answer 3

to lie = to recline
to lay = to place

I am going to lie down.

I just lied down.

Answer 4

1st one- I'm going to lie down
2nd one- I just layed down(i think).

Answer 5

LIE DOWN. Because to "lay down" refers to something else that you put down, not yourself.


I would say..."I'm lying down".

Answer 6

"I'm going to LIE down" (refers to reclining)
"I just LAY down" (past tense of LIE/reclining)

LIE, LAY, has/have LAIN
(refers to "reclining" -- does not need an object)
* "I'm going to LIE down"
LAY (past tense form of LIE/recline)
* "I just LAY down"
has/have LAIN
* "I have lain down all day"

This is not to be confused with
LAY, LAID, have/has LAID which refers to placing "SOMETHING" down or usually has an "OBJECT"
* I'm going to LAY down "my HEAD on the pillow."
I'm going to LAY down "my BOOKS" on the table.
* I just LAID down my HEAD to rest.
* I have LAID down my BOOKS on the table.

===================
"lay" refers to "placing something" -- like "laying" an egg, or laying a book on the table. If you imagine "six geese laying" you will never use "laying" to describe that you are "lying" on the bed or the chair. Only geese or chickens "lay" [eggs].

Note 1: The rule to remember:
LIE is like SIT -- if you can substitute SIT then use LIE/LAY/LAIN.
LAY is like SET -- if you can substitute SET then use LAY/LAID/LAID.
If you would "set" the books on the table, then you
would "lay" them on the table.
If you would "sit" still or "sit" on a bed, then you would
"lie" still, or "lie" on a bed.

Note 2: The confusion is the
"past tense" of lie [down] is lay [down] or have lain.

I lie on the bed.
I am lying on the bed.
Yesterday, I lay on the bed.
I have lain on the bed all day.

The "past tense" of lay [eggs] is laid [eggs] or have laid.
The chickens lay eggs.
The chickens are laying eggs.
Yesterday, the chickens laid eggs.
They have laid eggs all day.

So the confusion is the "past tense of lie"
looks like the "present tense of lay."

So you have to memorize these separately
* LIE, LAY, has/have LAIN
[refers to "reclining" -- can substitute "SIT or SAT"]
* LAY, LAID, has/have LAID
[refers to "placing" something -- can substitute "SET"]

Also do not confuse with LIE as in "not telling the truth":
* LIE, LIED, has/have LIED

Answer 7

lie, and laid