Language Center Program, Writing Tips
Volunteer State Community College | Division of Humanities
"Lay" means to "put in place." "Lie" means "to recline." For many, choosing the correct word is relatively easy when using the present tense; however, confusion often arises when choosing the correct word in the past tense because the past tense form of LIE is "lay"! So, it is correct to say, "My dog Spot usually lies on the cool porch, but yesterday he lay underneath the huge oak tree in the backyard." By the way, the past tense form of "lay" is "laid" (e.g., I usually lay my keys on the kitchen table, but yesterday I laid them on the coffee table; thus, I had trouble finding them this morning.).
