Confusing Verbs: Lie, Lay, Lain, Laid

English has several verbs that look alike but have different meanings and forms. Many learners (and even native speakers!) mix them up. Let’s sort them out.

1. Lie (to rest, to be in a flat position)

• Base form: lie

• Past tense: lay

• Past participle: lain

• Present participle: lying

Meaning: to rest, to be in a horizontal position, or to exist.

• I need to lie down.

• Yesterday, I lay on the sofa all afternoon.

• I have lain awake in bed for hours.

• She is lying on the grass.

👉 Tip: Lie → Lay → Lain. This verb does not take an object.

2. Lay (to put something down)

• Base form: lay

• Past tense: laid

• Past participle: laid

• Present participle: laying

Meaning: to put something down carefully; also used for birds producing eggs.

• Please lay the book on the table.

• He laid his keys on the desk.

• They have laid the foundations of the building.

• The chicken is laying eggs.

👉 Tip: Lay → Laid → Laid. This verb needs an object (lay something down).

3. Lie (to tell an untruth)

• Base form: lie

• Past tense: lied

• Past participle: lied

• Present participle: lying

Meaning: to say something that is not true.

• He always lies about his homework.

• She lied to her parents yesterday.

• They have lied many times before.

• The child is lying to avoid punishment.

👉 Tip: Different meaning: Lie → Lied → Lied (about truth).

4. Other Similar Verbs

• Sit / Sat / Sat → to rest on a chair.

  • I sat near the window.

• Set / Set / Set → to place or put something.

  • She set the plates on the table.

• Rise / Rose / Risen → to go up.

  • The sun rose at 6:00.

• Raise / Raised / Raised → to lift something up.

  • They raised their hands.

👉 Pattern:

• Intransitive verbs (no object): lie, sit, rise.

• Transitive verbs (need an object): lay, set, raise.

Quick Comparison Table

Verb	Base	Past	Past Participle	Meaning	Object?
Lie (rest)	lie	lay	lain	be in a flat position	❌
Lay (put)	lay	laid	laid	put something down	✅
Lie (not tell truth)	lie	lied	lied	say something false	❌
Sit	sit	sat	sat	rest on a chair	❌
Set	set	set	set	put in place	✅
Rise	rise	rose	risen	go up	❌
Raise	raise	raised	raised	lift something	✅

✅ Final Tip for Students:

• If the verb does not take an object, use lie, sit, rise.

• If the verb needs an object, use lay, set, raise.