LAY vs LIE | English Grammar | Ask Linda!

Lay and lie are often confused for each other. Lay is a transitive verb that needs to be followed by one or more objects for example “I lay the book on the table”. Lie on the other hand is an intransitive verb meaning it takes no object for example “I lie down”. Confusion arises because the past tense of lie is lay while the past tense of lay is laid.