How to Use Lay, Lie, Lain and Laid
Every now and then you just want to lie down for a nap, right? No, you don’t. You have just committed (common) sin by mixing your lies and your lies.
(Before we start, you can take the six-question Grammar Girl Lay vs. Lie test . You can then take it again at the end to see how much you have improved.)
The word “lie” is always associated with an object; it means to postpone something. A typical example – you put a book (object) on the table. An object is not required for a lie; it means assuming a resting position. You go to bed (no objection) to get a good night’s sleep.
‘Put it on me’
If you can’t remember this rule exactly, one of the popular mnemonic tricks for memorizing the difference between “lie” and “lie” is to remember the phrase “put it on me.” “Put it on me” is a slang way of saying “Talk to me about it,” but it can also remind you that lying is related to the object (s).
This is where things get rough
It wasn’t that bad, was it? But now what if you need to use the past tense or the past participle in the words “lie” or “lie”? Yes, this is where things get risky.
Lie down / lie down / lie down
Lies are present. I’m going to lie down.
Lay is the past tense. Last night I went to bed too early and could not sleep.
Line is a past participle. She didn’t sleep all night.
Put / put / put
Lay is the present. We must put the child in the crib.
Laid is the past tense. I put the mail on the kitchen table.
And the participle of the past tense is also put. I put my reports in the same place every week.
I cannot help you remember this; you just have to practice a lot in using it until it becomes second nature to you. Write it down and place it next to your computer, or stick the sticker to your bathroom mirror for a week to keep it in mind.
Then you can put it all to rest, once and for all.