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Snarf Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Lay, Lied and Laid

I still get confused with these three sometimes. Take this for example:

“Fine,” she said calmly and then lay back down.
“Fine,” she said calmly and then lied back down.
“Fine,” she said calmly and then laid back down.

Which one of those is right? They can't all be, I don't think.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Snarf “Fine,” she said calmly and then lay back down. The one quoted above is the correct one. lie, lied, lied - to tell a falsehood lie, lay , lain - to recline lay , laid, laid - to place (something somewhere) The bolded form lay is what makes it confusing; it's both the present of one verb and the past of another.

— CalifJim

  • Snarf “Fine,” she said calmly and then lay back down.
  • The one quoted above is the correct one.
  • lie, lied, lied - to tell a falsehood lie, lay , lain - to recline lay , laid, laid - to place (something somewhere) The bolded form lay is what makes it confusing; it's both the present of one verb and the past of another.
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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Snarf“Fine,” she said calmly and then lay back down.
The one quoted above is the correct one.

lie, lied, lied - to tell a falsehood
lie, lay, lain - to recline
lay, laid, laid - to place (something somewhere)

The bolded form lay is what makes it confusing; it's both the present of one verb and the past of another.
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