Common Errors Grammar Tip 34

Lie versus lay 

Which is the correct term in each sentence?

1. Chickens _____ eggs.
   1. lie
   2. lay

2. Let sleeping dogs _____.
   1. lie
   2. lay

3. Don’t _____ in bed all day.
   1. lie
   2. lay

4. I have _____ here all day.
   1. lied
   2. laid
   3. lain

5. _____ the baby on the bed.
   1. Lie
   2. Lay

6. Now I _____ me down to sleep.
   1. lie
   2. lay

7. I _____ the blanket on the bed.
   1. lied
   2. laid
   3. lain

8. I _____ in bed all day yesterday.
   1. lied
   2. lay
   3. laid

9. _____ your head on my shoulder.
   1. Lie
   2. Lay

10. I’m going to _____ down for an hour or so.
    1. lie
    2. lay

11. I have _____ out your clothes for tomorrow.
    1. lied
    2. laid
    3. lain

12. The correct command to give to a dog is “_____ down.”
    1. Lie
    2. Lay

The correct terms are 1B, 2A, 3A, 4C, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B, 9B, 10A, 11B, and 12A.

Why?

It’s a common myth that “people lie and dogs lay.” In fact, both people and dogs do both.

How does that work?

First, let’s define the terms. The verb to lie means “to recline” and focuses the action on the subject of the sentence. The verb to lay means “to place” and requires an object on which to act. For example, in the sentence “A dog lies down when it is tired,” the subject that performs the action of lying down or reclining is “a dog.” In contrast, in the sentence “I always lay my keys on the counter,” the subject that performs the action of placing is “I,” while the object on which the action is performed is “my keys.”

The current confusion between lie and lay can be traced back to the syndicated Dear Abby advice column. In a column about grammar pet peeves, Abigail “Abby” Van Buren advised her readers: Remember, chickens lay eggs. People lie down.

As usually happens, the phrase was mutilated in the wild. The mnemonic device was quickly shortened to “People lie and chickens lay,” and then further modified to “People lie and dogs lay.” Instead of underscoring the difference between the actions, the statement was misinterpreted as highlighting the difference between the subjects performing the action. It makes perfect sense that people should be treated differently than all other species, doesn’t it? We are silly and egocentric, aren’t we?

The confusion is compounded by the fact that the past tense of lie is also lay. The present, past, and perfect tenses of “to lie” are lie, lay, and lain, respectively. The present, past, and perfect tenses of “to lay” are lay, laid, and laid, respectively. Notice that the past and perfect tenses of “to lay” are the same—laid—except the perfect tense is preceded by “have.”

Let’s compare sentences 6 and 8. In sentence 6, Now I lay me down to sleep, “I” is the subject, “lay” is the present tense of the verb to lay, and “me” is the object. In sentence 8, I lay in bed all day yesterday, “I” is the subject and “lay” is the past tense of the verb to lie.

Both people and dogs lie (in the present) and lay (in the past). Remember the difference in the definitions of the verbs lie (to recline) and lay (to place), and that the latter requires an object on which the action is performed. You’ll be golden.