Lay and Lie It means to put something in a flat or horizontal position This verb always has an object It is an irregular verb: lay, laid, laid It means to be in or move into a horizontal position on a surface This verb never has an object It is an irregular verb: lie, lay, lain Present participle: lying The baby sitter laid the baby on the table to change his nappies The mechanic was lying on his back underneath my car NB: When it means “not to tell the truth”, lie is a regular verb Example: Both witnesses lied to the police about what happened in the accident Complete the following sentences with lay or lie in the correct form and tense How long have these books been …………… on the floor? Sally told her dog to …………… down Mary ………… her head on John’s shoulder and smiled This pottery has ………… buried in the earth for a thousand years Ben found his papers ………… on the floor when he came into his office The police let the criminal ………… where he had fallen These bricks have been ………… very badly The prisoners were ordered to ………… down their arms The mayor …………… the foundation stone of the new school 10 They told the doctor that she had been ………… motionless for two hours ANSWER KEY lying lie laid lain lying lie laid lay laid 10 lying