The past tense of the verb "lie" depends on its meaning. There are two distinct verbs, both spelled "lie," that have different past tense forms and usages.
The Past Tense of "Lie" (To Tell an Untruth)
When "lie" means to tell an untruth or to intentionally give false information, its past tense is lied. This is a regular verb, meaning its past tense and past participle are formed by adding "-ed."
- Simple Past: lied
- Past Participle: lied
Examples:
- She lied about her age on the application form.
- He lied to his parents about where he was going.
- The witness lied under oath.
The Past Tense of "Lie" (To Recline or Rest Horizontally)
When "lie" means to be in or assume a horizontal position or to rest on a surface, its past tense is lay. This is an irregular verb and is often confused with the verb "lay" (to place something down).
- Simple Past: lay
- Past Participle: lain
Examples:
- Yesterday, I lay on the beach all afternoon. (Simple past)
- The dog lay by the fireplace, fast asleep. (Simple past)
- He has lain awake for hours, worrying. (Past participle)
Distinguishing "Lie" and "Lay": A Quick Guide
The confusion between "lie" and "lay" is common because their forms overlap. The key difference lies in whether the verb takes a direct object:
- Lie (to recline) is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. You lie down yourself.
- Lay (to place) is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. You lay something down.
Verb Conjugation Table
To help differentiate, here's a table of their principal parts:
| Infinitive | Simple Past (Yesterday, I...) | Past Participle (I have...) | Meaning | Transitive/Intransitive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lie | lied | lied | To tell an untruth | Intransitive |
| lie | lay | lain | To recline or rest | Intransitive |
| lay | laid | laid | To put or place | Transitive |
Practical Tips to Remember
- Think "lie down": If you are doing the action yourself (reclining), use "lie."
- I will lie down for a nap. (Present)
- I lay down yesterday. (Past)
- I have lain down many times. (Past Participle)
- Think "lay something": If you are putting an object down, use "lay."
- I will lay the book on the table. (Present)
- I laid the book on the table yesterday. (Past)
- I have laid the book on the table. (Past Participle)
- Use a helper phrase: Try substituting "put" or "place" (and their past tense "put" or "placed"). If it makes sense, you likely need a form of "lay" (to place). If it doesn't, you likely need a form of "lie" (to recline).
