The verb LAY means to put something down carefully in a flat position. LIE means to be in or put yourself into a flat position. By going through the meanings of both of these verbs we can say that they are used in the same context. But there is a difference between the usage of both. Forms of these verbs are also different.

Three Forms of these verbs:

1. LAY

Verb LAY is a transitive verb, means it must have an object.; e.g.

a) Lay the child on the bed. (The verb has an object, so it’s 1st form of LAY.)

b) I laid the book on the table. (The verb LAID has an object, so it’s 2nd form of LAY.)

c) The hen has laid an egg. (The verb LAID has an object here, so it’s 3rd form of LAY.

2. LIE

The verb LIE is an intransitive verb, means it doesn’t take an object; e.g.

a) The boy lay on the sofa and slept.

(You see that there is no object of the verb LAY in the sentence, so it’s 2^nd form of LIE here.)

b) Let me lie here. (There is no object of the verb LIE in the sentence, so it’s the 1^st form of LIE.)

c) How long had he lain there? (There is no object of the verb LAIN in the sentence, so it’s the 3^rd form of LIE here.)

d) I love to lie on a beach and read.

e) She lay on the bed and gazed at the ceiling, daydreaming.

f) The dog was lying by the gate waiting for me to come home.

NOTE: The verb LIE can also mean ‘say something which is not true’. With this meaning its three forms are:

Example:

I lied to my teacher about my homework.