The past tense of lie is lay, but not because there is any overlap between the two verbs. So when you say, “I lay down for a nap,” you’re actually using the verb lie, not lay, despite the way it sounds.

Beyond the present tense, the pair can become more confusing because lay is the past tense of lie, and laid is the past tense of lay. Ever been corrected—or corrected someone else—for saying "I'm going …

Lie is a verb which means ‘to be in or put yourself into a flat position’. It is an irregular verb and it doesn’t take an object. The -ing form is lying and the past simple is lay. The -ed form, lain, is very formal and …

Jun 22, 2023 · Lay requires a direct object. The same rules apply to laying and lying (never “lieing”—beware of spelling). The past tense of lay is laid, but be careful with the past tense of lie …

The verb "lay" is an irregular verb. (This means that "lay" does not form its simple past tense or its past participle by adding "-ed" or "-d" to the base form.)

The past tense of to lay is laid, and the past participle of to lay is laid. The past participle of to lay takes the helping verb “has,” “have,” or “had.”

Jun 17, 2025 · For example, the past tense of lie is lay. Last night, he lay down to sleep at 8 PM. After a long day of work, all you want to do is go home and… lay down or lie down? The answer is lie down. …

Oct 30, 2025 · Unlike regular verbs that add “-ed” to form the past tense, lie changes to lay in the past. For example, “Yesterday, I lay on the couch all day.” It’s important to distinguish lie (recline) from lay …

“Laid” serves as both the simple past tense and the past participle of “lay.” It refers to an action of placing or putting something down that has already been completed in the past.

Find conjugation of lay. Check past tense of lay here.