“Laying” vs. “Lying”: What’s the Difference?

The verbs lay and lie look and sound similar, but they mean different things.
The confusion happens because both involve “resting” or “putting something down,” and their past tenses overlap in tricky ways.
Let’s break them down clearly so you never have to guess again.

Laying: Putting Something Down

Meaning

“Laying” is the present participle of the verb lay, which means to put something down carefully or gently.
Because it’s a transitive verb, it always needs an object — something being laid.

Examples of “Laying” (10 total)

1. She is laying the baby in the crib.
2. The workers are laying new bricks on the wall.
3. He’s laying his cards on the table.
4. The hen is laying eggs in the nest.
5. They were laying the foundation for a new house.
6. I’m laying my clothes out for tomorrow.
7. We are laying plans for our next project.
8. The builder is laying the floor tiles today.
9. She kept laying the blame on others.
10. The artist is laying paint onto the canvas.

🧠 Key clue:
If you can add something after it (e.g., laying something down), then you need laying.

Lying: Resting or Reclining

Meaning

“Lying” is the present participle of lie, which means to rest or recline.
It’s intransitive, so it does not take an object.

Examples of “Lying” (10 total)

1. The cat is lying on the couch.
2. He’s lying in bed, reading a book.
3. The dog was lying near the fireplace.
4. She is lying down after a long day.
5. They were lying on the grass, watching the stars.
6. The phone is lying on the table.
7. I saw him lying under the tree.
8. The papers are lying all over the floor.
9. She’s lying still so the nurse can take her blood pressure.
10. We found the keys lying on the counter.

🧠 Key clue:
If nothing is being placed — if it’s just resting — use lying.

A Simple Trick to Remember

👉 Tip:

• Lay = requires an object (you lay something)
• Lie = no object (you lie down)

Why This Matters in Natural Writing

Mixing up laying and lying is one of the most common English mistakes — even professional writers get it wrong.
AI writing tools often confuse the two because they rely on word patterns, not meaning.
That’s why Humanizey helps make AI-generated text sound natural, correcting subtle word choice issues like this automatically.

FAQ

1. What’s the past tense of “lay”?
It’s “laid.” Example: She laid the book on the table.

2. What’s the past tense of “lie”?
It’s “lay.” Example: Yesterday, I lay down for a nap.

3. Why are “lay” and “lie” so confusing?
Because “lay” is the past tense of “lie,” but also a separate verb meaning “to put down.” Context is key.

4. Is “laying down” ever correct?
Only if you’re putting something down — She’s laying down the rules.
If you mean resting, use lying down instead.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Laying” or “Lying”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. The cat is ___ on the bed.
2. She is ___ the baby in the crib.
3. He’s ___ on the grass under the sun.
4. They were ___ the table for dinner.
5. The papers are ___ all over the floor.
6. I’m ___ my phone next to the laptop.
7. The man was ___ quietly on the bench.
8. The hen is ___ eggs in the nest.
9. We saw the dog ___ near the door.
10. She kept ___ her keys on the counter.

Answers

1. lying
2. laying
3. lying
4. laying
5. lying
6. laying
7. lying
8. laying
9. lying
10. laying