Past Tense of “lie”
The past simple of “lie” is “lay” and the past participle is “lain”. Below are the pronunciation, three example sentences, the mistake learners make most often, and a short drill to check yourself.
Forms of “lie”
lie – lay – lain
be in a flat position (on a bed, the floor)
- Base form
- lie/laɪ/
- Past simple
- lay/leɪ/
- Past participle
- lain/leɪn/
- -ing form
- lying
- He / she / it
- lies
Pronunciation (US)
Irregular only in the meaning “be in a flat position” (lie – lay – lain). “Lie” meaning “say something untrue” is regular: lie – lied – lied.
Quick practice
5 questions. Type the missing form.
Example sentences
Three everyday sentences that show how the forms are used.
Past simple
I lay on the sofa and watched TV.
Past participle
The letter had lain on the table for weeks.
Past simple
She lay awake all night.
The most common mistake
Wrong
I laid in bed all morning.
Correct
I lay in bed all morning.
“Lie” (be in a flat position) has no object: lie – lay – lain. “Laid” is the past of “lay” (put something down).
Verbs with the same pattern
All 3 forms different. Learn these together.