Past tense of lie
The past simple of lie is lay and the past participle is lain: lie – lay – lain.
- Base form V1
- lie
- Past simple V2
- lay
- Past participle V3
- lain
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Meaning of lie
To rest with your body flat against a supporting surface, or move into that posture
- ExampleHe lay on the sofa and closed his eyes.
Lie, lay, lain in sentences
- Past simpleThe dog lay on the floor all evening.
- Past participleThe book has lain there for days.
Common mistakes
liedlay. Lie is irregular, so it does not take -ed.The book has lay there for days.The book has lain there for days. After have, use the past participle, lain.
Similar verbs
Built on lie, with the same forms: underlie.
All three forms different, like lie: be, do, go, know, see, take, give, write.
Common questions
What is the past tense of lie?
Lay. For example: The dog lay on the floor all evening.
What is the past participle of lie?
Lain. It follows have in the perfect tenses, as in The book has lain there for days.
Is lie a regular verb?
No. Lie is irregular: its past forms do not end in -ed.
