The Grammar Guru: Lay vs. lie

The Grammar Guru enjoys a nice nap, where she can lie down on a bed and relax.
The Grammar Guru enjoys a nice nap, where she can lie down on a bed and relax.

Mekita Rivas, SNR communications associate, publishes a biweekly feature called "Grammar Guru."

Every other week, the Grammar Guru will share writing tips to help make your work as polished as possible. Some of these tips may address common spelling errors, while others will examine the many nuances of the English language.

Grammar Guru Tip #15
"Lay" is a transitive verb, which requires a direct subject and one or more objects. Its past tense is "laid."

Example:
I lay the pen on the desk. I laid the iPad on the chair.

"Lie" is an intransitive verb, which means it doesn't require an object. Its past tense is "lay."

Example:
The water bottle lies between the sink and the cutting board. She lay waiting there for her friend to help her up off the floor.

Pro tip: A common grammar error involves a writer who uses the past tense of the transitive "lay" when he or she really means the intransitive past tense of "lie."

NOT: I laid on the bed.
BUT: I lay on the bed.

Need some grammar guidance? The UNL Style Guide (http://unlcms.unl.edu/ucomm/styleguide/) is a great resource for all university employees. If you have writing questions that the style guide doesn't answer, feel free to email the Grammar Guru at mrivas@unl.edu.