Two commonly confused verbs are lie and lay. The confusion becomes more understandable when we look at the past tense forms, which resemble each other.
| Present | Past | Past Participle |
| lay | laid | laid |
| lie | lay | lain |
Lie is an intransitive verb meaning to recline.
- (Present) I often lie in bed and read a book.
- (Past) The cat lay on top of the television.
- (Past perfect) His coat had lain on the floor for days before he hung it up.
Lay is a transitive verb meaning to put or place (something).
- (Present) Please lay that package on my desk.
- (Past) I laid my book down when I answered the phone.
- (Past perfect) I forgot where I had laid my glasses.