Lied vs Lay vs Laid vs Lain

Below, the following verbs are written in their present and past forms, which should help you to distinguish them from one another: to (tell a) lie, to lie (down), and to lay (down).

To Lie (to tell a lie)

Examples of usage: He lies to her. I lie every day.

Present

I lie.

One/He/She lies.

You lie.

We lie.

They lie.

Present Continuous

I am lying.

One/He/She is lying.

You are lying.

We are lying.

They are lying.

Past

I lied.

One/He/She lied.

You lied.

We lied.

They lied.

Pluperfect

I had lied.

One/He/She had lied.

You had lied.

We had lied.

They had lied.

To Lie (to lie down)

Examples of usage: They lie in bed together. I lie on the floor.

Present

I lie.

One/He/She lies.

You lie.

We lie.

They lie.

Present Continuous

I am lying.

One/He/She is lying.

You are lying.

We are lying.

They are lying.

Past

I lay.

One/He/She lay.

You lay.

We lay.

They lay.

Pluperfect

I had lain.

One/He/She had lain.

You had lain.

We had lain.

They had lain.

To Lay (to lay something down)

Examples of usage: She lays the rules down. I lay the table.

Present

I lay.

One/He/She lay.

You lay.

We lay.

They lay.

Present Continuous

I am laying.

One/He/She is laying.

You are laying.

We are laying.

They are laying.

Past

I laid.

One/He/She laid.

You laid.

We laid.

They laid.

Pluperfect

I had laid.

One/He/She had laid.

You had laid.

We had laid.

They had laid.