Is It Lay Down or Lie Down?

The difference in the present tense seems pretty straightforward: lay refers to a direct object, and lie does not. Past Tense: Lay: She laid the blanket on the floor when I asked. Lie: I felt sick, so I lay down.

Is it lay in bed or lie in bed?

Mary Lying in bed is correct. Both “laying” and “lying” are the present participles of the verbs “lay” and “lie.” “Lay” is a transitive verb that refers to putting something in a horizontal position, while“lie” is an intransitive verb that refers to being in a flat position. ... The same rule applies to laying and lying.

Do you tell someone to lay down or lie down?

You lie down, but you lay something down. Lie does not require a direct object. Lay requires a direct object. The same rule applies to laying and lying (not lieing—beware of spelling).