lie vs lay

lie = recline, no object (I lie down); lay = put something down, needs an object (I lay the book down). Watch out: the past tense of lie is also lay — "I lay down yesterday."

lie

I lie down

lay

I lay the book down

Quick check

Which fits — “lie” or “lay”?

Both are correct — in different contexts. lie = recline, no object (I lie down); lay = put something down, needs an object (I lay the book down). Watch out: the past tense of lie is also lay — "I lay down yesterday."