LAY/LIE 1
✓ Useful for TOEFL
✓ Useful for Cambridge B2/C1
DID YOU KNOW?
Lay and lie are among the most frequently confused verbs in English — even by native speakers.
The confusion runs deep: lay is transitive (it needs an object: lay the book down), while lie is intransitive (lie down). The past tense of lie is lay — which is why even fluent speakers tie themselves in knots. Writing I was laying on the sofa instead of I was lying on the sofa is a grammatical error that surfaces in Cambridge C1/C2 writing tasks and TOEFL independent essays.
IELTS Grammatical Range & Accuracy rewards precise verb usage, and getting lay/lie right is one of the clearest signals of C1-level grammatical control. This exercise makes the distinction stick.
Lay and lie are among the most frequently confused verbs in English — even by native speakers.
The confusion runs deep: lay is transitive (it needs an object: lay the book down), while lie is intransitive (lie down). The past tense of lie is lay — which is why even fluent speakers tie themselves in knots. Writing I was laying on the sofa instead of I was lying on the sofa is a grammatical error that surfaces in Cambridge C1/C2 writing tasks and TOEFL independent essays.
IELTS Grammatical Range & Accuracy rewards precise verb usage, and getting lay/lie right is one of the clearest signals of C1-level grammatical control. This exercise makes the distinction stick.
Choose the correct form of lay or lie to complete each sentence.
1. My cat likes to (lie/lay) next to me when I read.✓
2. This morning, the dog was (laying/lying) in our bed.✓
3. The police told them to (lay/lie) down their weapons.✓
4. He (lay/laid) the assignment on the teacher's desk.✓
5. I love (lying/laying) on the sand.✓
6. He told this dog to (lie/lay) down.✓
7. Don't throw away the paper towel; (lay/lie) it on the counter.✓
8. My grandfather has (lain/laid) in bed since the morning.✓
9. Patty was (lying/laying) presents in front of all the students.✓
10. He still hasn't (laid/lain) down his suitcase.✓
