1. Laying

“Laying” is the present participle of the verb “lay.” The verb “lay” is transitive, which means it requires a direct object (something that receives the action). Essentially, when you “lay” something, you’re placing it down.

• Present form: lay
• Past form: laid
• Present participle: laying

Example Sentences with “Laying”:

• “She is laying the book on the table.” (The book is the object being laid down.)
• “The hen is laying eggs.” (Eggs are the objects being laid.)

Quick Tip: If you can answer “What is being laid?” then you’re likely using “laying” correctly!

1. Lying

“Lying” is the present participle of the verb “lie” (meaning to recline or be in a horizontal position). “Lie” is an intransitive verb, so it does not take a direct object.

• Present form: lie
• Past form: lay (This is where confusion often happens!)
• Present participle: lying

Example Sentences with “Lying”:

• “He is lying on the couch.” (No object here—he is just reclining.)
• “The cat is lying in the sun.”

Quick Tip: If you don’t need to specify an object after the verb, “lying” is likely the correct choice.

How to Remember the Difference

Here’s a simple memory trick:

• Laying = “placing” something down (needs an object).
• Lying = “reclining” or resting (no object needed).

Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks with the correct form: laying or lying.

1. The child is _______ down for a nap.
2. She is _______ the papers on the desk.
3. They are _______ on the grass, enjoying the sun.
4. He was _______ the tools in the garage yesterday.

Answers:

1. lying
2. laying
3. lying
4. laying

Extra Tip:

Remember, if you’re talking about something that happened in the past and mean “to recline,” the past of “lie” is “lay” (e.g., “Yesterday, he lay on the beach all day”). This small detail can often help keep things straight!