When is it appropriate to use "lie" and "lay" and their various forms?
Answer: The word "lie" means "to recline or rest on a surface". The word "lay" means "to put or place something". "Lie" is an intransitive verb, and "lay" is a transitive verb. Therefore the verb "lay" needs to be followed by a direct object (a word or group of words that receive the action of the verb and complete its meaning). "Lie" does not require a direct object.
Example:
The homework papers lie on the desk.
Please lay the homework papers on the desk.
Knowing when to use the four different forms of lie and lay can be confusing also.
Base form Past tense Past participle Present participle
lie lay lain lying
lay laid laid laying
Example: John was so tired that he lay down on the couch.
The past tense form of lie (to recline or rest) is lay.
Example: Annie laid the kitten in my arms.
The past tense form of lay (to put or place) is laid.
Example: The money has lain on the table for days.
The past participle of lie is lain.
Example: I have laid the baby down for a nap.
The past participle of lay is laid.
Example: Jane's blanket is lying in the cedar chest.
The present participle of lie is lying.
Example: Frank is laying the blanket in the cedar chest.
The present participle of lay is laying.
问：怎样正确地选用lie和lay，以及它们在不同的时态中的用法？
答：lie的意思是“平放或是躺”。lay的意思是“放置……”。lie是一个不及物的动词，而lay是一个及物动词。所以动词lay后面必须跟一个直接宾语（作为该动词受动者的一个单词或是一组单词，使其意思完整）。lie则不需要跟直接宾语。
例如：
The homework papers lie on the desk.
Please lay the homework papers on the desk.
怎样在不同的时态中选用这两个单词的正确形式也是一个难点。
基本形式 过去式 过去分词 现在分词
lie lay lain lying
lay laid laid laying
例如： John was so tired that he lay down on the couch.
Lie（平放或躺）的过去式是lay。
例如： Annie laid the kitten in my arms.
Lay（放置……）的过去式是laid。
例如： The money has lain on the table for days.
Lie的过去分词是lain。
例如： I have laid the baby down for a nap.
Lay的过去分词是laid。
例如： Jane's blanket is lying in the cedar chest.
Lie的现在分词是lying。
例如： Frank is laying the blanket in the cedar chest.
Lay的现在分词是laying。
怎样正确地选用lie和lay，以及它们在不同的时态中的用法？
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