Lay, laid, lie?

[Phadia]

It never fails. I consider my grammar and spelling pretty good, but whenever I have to use this word, I can never remember the correct version. Google doesn't even help because everyone has their own opinion of which word is right. '​

I write in third person, past tense. So if I want to say​

"Sky laid in his bed, watching the TV flicker on and off."​

"laid" is NOT the right word, is it? Is it supposed to be​

"Sky lay in his bed, watching the TV flicker on and off."​

right...? Or is that also wrong?​

It's driving me nuts! I want to use the proper word! Can somebody please explain it in a clear, precise way? Thanks! ^^​

 

[Chordling]

Lay (present tense)


To set something down.  


Past tense: laid


Past participle: laid


Ex (present): I lay my jacket on the floor as I walk into the house.


Ex (past): I laid my jacket on the floor as I walked into the house.


Ex (past participle): I had laid my jacket on the floor as I walked into the house that morning.


Lie (present tense)


To be in a resting position.  


Past tense: lay


Past participle: lain


Ex (present): I lie down on the floor as I walk into the house.


Ex (past): I lay down on the floor as I walked into the house.


Ex (past participle: I had lain down on the floor as I walked into the house that morning.


Infinitive


Definition


Present


Past


Past Participle


Present Participle


to lay


to place something down


lay(s)


laid


laid


laying


to lie


to rest


lie(s)


lay


lain


lying




Source

 

[Grey]

It's totally unfair bugbear of mine to see people use 'lay' when they mean 'lie'. Thank you for posting that, Musician.