What is the difference between lays and lies?

Answer 1

The verb to lay always takes a direct object: Lay your cards on the table. The verb to lie never takes a direct object: Lie down on the bed.

Many English speakers are confused by the fact that the past tense of lie looks like the present tense of lay, and so they will incorrectly say Lay down, or as I was laying there, instead of the correct Lie down and as I was lying there.

Perhaps at least part of the confusion may be laid to the familiar verse "Now I lay me down to sleep," in which layhas the old fashioned reflexive object "me." Nowadays we might say "Now I lay myself down to sleep, " but careful speakers would never say "Now I lay down to sleep. "

Answer 2

Lays, as in lays eggs; Lay down yourself on the mat.

Lies: falsify, speak the opposite of truth; alternative for 'based on' - Your idea lies in what you just heard.

Lye is a soap, a chemical compound.

Answer 3

"Lays" is the present tense of the verb "lay," which means to place something down. For example, "She lays the book on the table." "Lies" is the present tense of the verb "lie," which means to recline or be in a horizontal position. For example, "He lies down on the sofa."

Answer 4

Lies