Verbs - To lie - To lay worksheet - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one. We need to choose between “lie” (to recline or tell a falsehood) and “lay” (to put something down). Remember:

- “Lay” needs an object — you lay *something*.
- “Lie” does not take an object — you just lie down, or you lie (tell a lie).
- Past tense of “lie” (recline) is “lay”, past participle is “lain”.
- Past tense of “lay” (put down) is “laid”, past participle is “laid”.
- For telling lies: present = lie, past = lied, past participle = lied.

Now let’s solve each:

1. Yesterday, the men ________ the carpet.
→ They put the carpet down → use “lay” in past tense → laid

2. ________ the wet rug on the grass.
→ Command form — telling someone to put the rug down → use base form “lay” → Lay

3. Mother often ________ the table for our dinner.
→ She puts things on the table → present tense, third person → lays

4. Is it true that the accused ________ to the judge.
→ Telling a lie → past tense → lied

5. I suspect that the hen ________ their eggs in the bushes.
→ Hen puts eggs somewhere → present tense, third person → lays

6. The boy fell out of the tree and ________ motionless.
→ He was lying still → past tense of “lie” (recline) → lay

7. The body was ________ to rest at the cemetery.
→ Passive voice — someone laid the body down → past participle of “lay” → laid

8. He was ________ by the pool all day.
→ He was reclining → past continuous of “lie” → lying

9. The dog has ________ in the sun for three hours.
→ Present perfect of “lie” (recline) → past participle is “lain” → lain

10. She is a very dishonest person, she ________ too much.
→ Tells many lies → present tense, third person → lies

Final Answer:
1. laid
2. Lay
3. lays
4. lied
5. lays
6. lay
7. laid
8. lying
9. lain
10. lies