The verb to lay · Conjugation
Past Simple of lay
The answer: laid
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to lay is laid.
Example: She laid the book on the table.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | laid |
| You | laid |
| He / She / It | laid |
| We | laid |
| You (pl.) | laid |
| They | laid |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Layed ❌
Special spelling: the y becomes i: laid. The same goes for pay → paid and say → said.
2. Lay ≠ lie
Lay needs an object (to put something down): She laid the baby on the bed. Lie has no object (to be flat): She lay on the bed. Learners often confuse them.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of lay?+
Laid (not layed!). The past participle is also laid. Lay → laid → laid. Watch the spelling: i, not y.
Lay or lie: which one do I use?+
Lay = to put something down (with an object): I lay the book down. Lie = to be flat, to rest (no object): I lie on the bed. Careful: the Past Simple of lie is lay: Yesterday, I lay on the bed.
What does lay eggs mean?+
Lay an egg means to produce an egg: Hens lay eggs. In informal English, it can also mean to fail completely.
What does lay the table mean?+
Lay the table (British English) means to put plates, knives and forks on the table before a meal. In American English, people say set the table. It is an everyday job at home.
Is layed correct?+
No. Lay is irregular. Its Past Simple is laid (with i). Layed does not exist, but it is a common mistake.
Related pages: lay Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/lay/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to lay are coming soon.