The verb to lie · Conjugation
Past Simple of lie
The answer: lay (to lie down) / lied (to tell a lie)
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to lie is lay (to lie down) / lied (to tell a lie).
Example: I lay on the beach (lie down) / He lied to me (tell a lie).
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | lay / lied |
| You | lay / lied |
| He / She / It | lay / lied |
| We | lay / lied |
| You (pl.) | lay / lied |
| They | lay / lied |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. He lay to me ❌
When lie means to say something false, it is regular: He lied to me. Lay is the past of the other lie (flat position): He lay on the sofa. And lay (put something down) → laid → laid.
2. Lieing ❌
Lie → lying: ie becomes y. Same for die → dying and tie → tying.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
Does lie have two meanings?+
Yes! Lie /laɪ/ = (1) to be in a flat position, with no object (lie / lay / lain); (2) to say something that is not true, a regular verb (lie / lied / lied). Two verbs, same base form.
Is it lie or lay?+
Lie = to be in a flat position (no object): I lie on the grass. Lay = to put something down (with an object): Lay the plates on the table. A famous trap: the Past Simple of lie is lay. Yesterday I lay on the grass.
Why is lying spelled with a y?+
Before -ing, the ie of lie becomes y: lying. The same happens with die → dying and tie → tying.
What are the three confusing verbs lie, lie and lay?+
Lie (be in a flat position, irregular: lie / lay / lain), lie (say something false, regular: lie / lied / lied) and lay (put something down, irregular: lay / laid / laid). The most difficult trio in English!
What does tell a lie mean?+
Tell a lie = to say something that is not true. A lie is the noun; to lie is the verb. He told a lie = He lied.
Related pages: lie 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/lie/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 lie are coming soon.