Remember this!
The present tense form of 'lay' is lay or lays. Example: He lays the bricks to build a wall. (He lays the bricks to build a wall.)
Definition of “lay”
- to put something down in a flat or horizontal position
- to produce and deposit eggs
- to place or set something in a particular position
Tense sentence structure and examples:
Notes from a Native English Speaker
Here are the general structures of a present and past participle. Remember, some verbs have an irregular form and may not follow this structure: Present Participle: [Verb] -ing Past Participle: [Verb] -ed
| Present Simple | lay |
| Present Continuous | laying |
| Present Perfect | laid |
Example
She lays the books on the shelf.
Example
They lay the cards on the table.
Example
I am laying the groundwork for the event.
Example
They are laying the cables for the network.
Example
She has laid the bricks for the wall.
Example
They have laid the groundwork for the project.
lay Subject-Verb Agreement
Notes from a Native English Speaker
Subject-verb agreement means that a subject and its verb match. They’re either both plural or both singular. A singular subject takes a singular verb. - Example: The cat is sleeping. A plural subject takes a plural verb. - Example: The cats are sleeping.
| Singular First Person (I) | lay |
| Singular Second Person (You) | lay |
| Singular Third Person (He/She/It) | lays |
| Plural (We/You/They) | lay |
Example
I lay the book on the table.
Example
You lay the book on the table.
Example
He lays the book on the table.
Example
She lays the book on the table.
Example
It lays the book on the table.
Example
We lay the books on the table.
Example
You lay the books on the table.
Example
They lay the books on the table.
