lay
Base form
lay
/leɪ/
Past simple
laid
/leɪd/
Past participle
laid
/leɪd/
MeaningB1
to put something down carefully
to lay an egg
In use
- Imperative · Form 1Lay the baby on her back to sleep.
- After a modal verb · Form 1Could you lay the table while I finish the sauce?
- Past simple · Form 2Yesterday Tom laid a new carpet in the hall.
- Past simple · Form 2Last spring our hens laid eggs nearly every day.
- Passive · Form 3The foundations of the new hospital were laid in 2022.
- Past perfect · Form 3Someone had laid flowers outside the old cinema.
Watch out
Laid is spelt with -aid, not layed. Lay needs an object (lay the baby down); without one it is lie: I lay down is the past of lie.
Same pattern
A — B — BForms two and three are the same
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