Is it "lay down" or "lie down"?

You lie down yourself. You lay an object down. Different verbs, different jobs.

Should I "lay" or "lie" on the couch?

You lie on the couch. Lay needs a direct object — and the couch isn't what you're placing.

Quick answer 60-second read Canonicalises to Lay vs. Lie

What's the past tense of "lie down"?

Q: What's the past tense of "lie down"?

The past tense of lie (recline) is lay — which is exactly what makes this pair confusing. "Yesterday I lay down for a nap." Past tense of lie is lay; past tense of lay (to place) is laid. The overlap is the whole reason these verbs trip writers up. When in doubt, rewrite the sentence to avoid the past tense altogether.

The past tense of lie (recline) is lay — which is exactly what makes this pair confusing.

A little morei

"Yesterday I lay down for a nap." Past tense of lie is lay; past tense of lay (to place) is laid. The overlap is the whole reason these verbs trip writers up. When in doubt, rewrite the sentence to avoid the past tense altogether.

The full entryii

Usage

Lay vs. Lie

You lay something down. You lie down yourself.

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What's the past tense of "lie down"?

A little morei

The full entryii

More quick answersiii