The Differences of Lie, Lay, Sit and Set

Lie, Lay, Sit and Set are what we call troublesome verbs. In order to use properly these words in our daily conversation or in making compositions, it is important to learn the meaning of those words.

Lie means to recline or rest (lying). Sit is to occupy a seat (sitting). Lay is to put down or place (Laying). Set is to place (Setting). Lie and sit are generally used to show position. They do not take objects.

Example: Aunt Maye lies in bed all morning, but she sits on the hospital terrace in the afternoon.

Lay and set usually show a person at work. When you use these verbs, you must name the thing that is laid and set.

Example: Before Riane set the cup of coffee at Moms’ place, she laid the morning paper on his plate.

Don’t be confused. The past tense of lie is the same as the present tense of lay. (In the sequence as Present, Past and Past Participle respectively written as…)

lei – lay – lain

sit – sat – sat

lay – laid – laid

set – set –set

I will give you this concrete example for you not to be confused of lay in the form of present and past tense.

Present Tense – Lay those packages on the table and pour yourself a glass of lemonade. (“lay” means place)

Past Tense – Brownie crept under the porch and lay there until dinner-time. (“lay” means recline)

Exercises;

Identify the right verb for each sentence.

1. Even Father (laid, lay) down for a nap.

2. Chris (laid, lay) the first book down and picked up another.

3. Lynn’s bicycle had (laid, lain) in the driveway all night.

4. Paul Reyes (sets, sits) next to me in the assembly.                                                                         

5. Louise (sat, set) the tray of empty pop bottles on the kitchen table.

6. Robert and Wayne had (lain, laid) on the damp ground all night.

7. Randy (laid, lay) in bed and thought about getting ready for school.

8. Debby (laid, lay) the open cookbook on the table and began to cream the shortening.

9. After I had (sat, set) in the reception room for an hour, I was shown into Dr. Jackson’s office.

10. Have you ever (laid, lain) on the deck of a fast-moving boat and watched the sky whiz by?

11. Marvin (sat, set) on the front steps and patiently waited for Dad to come home.

12. (Set, Sit) that pitcher of iced tea on the table near the couch.

13. When Mrs. Welver regained consciousness, she was (laying, lying) at the bottom of the basement stairs.

14. Who (laid, lay) his wet coat on the sofa?

15. Polly has been (setting, sitting) on the jetty ever since the tide went on.

16. Today, our football coach, Mr. Sander, was (lie, lay) down the law to the team.

17. “You fellows (lie, lay) in bed too long in the morning,” he declared.

18. “One of my star players in the NBA didn’t spend most of his time (lie, lay) in bed.

19. Every morning before (sit, set) to breakfast he sprinted to the river.

20. He (lie, lay) his clothes on the bank, and swam the river three times.