with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use.
Name ______________________________
Date _________ Class _________________
GUFFEY-SEEFER, BUSINESS ENGLISH, 12E
WORKSHEET, CH. 5 MASTERING LIE AND LAY
With Grammar Review
In learning to use these verbs correctly, remember that lie is intransitive and requires no object. Lay is
transitive and must transfer action to an object.
Present Tense Present Participle Past Past Participle
Intransitive: lie (to rest or recline) lay lain lying
Transitive: lay (to place) laid (not layed) laid laying
Write the correct form of the intransitive verb lie (“to rest”) in the following sentences:
1. I usually (lie, lay) down for a nap before going to work at 5 p.m. ________________
(Note that down does not function as the object of the verb.)
2. Yesterday I didn’t (lie, lay) down because it was too noisy. ________________
3. After her puppy knocked over the table and flower vase, Stacy shouted
“(Lie, Lay) down!” (Commands are given in the present tense.) ________________
4. Her dog had (laid, lain) there only a moment when he jumped up again. ________________
5. The morning newspaper (lying, laying) in the driveway was soaked. ________________
Write the correct form of the transitive verb lay (“to place”) for the following sentences:
6. Please (lay, lie) the books on the center table. ________________
7. Even the best-(layed, laid) plans sometimes backfire. ________________
8. If the parking attendant had (layed, laid, lain) the car keys on the seat,
we would have been able to find them. ________________
9. The brick mason is (laying, lying) bricks in the courtyard today. ________________
10. He says he has (laid, layed, lain) bricks for the past ten years. ________________
Complete the following sentences choosing from all forms of lie and lay. Think about whether the
verb means “to rest” or “to place.” Refer to the above chart if necessary.
11. Rick __________ his résumé on the desk for the recruiter. ________________
12. It had __________there for only a moment when it was picked up. ________________
13. Did you __________ down to rest before the interview? ________________
14. Our organization __________ great emphasis on communication skills. ________________
15. As I see it, the main problem __________ in the Legal Department. ________________
16. Although they told the dog to __________ down, it was too excited
to respond. ________________