Lie/Lay

[tari_sue]

The verb 'to lay' (as with the verb 'to put' or 'to place') needs an object to lay. The verb 'to lie' (as with 'to sit or 'to stand') does not.

Harry lies on the bed
Harry lay on the bed yesterday
Harry has lain on the bed
Harry is no longer lying on the bed.

Harry lays Draco on the bed
Harry laid Draco on the bed yesterday
Harry has laid Draco the bed
Harry has finished laying Draco on the bed.

Harry lies to Ginny about it
Harry lied to Ginny yesterday
Harry has lied to Ginny before.
Harry is still lying now.

Harry does not 'lay' on the bed, he does not go for a 'lay down', he goes for a 'lie down' or he 'lay down', not he 'laid down' and never 'lied down'. He can, however, lay himself down. Try and replace the verb with 'place' - Harry places/placed on the bed [doesn't work so use lies/lay], Harry places/placed Draco on the bed [does work so use lays/laid] - if it doesn't work you probably want the verb 'to lie' and if it does work you probably want 'to lay'.

The blame lies with you just as
The blame lay with you yesterday and
The blame has always lain with you.

I lay the blame at your feet just as
I laid the blame at your feet yesterday and
I have laid the blame at your feet all week