Ah, the ever so angering world of multiple spellings....

[dkglenning]

In short, I am majorly confused.

Lay, laid, layed, or lie.

i'm not even sure two are real words.

What are the different terms used for? Most other grammer i can do, but this has me frustrated!

Help!

[TheIT]

There are already about four threads in Grammar for Grasshoppers which address the question of lay vs. lie. Easiest way to find them: sort the forum alphabetically by Threads (click on Threads in Threads/Thread Starter in the blue bar) and go to page 15. Maybe one of those discussions will help.

Good luck.

[Duncan J Macdonald]

In short, I am majorly confused.

Lay, laid, layed, or lie.

i'm not even sure two are real words.

What are the different terms used for? Most other grammer i can do, but this has me frustrated!

Help!
Dictonaries are your friend. Only one of your words above does not exist. This usage note from the American Heritage Dictonary (http://www.bartleby.com/61/76/L0077600.html), Fourth Edition should prove sufficient:

USAGE NOTE:Lay (“to put, place, or prepare”) and lie (“to recline or be situated”) have been confused for centuries; evidence exists that lay has been used to mean “lie” since the 1300s. Why? First, there are two lays. One is the base form of the verb lay, and the other is the past tense of lie. Second, lay was once used with a reflexive pronoun to mean “lie” and survives in the familiar line from the child's prayer Now I lay me down to sleep; lay me down is easily shortened to lay down. Third, lay down, as in She lay down on the sofa sounds the same as laid down, as in I laid down the law to the kids. •Lay and lie are most easily distinguished by usage. Lay is a transitive verb and takes a direct object. Lay and its principal parts (laid, laying) are correctly used in the following examples: He laid (not lay) the newspaper on the table. The table was laid for four. Lie is an intransitive verb and cannot take an object. Lie and its principal parts (lay, lain, lying) are correctly used in the following examples: She often lies (not lays) down after lunch. When I lay (not laid) down, I fell asleep. The rubbish had lain (not laid) there a week. I was lying (not laying) in bed when he called. •There are a few exceptions to these rules. The phrasal verb lay for and the nautical use of lay, as in lay at anchor, though intransitive, are standard.

[kristie911]

USAGE NOTE:Lay (“to put, place, or prepare”) and lie (“to recline or be situated”) have been confused for centuries; evidence exists that lay has been used to mean “lie” since the 1300s. Why? First, there are two lays. One is the base form of the verb lay, and the other is the past tense of lie. Second, lay was once used with a reflexive pronoun to mean “lie” and survives in the familiar line from the child's prayer Now I lay me down to sleep; lay me down is easily shortened to lay down. Third, lay down, as in She lay down on the sofa sounds the same as laid down, as in I laid down the law to the kids. •Lay and lie are most easily distinguished by usage. Lay is a transitive verb and takes a direct object. Lay and its principal parts (laid, laying) are correctly used in the following examples: He laid (not lay) the newspaper on the table. The table was laid for four. Lie is an intransitive verb and cannot take an object. Lie and its principal parts (lay, lain, lying) are correctly used in the following examples: She often lies (not lays) down after lunch. When I lay (not laid) down, I fell asleep. The rubbish had lain (not laid) there a week. I was lying (not laying) in bed when he called. •There are a few exceptions to these rules. The phrasal verb lay for and the nautical use of lay, as in lay at anchor, though intransitive, are standard.

Yep, clear as mud now. ;)

[FennelGiraffe]

Yep, clear as mud now. ;)

Try this version of the explanation (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=855500&postcount=29); I think it's the very first post I made here.

[dkglenning]

Works for me.