The English verb "lie" means "to recline, to deceive" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "lie" across all 5 tenses. New to English verbs? Start with the English verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "lie" in the Present Tense
Simple Present Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| I | I | lie |
| you | you (singular) | lie |
| he/she/it | he/she/it | lies |
| we | we | lie |
| you | you (plural) | lie |
| they | they | lie |
He lies down when he is tired.
say it LAIZ
He lies down when he is tired.
In other languages
- French Il s'allonge quand il est fatigué.
- German Er legt sich hin, wenn er müde ist.
- Spanish Él se acuesta cuando está cansado.
- Dutch Hij gaat liggen als hij moe is.
I lie on the beach to relax.
say it LAI
I lie on the beach to relax.
In other languages
- French Je m'allonge sur la plage pour me détendre.
- German Ich liege am Strand, um mich zu entspannen.
- Spanish Me tumbo en la playa para relajarme.
- Dutch Ik lig op het strand om te ontspannen.
How to Conjugate "lie" in the Past Tense
Simple Past Actions that happened in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| I | I | lay |
| you | you (singular) | lay |
| he/she/it | he/she/it | lay |
| we | we | lay |
| you | you (plural) | lay |
| they | they | lay |
He lay on the beach to tan.
say it LAY
He lay on the beach to tan.
In other languages
- French Il était allongé sur la plage pour bronzer.
- German Er lag am Strand, um braun zu werden.
- Spanish Él estuvo tendido en la playa para broncearse.
- Dutch Hij lag op het strand om bruin te worden.
I lay on the grass all afternoon.
say it LAY
I lay on the grass all afternoon.
In other languages
- French Je suis resté allongé sur l'herbe tout l'après-midi.
- German Ich lag den ganzen Nachmittag auf dem Gras.
- Spanish Estuve tendido en la hierba toda la tarde.
- Dutch Ik lag de hele middag op het gras.
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Try VerbPal FreeHow to Conjugate "lie" in the Future Tense
Simple Future Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| I | I | will lie |
| you | you (singular) | will lie |
| he/she/it | he/she/it | will lie |
| we | we | will lie |
| you | you (plural) | will lie |
| they | they | will lie |
He will lie on the grass.
say it Hee wil LIE
He will lie on the grass.
In other languages
- French Il s'allongera sur l'herbe.
- German Er wird auf dem Gras liegen.
- Spanish Él se tumbará sobre la hierba.
- Dutch Hij zal op het gras liggen.
I will lie on the beach.
say it I wil LIE
I will lie on the beach.
In other languages
- French Je m'allongerai sur la plage.
- German Ich werde am Strand liegen.
- Spanish Me tumbaré en la playa.
- Dutch Ik zal op het strand liggen.
How to Conjugate "lie" in the Present (-ing) Tense
Present Continuous Actions happening right now| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| I | I | am lying |
| you | you (singular) | are lying |
| he/she/it | he/she/it | is lying |
| we | we | are lying |
| you | you (plural) | are lying |
| they | they | are lying |
He is lying in the grass.
say it IZ LY-ing
He is lying in the grass.
In other languages
- French Il est allongé dans l'herbe.
- German Er liegt im Gras.
- Spanish Él está tumbado en la hierba.
- Dutch Hij ligt in het gras.
I am lying on the beach.
say it AM LY-ing
I am lying on the beach.
In other languages
- French Je suis allongé sur la plage.
- German Ich liege am Strand.
- Spanish Estoy tumbado en la playa.
- Dutch Ik lig op het strand.
How to Conjugate "lie" in the Have done Tense
Present Perfect Actions completed with present relevance| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| I | I | have lain |
| you | you (singular) | have lain |
| he/she/it | he/she/it | has lain |
| we | we | have lain |
| you | you (plural) | have lain |
| they | they | have lain |
She has lain in the sun.
say it She has LAIN in the SUN
She has lain in the sun.
In other languages
- French Elle a été allongée au soleil.
- German Sie hat in der Sonne gelegen.
- Spanish Ella ha estado tumbada al sol.
- Dutch Zij heeft in de zon gelegen.
I have lain on the grass.
say it I have LAIN on the GRASS
I have lain on the grass.
In other languages
- French Je me suis allongé sur l'herbe.
- German Ich habe auf dem Gras gelegen.
- Spanish He estado tumbado sobre la hierba.
- Dutch Ik heb op het gras gelegen.
Frequently Asked Questions About "lie"
Is "lie" regular or irregular in English?
"Lie" is an irregular English verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "lie" mean in English?
The English verb "lie" means "to recline, to deceive" in English.
How do you conjugate "lie" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Simple Present): I → lie, you → lie, he/she/it → lies, we → lie, you → lie, they → lie.
How many tenses does "lie" have in English?
"Lie" is conjugated across 5 tenses in English: Present, Past, Future, Present (-ing), Have done.
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