The verb “lie’’ can be applied in present, past, or future tense in their all forms. Now, we are going to get sound knowledge of the usage of various tense forms.
We must add the “s” with the root word “lie” and form “lies” that is used while making a sentence in the simple present tense in which the subject is in the third person singular number. The other forms are “lying’’ and “lied’’ that are used in continuous and perfect tense forms of all tenses.
Now, let us find out more interesting facts regarding the usage of the verb “lie” in the present, past, and future tense along with relevant examples and detailed explanations.
“Lie’’ in the present tense.
An action that happens at present is called present tense. Now, let us examine the acts of “lie’’ in the present tense.
We use the verb “lie’’ to refer to an act of putting our body on a bed to take some rest.
When can we use “lie’’ in the present tense?
We use the word “lie’’ when we need to present the act in which something or someone takes a resting position on a surface for taking rest. We have to apply “lie”, “lies”, “lying” along with am/is/are, has/have, has/have been to make sentences to show the act of lying.
Sentence structure of “lie’’ in the present tense-
| Type of present tense | Rule to form a sentence with “lie’’ in the present tense |
| 1. Present indefinite tense/ Simple present tense | (i) Subject (any person or animal)+ lie/lies + object + remaining part (assertive sentence) (ii) Do/does + Subject (any person or animal) + lie + object +? ( interrogative sentence) (iii) Lie + object + remaining portion (for making an order) |
| 2. Present continuous tense/ Present progressive tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ am/is/are + verb +ing + object + rest of the sentence (assertive sentence) b. Am/is/are + subject (any person or animal)+ verb +ing + object + rest (interrogative sentence) |
| 3. Present perfect tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ has/have + lied (past participle form) + object + rest (assertive sentence) b. Has/have + subject (any person or animal) +lied + object + rest +?(question formation sentence) |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense/ Present perfect progressive tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ has/have + been + verb +ing + object + rest (statement) b. Has/have + been + subject (any person or animal)+ lying + object + rest (question) |
Examples and explanations with the usage of “lie’’ in the present tense-
| Type of present tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Present indefinite tense/ Simple present tense | The village lies in a deserted place where there is a very little number of houses. | Here the verb “lies’’ is in the usage of the event in which we see that the village lies in a deserted place where there is a very little number of houses. |
| 2. Present continuous tense/ Present progressive tense | The dog is lying on the footpath on its back. | The term “is lying’’ forms the continuous action in which we find out that the dog is lying on the footpath on his back. |
| 3. Present perfect tense | Jennie has lied down on the cot and tried to forget the name of Sandesh. | Here the verb “has lied’’ is in the usage to refer to an action in which Jennie has lied down on the cot and try to forget the name of Sandesh. |
| 4. Present perfect continuous tense/ Present perfect progressive tense | The girl has been lying on the mattress for two hours to get relief from the pain in her head. | Here we see that the girl has been lying on the mattress for some time to get relief from pain in her head. |
“Lie’’ in the past tense.
A past tense is one of the tense forms that give the previous actions. Here we will discuss how the verb “lie’’ acts in the past tense.
We can use the verb “lie’’ in the past tense to show the position in which our body is flat on a surface such as on the bed or flat.
When can we use “lie’’ in the past tense?
The verb “lie’’ in the form “lied” or “lay” can definitely be inserted into a sentence when we need to indicate the action in which the body was put flat on the surface or on anywhere in the past.
Sentence structure and formation of “lie’’ in the past tense-
| Type of past tense | Rules to form a sentence with “lie’’ in the past tense |
| 1. Past indefinite tense/ Simple past tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ lied (past form) + object + rest of the sentence(in time of framing assertive sentence) b. Did + subject (any person or animal)+ lie + object + rest of the sentence(to make question) |
| 2. Past continuous tense/ Past progressive tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ was/were + verb +ing + object + remaining part of the sentence (while framing assertive sentence) b. Was/were + subject (any person or animal)+ verb + ing + object + remaining part of the sentence (interrogative sentence or question) |
| 3. Past perfect tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ had + lied (past participle form) + object + rest of the sentence(assertive sentence) b. Had + subject + lied (past participle form) + object + rest of the sentence+?(interrogative sentence) |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense/ past progressive tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ had + been + verb +ing + object + rest of the sentence(assertive sentence) b. Had + subject (any person or animal)+ been + lying + object + rest +?(to make a question) |
Examples and explanations of “lie’’ in the past tense-
| Type of past tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Past indefinite tense/ Simple past tense | The naughty boy lay on the hard floor after playing with the dolls. | Here we have seen that at the time of asking about the boy it was found that the naughty boy lay on the hard floor after playing with the dolls |
| 2. Past continuous tense/ Past progressive tense | They were lying under the stars when they went out for a tour of the forest. | Here it is found that the verb “were lying’’ is in the usage to refer to an ongoing action of the past. We find that they were lying under the stars when they went out for a tour of the forest. |
| 3. Past perfect tense | My brother had lain on the bed last night before my father returned home. | In this scenario, the verb “had lied’’ forms a sentence with a sense to provide that my brother had lied on the bed the previous night before my father returned home. |
| 4. Past perfect continuous tense/ Past perfect progressive tense | The stranger had been lying in the courtyard for the whole night. | Here we find out that the stranger had been lying in the courtyard for the whole night. |
“Lie’’ in the future tense.
The verb that presents the actions of the future is called the action of the future tense. Here let us check how “lie’’ acts in the future tense.
We can use the verb “lie’’ in the future tense to display the act of raising something or someone to a higher level or position.
When do we use “lie’’ in the future tense?
We use the verb “lie’ to display the actions in the future tense when we need to mention someone’s action putting his/her body on the back in some places to get a relaxation of the body.
Sentence structure of “lie’’ in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | How to form a sentence with “lie’’ in the future tense |
| 1. Future indefinite tense/ Simple future tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ shall/will lie + object + remaining part(assertive or declarative sentence) b. Shall/will + subject (any person or animal)+ lie + object + remaining part +?(in case of framing question) |
| 2. Future continuous tense/ Future progressive tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ shall/will + be + verb + ing + object + remaining part(statement or descriptive sentence) b. Shall/will + subject + be + verb + ing + object + remaining part +?(in case of making question) |
| 3. Future perfect tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ shall/will + have lied + object + remaining part (while framing assertive sentence) b. Shall/will + subject (any person or animal)+ have lied + object + remaining part +?(to make question) |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense/ Future perfect progressive tense | a. Subject (any person or animal)+ shall/will + have + been + lying + object + remaining part(for making assertive sentence) b. Shall/will + subject (any person or animal)+ have + been + lying + object + remaining part(for making question) |
Examples and explanations of “lie’’ in the future tense-
| Type of future tense | Example | Explanation |
| 1. Future indefinite tense/ Simple future tense | The tourists will lie on the beds of the room which is well decorated and designed. | In this sentence, we see that the tourists will sleep in a room which is well-decorated and designed. |
| 2. Future continuous tense/ Future progressive tense | We will be lying in a room where there will no one disturb us. | Here we have found that we will be sleeping in a room where there will no one disturb us. |
| 3. Future perfect tense | My daughter will have lied to me tonight. | The example shows the future activities in which we see that the speaker’s daughter will have lied to me tonight. |
| 4. Future perfect continuous tense/ Future perfect progressive tense | The man will have been lying for the whole night with his brother. | The sentence hints at the action that the man’s lying for the whole night with his brother will be done for some time. |
Conclusion
It is also clear to us that we can make phrases with the verb “get laid’’ such as “lie ahead’’, “lie in the state’’, “lie at the root of something’’, “lie heavy on someone’’, etc. We can frame phrasal verbs like “lie in’’, and “lie about’’, and “lie beside’’, “lie down”, etc with this verb form.
Hi…. I am Goutam Datta. I have completed a double M. A. in English and B. Ed. I am a creative writer. Currently, I am a part of the LambdaGeeks.
