Choose the sentence that uses lay correctly as a transitive verb.

Choose the sentence that uses lay correctly as a transitive verb.

• A. Please lay the book on the shelf.
• B. Please lie the book on the shelf.
• C. Please laid the book on the shelf.
• D. Please lying the book on the shelf.

Answer: (A)

Lay is used when you place something down and it takes a direct object. In this sentence, the book is what’s being placed, and you’re telling someone to put it somewhere, so the base form should be used in the imperative: lay the book on the shelf. Lie means to recline and does not take a direct object, so using it with “the book” is not correct. Laid is the past tense of lay, not the imperative form you need here. Lying is the present participle form, which also doesn’t fit the imperative structure with a direct object.

Lay is used when you place something down and it takes a direct object. In this sentence, the book is what’s being placed, and you’re telling someone to put it somewhere, so the base form should be used in the imperative: lay the book on the shelf.

Lie means to recline and does not take a direct object, so using it with “the book” is not correct. Laid is the past tense of lay, not the imperative form you need here. Lying is the present participle form, which also doesn’t fit the imperative structure with a direct object.