Common Mistake: Using "Was Lain" Instead of "Was Laid"

One common mistake that many people make is using the incorrect past tense form of the verb "lay". Instead of saying "was lain", the correct form is "was laid".

The Correct Usage:

• Incorrect: The book was lain on the table.
• Correct: The book was laid on the table.

The verb "lay" is used when we want to talk about placing something down. The past tense of "lay" is "laid". However, some people mistakenly use "lain" instead of "laid".

Usage Example:

• Incorrect: The towels were lain neatly on the bed.
• Correct: The towels were laid neatly on the bed.

By using the correct form of the verb, we can effectively communicate our ideas. Therefore, it's important to remember that "was laid" should be used instead of "was lain" in past tense sentences.

Linguix grammar checker can help you avoid this mistake and many others by providing real-time suggestions and corrections for your writing.