lie vs. lay; can you explain the difference?

Lie and lay are both verbs. Everyone seems to have trouble with them, the main problem being when to use which verb.

When I was a child, I had that trouble too, until a teacher said, "Chickens lay, people lie".

The big difficulty is that in conjugating these verbs, there is an overlap.

To lie is Lie/lay/lain. To lay is Lay/laid/laid.

To lie is to recline. To lay is to put something down.

Example: I lie on the bed at night.

Example: Lie down, Spot.

Example: Lay the book on the table.

Example: I laid the baby in her crib.

A person lies in bed. A person lays something on the bed. "Something" is a direct object; if you don't have a direct object, you shouldn't use 'lay."

I always lay my books here when I come home. "Books" is the DO.

You always lie down on your bed at night. No direct object.

She is lying on the couch. No DO.

Dad is laying the papers on the stove to dry. "Papers" is the DO

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lie- telling something that is not true

lay - to have sex (getting laid)