What is the present participle form of the verb 'lay'?

What is the present participle form of the verb 'lay'?

• A. Laying
• B. Lay
• C. Laid
• D. Lays

Answer: (A)

The present participle is formed by adding -ing to the base form of the verb, so lay becomes laying. This form is used with be to show ongoing action, as in “is laying bricks” or “was laying tiles.” The other forms serve different tenses: lay is the base form for present tense, laid is both the simple past and the past participle, and lays is the third-person singular present. (Note that lay and lie are easy to mix up: lie’s present participle is lying, with different past forms.)

The present participle is formed by adding -ing to the base form of the verb, so lay becomes laying. This form is used with be to show ongoing action, as in “is laying bricks” or “was laying tiles.” The other forms serve different tenses: lay is the base form for present tense, laid is both the simple past and the past participle, and lays is the third-person singular present. (Note that lay and lie are easy to mix up: lie’s present participle is lying, with different past forms.)