One topic that can even be confusing for native English speakers is the difference between the verbs "to lie" and "to lay."  And it's no wonder—both of these verbs can refer to being in a reclined, horizontal position, but they also have other meanings. Not only that, their conjugations in the past tense are really quite tricky!

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A difference to remember is that "to lay" is a transitive verb and requires a direct object, whereas "to lie" is intransitive and does not require a second noun in the sentence. "To lie" can mean to say something that isn't truthful, or it can mean to recline or be in a resting position. While these verbs look the same in the present tense, the past tense conjugation is different! Have a look:

But they lie! They do not fulfill that promise.

Caption 68, Charlie Chaplin: Final Speech from The Great Dictator

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I lied! That was three.

Caption 61, Abiventures: Sandwich

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As you lie in fields of gold.

Caption 22, Katie Melua Fields of Gold

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When he came into the room in which Sleeping Beauty lay...

Caption 23, Fairy Tales: Sleeping Beauty

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Although "lay" is the simple past tense of "lie" when it refers to lying down, "to lay" is also a distinct verb and means to put or place something (the direct object) down. We say "The chicken lays an egg" and "The crew lays the foundation for a house." Note the direct objects in each of the sentences below:

Don't lay our love to rest.

Caption 38, Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Sting: All For Love

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And we will act not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.

Captions 30-31, Barack Obama's Inauguration Day: Obama's Speech

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Italian immigrants dug tunnels, laid railroad tracks, constructed bridges and roads, and erected the first skyscrapers.

Captions 36-38, Spotlight: Why Columbus Day?

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I laid four thousand and twenty eggs! -Wow!

Caption 80, Peppa Pig: Grandpa Pig's Computer

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To review:

Further Learning
In addition to memorizing the table above, you can find many examples of these verbs used in context on Yabla English.