Grammar Problems: Lay, Pay, Play, Say, Stay

ScottsEnglish

How do we form the past of these words ending in -ay ?

One of the major difficulties in English is the number of exceptions or irregular forms.

"Play" is often used as an example of a regular verb: present form - play, past (preterit) - played, past participle - played

"Stay" follows the same pattern: stay, stayed, stayed

"Lay", "Pay", and "Say", however, follow a different pattern: lay, laid, laid, pay, paid, paid, and say, said, said

For the difference between "lie" and "lay", go here

Unfortunately, the Internet has examples of incorrect forms such as layed, or payed. These are not correct and should not be used.