How can I tell the diffrence between

Your answer was the best one, I made mine up off the top of my head! By Gad you’re a very serious lady, no offence intended.

Your answer was the best one ichibanarky, I made mine up off the top of my head! Your ‘hours of sleep’ advice was also golden.By Gad you’re a very serious lady, no offence intended.

I see no irony here…all I see is someone trying to come up with an excuse for being wrong.

mikeh’s answer shows a lack of understanding with regards to irony!

‘Lay’ always has a direct object , while ‘lie’ never does.

Example:

I LAY my laptop on the table. (laptop is the object) I like to LIE down after school. (no object)

Mikeh! Simplicity! lol

bmcoyle’s answer is a good example of why you need to pay attention in English class, because it is utterly and hopelessly incorrect.

ichi’s is almost there, but it is important to note that there is a big difference between an indirect object and no object at all.

Grammar Girl covered this subject extensively, and the article is definitely worth a read: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/lay-versus-lie.aspx

to ‘lie’ down is past tense, and a regular action in the present tense (I lie on the sofa every day). ‘Lay down’ is a past tense description of an action (I lay down in the lion’s cage) that is not a recurring or regularly one. It only describes one action, not several. Hope that helps ya.

wow why don’t you two go get laid

I can be serious…I apologize if I offended.

*Past tense would be ‘laid’ or ‘lain’, not ‘lay’