he laid down

USAGE SUMMARY

"he laid down" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing someone placing themselves in a horizontal position or putting something down. Example: "After a long day, he laid down on the couch to rest." Alternative expressions include "he reclined" and "he settled down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The fifth day he laid down varnish.

The New Yorker

He laid down the ground rules.

The New York Times

He laid down a tapestry.

The Guardian - Film

Then he laid down his.

The New Yorker

He laid down his own moral guidelines.

The Guardian

And he laid down in bed.

The Guardian - Books

What he laid down is perfectly wonderful".

The New York Times - Arts

Then he laid down his gun and said, "I'm sorry".

The New York Times

Last week, he laid down his chain saw long enough to talk to a reporter.

The New York Times

On Thursday, he laid down a sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning.

The New York Times - Sports

But he laid down some markers, and they're durable enough to carry him through to November.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he laid down" when you want to clearly communicate the action of someone placing something down or assuming a lying position in the past tense.

Common error

Be careful to distinguish between "lay" and "lie". "Lay" (laid, laying) requires a direct object (e.g., he laid down the book). "Lie" (lay, lain, lying) does not take a direct object and refers to reclining (e.g., he lay down to rest).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he laid down" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating a past action. It describes either the act of placing something down or assuming a reclining position. Ludwig provides examples illustrating both usages.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

14%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he laid down" is a versatile phrase that primarily functions as a verb phrase in the past tense. It's grammatically correct and frequently used, as confirmed by Ludwig. The phrase is neutral in tone and finds common use in news media and academic writing. As Ludwig AI correctly indicates, it's important to differentiate its usage from "he lay down" to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he lay down

Corrects the tense; "lay down" is the present tense, while "laid down" is past tense.

he placed down

Replaces "laid" with "placed", focusing on the action of putting something down carefully.

he set down

Similar to "placed down", emphasizing a deliberate action of putting something down.

he put down

A more general term for placing something down, less formal than "laid down".

he reclined

Focuses specifically on the action of lying back or resting.

he established

If used metaphorically to mean setting a rule or precedent.

he stipulated

Highlights the act of setting conditions or requirements.

he collapsed

Emphasizes falling or lying down due to exhaustion or injury.

he surrendered

Used metaphorically to mean giving up and lying down, either physically or mentally.

he defined

When referring to setting boundaries or establishing a definition.

FAQs

How is "he laid down" used in a sentence?

The phrase "he laid down" indicates that someone placed something down or assumed a reclining position in the past. For example, "He laid down the law" or "He laid down for a nap".

What's the difference between "he lay down" and "he laid down"?

"He "he lay down"" is the past tense of the intransitive verb 'to lie', meaning to recline. "He laid down" is the past tense of the transitive verb 'to lay', meaning to place something. The correct usage depends on whether there is a direct object.

What can I say instead of "he laid down" when referring to setting a rule?

When referring to setting a rule, you can use alternatives like "he "he established"", "he "he stipulated"", or "he "he defined"" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "he laid down" formal or informal?

The phrase "he laid down" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Its formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than on the phrase itself.