Four men who meet as college roommates move to New York and spend the next three decades gaining renown in their professions—as an architect, painter, actor and lawyer—and struggling with demons in their intertwined personal lives. In the end, the most critical difference between “lay” and “lie” in the present tense is that “lay” describes the action of placing something in a horizontal position, while “lie” denotes the state of being in that position. Thus, you would be “lying” in bed. We only cite reputable sources when researching our guides and articles. These include peer-reviewed journals, government reports, academic and medical associations, and interviews with credentialed medical experts and practitioners.

Although sleeping on a mattress is usually the best option, occasionally sleeping on the couch may be appropriate in certain situations. Perhaps the bedroom becomes too hot or too cold at times, while the living room remains a comfortable temperature. Maybe you like to watch TV in the evening, and you doze off before making your way to the bedroom.

People in certain situations might benefit from sleeping on a couch instead of a bed. Easier to Elevate Head Sometimes the sofa is simply the most comfortable option for sleeping. If you have certain health conditions, sleeping on the couch might even provide the best sleep experience. Sleeping on the couch might help if you have cold or flu symptoms When shopping for a sectional, make sure the various pieces can be firmly connected. Fabric strips typically aren’t strong enough to hold pieces of a sectional together and may tear over time, leading to awkward gaps between the sitting areas.

Wong, D. W-C., Wang, Y., Lin, J., Tan, Q., Chen, T. L-W., & Zhang, M. (2019). Sleeping mattress determinants and evaluation: A biomechanical review and critique. PeerJ, 7, e6364. You can find couches with several special features. For example, some models have either manual or automatic recliners built into the sofa. You can also find couches with built-in drink holders, USB ports, hidden consoles, and more.

When to Use Lay + Original Examples

This sofa has a sturdy birch frame and triple-layer foam and fiber cushions that deliver a plush yet supportive feel. During our real-world tests, we found that while the cushions weren’t so soft that you could sink into them, they were still comfortable enough to sit and lounge on for long periods of time. We also love that it has a USB charger integrated into one of the arms, which became one of our favorite added features of the sofa. Lie” is an intransitive verb and does not need an object. We usually follow it with a prepositional phrase to indicate where someone is lying. On the other hand, “lay,” as a transitive verb, does require an object because you are laying something on a surface ( source).