Lay, Lie or Lie? How to Use Them Correctly with "Visual Aid" ?

Is there anyone who is not confused with the proper usage of the verbs "lay" and "lie"? I know I am from time to time. So that's why I developed a "visual aid" to help myself remember what is what. It works for me and I hope it'll be helpful for you as well.

1) Lay means to "place," or "put" and it is a transitive verb. That is, it needs an OBJECT to make sense. You always lay SOMETHING.

VISUAL AID: Imagine the letter "a" in "Lay" as someone bending over to place a heavy object on the ground.

"Our engineers will lay the foundation of our new headquarters building."

Both the past and perfect tense of "Lay" is "Laid." Lay-Laid-Laid (1-2-2).

"Our engineers have laid the foundation of our new headquarters building."

2) Lie, an intransitive verb that does not need an object, means to "recline" or "remain."

VISUAL AID: Imagine the DOT on the letter "i" in "Lie" as the head of someone resting/reclining on a couch or bed.

But watch out -- the PAST tense of lie is also lay! That's why it can get pretty confusing.

"The puppy would not lay still even for a second!"

So when you see "lay," you have to figure out whether it is to "put/place" or "recline/remain" from the context.

However the perfect tense of "Lie" is "Lain." Lie-Lay-Lain (1-2-3).

"The overturned truck had lain in the ditch the whole night."

3) Lie has yet ANOTHER meaning, as you know – telling an untruth.

Its past and perfect tenses are "Lied" and "Lied." Lie-Lied-Lied (1-2-2). Usually it's easy to tell this form of "lie" from the other.

("Puppy lied." Correct? No. Puppies don't talk. It should be "Puppy lay.")