What is the correct form of "to lie" in the sentence "I had ___ there all day before they came"?

In the sentence "I had ___ there all day before they came," the correct form of "to lie" is "lain." The verb "to lie," in this context, means to recline or be situated in a horizontal position. Its past participle form is "lain," which is used after "had" in the past perfect tense to indicate that the action of lying down occurred before another past action, which in this case is "before they came."

Understanding the other options provides clarity on why "lain" is the appropriate choice here. "Laid" is the past tense of "to lay," which requires a direct object (for example, "to lay something down"), while "lie" does not. "Lay" is the base form of "to lay," also not applicable in this context since the sentence requires a past participle, not a base form. "Lied" pertains to "to lie" in the sense of telling an untruth, which does not fit the meaning intended in the sentence focusing on position. Thus, "lain" is the correct past participle that aligns with the grammatical structure and intended meaning of the sentence.