Lay is a transitive verb; lie is intransitive, which means that lay requires a direct object, such as:

"Lay that monkey poop next to the shrunken heads."

It's extra confusing because the past tense of lie is lay. So you lie down today, you lay down last week and you have lain down in the past. You also lay the monkey poop next to the shrunken heads today, you laid it last week and you have laid it in the past.

So his dead wife would be laying next to him unless her death has caused her to be considered as nothing more than an object, in which case you should stop writing because that's misogyny and misogynists suck ass.

Lying. She would be lying next to him, not laying. He could lay her down, but if she is already there, she is lying.

Mel beat me to it. And I was looking forward to breaking out my Fowler's so very much. And mentioning Bro. Joe Chvala (much to Matt's delight, no doubt).

Aaaahhhh -- yes, now I get it. Just like that language skills website says -- transitive, intransitive; transigent, intransigent; laying, laid, lying; liar, layer; lain, lane; sane, insane; ignorance, arrogance -- yes, we all get it now. I think we need to spend $53 million to make this clear.

Take caution in your tone. I'm a fair guy, but this fuckin' heat's making me absolutely crazy.

I run my blog the way I run my blog. You wanna investigate, roll the dice and take your chances. I eat breakfast 80 yards away from Glynn and Christine Watts, who speak the Queen's English. So don't for one second think you're gonna come here, flash a diploma, and make me nervous.

Oh, you Americans, changing all of these verbs!! My Oxford Practice Grammar has to devote several pages to 'American English' Hummmph!

u are amazing..believe me..its such a talent..from another persian gilr...
ur the best( at lease of the best)
I contact u later via mail...

hmmmm.

You might have avoided all these agitated commenters by rewriting the sentence... the wife was sprawling, reclining, huddled, reposing, prostrate... That's what I usually do. ;)

I'm with Phillip! Change the damn sentence!