Question

What is the future tense of “lay”? I am using it in a line of a poem.
We may never know
What lies for us ahead
Time is naturally slow
But its not something to dread

Answer 1

Hint: The formula for the simple future remains the same if the subject is singular or plural. Another way to demonstrate that anything will occur in the future is to use a graph. [Am/is/are] + going to + [root form verb] is the formula. I'm going to start studying a new language.

Complete answer:
Future tense – A future tense is a verb form that usually indicates that the occurrence defined by the verb has not yet occurred, but is expected to occur in the future.

The auxiliary words "will" or "shall" and "is going to" are the most widely used auxiliary words for the future tense. In fact, since it sounds formal, the word "shall" be rarely (if ever) using these days. All you have to note is the word "will." Any word is accompanied by the verb's unchanged form.

Lay means – to carefully place someone or something in a specific position or on a surface.
to place or bring in a horizontal or resting position; put it down.
Therefore "Lie" is the future tense of "lay."

Using "lie" in the future tense.
Example - I will lie down tomorrow.
And using in poem
What lies for us ahead.

Thus the future tense of ‘Lay’ is ‘lie’.

Note: The verb "lay" has an infinitive form and is in the present tense, meaning "to bring or place someone or something in a particular position," while "laid" is the simple past tense and past participle tense.