The clothes (lying/laid) on

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keannu

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Does only "lying" work here? What about "laid"? "laid" also seems to work as a passive voice of a transitive verb meaning "The clothes (which is) laid by (someone)"

ex)The clothes (lying/laid) on the floor belong to me.
 
They both work, and so does the shorter 'The clothes on the floor belong to me'.
 
"Laid" suggests deliberate placement. Most people don't "lay" their clothes on the floor in some sort of arrangement.

I confess that I drop my clothes on the floor instead of placing them in the hamper. Once dropped (or even tossed) on the floor, they lie there until I gather them up.

Unless you want to suggest the careful, deliberate placement of the garments, use "lying."

note: clothes are not is
 
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