stay
stays
staying
stayed
Stay means to remain in a place or condition, not moving or changing. Regular verb: stay-stayed-stayed.
Meanings
- To remain in a place
- To continue in a particular state
- To live somewhere temporarily
Common Collocations
stay put
stay away
stay tuned
stay in touch
here to stay
Tip for Learners
Stay put means to remain where you are. Stay tuned means to continue watching/listening. Stay vs remain: stay is less formal.
Present Simple
| I | stay |
| you | stay |
| he/she/it | stays |
| we | stay |
| they | stay |
Examples - Present Simple
- I stay at home on rainy days.
- You stay calm under pressure.
- She stays late at the office.
- We stay in touch with old friends.
- They stay at the same hotel every year.
Present Continuous
| I | am staying |
| you | are staying |
| he/she/it | is staying |
| we | are staying |
| they | are staying |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am staying with my parents this week.
- You are staying too long at work.
- He is staying at a friend's house.
- We are staying positive despite everything.
- They are staying in a luxury resort.
Present Perfect
| I | have stayed |
| you | have stayed |
| he/she/it | has stayed |
| we | have stayed |
| they | have stayed |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have stayed here many times before.
- You have stayed loyal all these years.
- She has stayed single by choice.
- We have stayed friends since childhood.
- They have stayed at every hotel in town.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been staying |
| you | have been staying |
| he/she/it | has been staying |
| we | have been staying |
| they | have been staying |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been staying at this hotel for a week.
- You have been staying up too late.
- He has been staying with relatives.
- We have been staying out of trouble.
- They have been staying indoors due to the heat.
Past Simple
| I | stayed |
| you | stayed |
| he/she/it | stayed |
| we | stayed |
| they | stayed |
Examples - Past Simple
- I stayed home yesterday.
- You stayed by my side through everything.
- She stayed at the party until midnight.
- We stayed in Paris for a week.
- They stayed together despite the difficulties.
Past Continuous
| I | was staying |
| you | were staying |
| he/she/it | was staying |
| we | were staying |
| they | were staying |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was staying at a hotel when you called.
- You were staying awake all night.
- He was staying with his grandmother.
- We were staying in a small village.
- They were staying at a campsite.
Past Perfect
| I | had stayed |
| you | had stayed |
| he/she/it | had stayed |
| we | had stayed |
| they | had stayed |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had stayed there once before.
- You had stayed silent for too long.
- She had stayed in touch with everyone.
- We had stayed at the same place.
- They had stayed hidden until it was safe.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been staying |
| you | had been staying |
| he/she/it | had been staying |
| we | had been staying |
| they | had been staying |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been staying awake worrying about you.
- You had been staying there for months.
- He had been staying at the hospital.
- We had been staying with family.
- They had been staying in temporary housing.
Future Simple
| I | will stay |
| you | will stay |
| he/she/it | will stay |
| we | will stay |
| they | will stay |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will stay as long as you need me.
- You will stay with us tonight.
- She will stay focused on her goals.
- We will stay in contact.
- They will stay at the beach house.
Future Continuous
| I | will be staying |
| you | will be staying |
| he/she/it | will be staying |
| we | will be staying |
| they | will be staying |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be staying at my sister's place.
- You will be staying here for the night.
- He will be staying in London all week.
- We will be staying until Sunday.
- They will be staying at the conference hotel.
Future Perfect
| I | will have stayed |
| you | will have stayed |
| he/she/it | will have stayed |
| we | will have stayed |
| they | will have stayed |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have stayed here for a month by then.
- You will have stayed long enough.
- She will have stayed faithful to her word.
- We will have stayed together for fifty years.
- They will have stayed at every resort.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been staying |
| you | will have been staying |
| he/she/it | will have been staying |
| we | will have been staying |
| they | will have been staying |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been staying here for two weeks.
- You will have been staying up late for months.
- He will have been staying sober for a year.
- We will have been staying in touch.
- They will have been staying at the same hotel.