Take a look at the sentence again:

Theodora will nuzzle a snake, kiss a frog, and let a tarantula crawl up her arm. But if you were __________ a bowl of lima beans on the dining room table, she would run screaming from the house.

The problem for Theodora is that you might put a bowl of lima beans on the table. Thus, you need a form of lay. The sentence requires an infinitive. Consult the table below or review the rules.

Infinitive Definition Simple Present Simple Past Past Participle Present Participle
to lay to put something down lay(s) laid laid laying
to lie to rest or recline lie(s) lay lain lying

Go to the next sentence.

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