These are common in speech, but are generally recognized as poor grammar, especially in writing. What makes this more confusing is the past tense: “Yesterday, he lay on the bed.” That’s correct, but hard for people to remember. I’m kind of a grammar maven, and I have to think about which word is right.
Both dived and dove are acceptable in the U.S. — at least according to Merriam-Webster, which has this to say:
In my own experience in the central eastern U.S., I would agree with all the above, but add that I’ve never heard dove used as a past participle in speech either (“He has dove into the pool.”). Certainly not that I can remember; it just sounds way too wrong. I suppose somebody out there must be saying this though.
The proper usage and past tenses for lie and lay are exactly the same here as in the UK, I believe. Again, Merriam-Webster has entries on the words.
So, any American you catch saying “I was laying on the bed” you can feel free to smack, on my behalf.
I lie down every day. I do lie down every day. I was lying down. Yesterday I lay down. Many times I have lain down for a nap.
I lay down the book. I do lay it down. I was laying down the book. Yesterday I lay down the book. Many times I have laid down the book.
Isn’t this fun???
Another “thing” to note is that “lie” is an intransitive verb; whereas, “lay” (as the present tense and not the past tense of “lie”) is a transitive verb. One lays down (or up) an object, but a subject merely lies (except when he’s telling the truth. :))