Mastering Six Troublesome Verbs

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Mastering Six Troublesome Verbs
Why are these verbs troublesome?
Lie/Lay Sit/Set Rise/Raise Review A Review B
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Why are these verbs troublesome?
Six verbs in English require special attention.
lie
lay
sit
set
rise
raise

• Is the longhorn

lying
in the grass or
in the grass?
laying

• Is Max

setting
?
or
sitting

• Does the temperature

rise
raise
or
?
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Why are these verbs troublesome?
These verbs cause trouble because they sound
alike.
lie
lay
lie
lay
sit
set
sit
set
rise
raise
rise
raise
One vowel sound makes all the difference.
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Why are these verbs troublesome?
One way to distinguish these verbs is to ask . . .
Does the verb have a direct object?
Wes sits on the park bench.
No object
She sets the cup on the saucer.
She sets the cup on the saucer.
Object
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Why are these verbs troublesome?Direct object
A direct object is a word or word group that
receives the action of the verb or shows the
result of the action.
Direct object
She sets the cup on the saucer.
cup
sets what?
cup
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Lie/Lay
The verb lie means to rest, to recline, or
to be in place.
Keith lies on the sofa.
The verb lay means to put (something) in a
place. Lay generally takes an object.
Object
Mrs. Wong lays the plates down.
Mrs. Wong lays the plates down.
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Lie/Lay
Lie can also have other definitions. One common
definition is to tell an untruth.
Grammar Guy Says...
Please do not lie about what happened.
In this use, lie does not take an object.
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Lie/Lay
Principal Parts of Lie and Lay Principal Parts of Lie and Lay Principal Parts of Lie and Lay Principal Parts of Lie and Lay
Baseform Present participle Past Past participle
lie is lying lay have lain
lay is laying laid have laid
lay
lay
These verbs are easy to confuse because the past
form of lie is also lay.
Base form of lay
Please lay that package on the floor.
Past form of lie
The dog lay on the blanket all afternoon.
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Lie/Lay
Principal Parts of Lie and Lay Principal Parts of Lie and Lay Principal Parts of Lie and Lay Principal Parts of Lie and Lay
Baseform Present participle Past Past participle
lie is lying lay have lain
lay is laying laid have laid
have lain
have laid
laid
Notice that the past participle of lie is have
lain.
This old camera has lain in the attic for years.
The past and past participle forms of lay are
laid and have laid.
Rita carefully laid the figurine in the box.
I have laid my slippers next to the bed.
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Lie/Lay
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
1. Please (lay, lie) the tools down here.
2. The rake is (laying, lying) in a pile of
leaves.
3. Ms. Collins (laid, lain) the study guides on
the table.
4. Mike had (laid, lain) in the grass all
morning.
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Lie/Lay
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
1. Please (lay, lie) the tools down here.
Lay is the correct form because the verb means
to put (something) in a place and takes the
object tools.
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Lie/Lay
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
2. The rake is (laying, lying) in a pile of
leaves.
In this sentence, lying is the present participle
form of lie. The verb means to rest or to
recline and does not take an object.
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Lie/Lay
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
3. Ms. Collins (laid, lain) the study guides on
the table.
Laid is the past form of lay. The verb means to
put (something) in a place and takes the object
study guides.
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Lie/Lay
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
4. Mike had (laid, lain) in the grass all
morning.
Lain is the correct past participle of lie. The
verb means to rest or to recline and does not
take an object.
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Lie/Lay
On Your Own
Give the correct form of lie or lay in the blank
for each of the following sentences. 1. Did you
______ this bag of oranges on the table? 2. The
calf was ______ on a pile of straw. 3. The
toddlers will ______ down for their naps now.
4. Marty had ______ peacefully on the hammock
for hours. 5. The workers ______ the crate on
the ground.
End of Section
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Lie/Lay
Answers
Give the correct form of lie or lay in the blank
for each of the following sentences. 1. Did you
______ this bag of oranges on the table? 2. The
calf was ______ on a pile of straw. 3. The
toddlers will ______ down for their naps now.
4. Marty had ______ peacefully on the hammock
for hours. 5. The workers ______ the crate on
the ground.
lay
lying
lie
lain
laid
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Sit/Set
The verb sit means to rest in a seated, upright
position or to be in a place.
They are sitting at the table.
The verb set means to put (something) in a
place. Set generally takes an object.
Object
Derrick has set the ladder against the wall.
Derrick has set the ladder against the wall.
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Sit/Set
Set has other meanings that do not require a
direct object. Check a dictionary to see whether
or not the meaning you intend takes an object.
Grammar Guy Says...
No object
What time will the sun set today?
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Sit/Set
Principal Parts of Sit and Set Principal Parts of Sit and Set Principal Parts of Sit and Set Principal Parts of Sit and Set
Baseform Present participle Past Past participle
sit is sitting sat have sat
set is setting set have set
have sat
sat
set
have set
The past and past participle forms of sit are sat.
At last nights game we sat in the front row.
At earlier games we had sat near the back.
The past and past participle forms of set are set
and have set.
Polly set the plants on the windowsill.
I think she has set them too near the window.
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Sit/Set
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
1. (Sit, Set) the box down near the door.
2. They were (sitting, setting) placemats on the
table.
3. Ruth had (sat, set) on the porch since lunch.
4. I may never know who (sat, set) on my glasses.
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Sit/Set
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
1. (Sit, Set) the box down near the door.
Set is the correct form because the verb means
to put (something) in a place and takes the
object box.
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Sit/Set
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
2. They were (sitting, setting) placemats on the
table.
In this sentence, setting is the present
participle form of set. The verb means to put
(something) in a place and takes the object
placemats.
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Sit/Set
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
3. Ruth had (sat, set) on the porch since lunch.
Sat is the correct past participle form of sit
and does not take an object.
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Sit/Set
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
4. I may never know who (sat, set) on my glasses.
Sat is the correct past form of sit and does not
take an object.
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Sit/Set
On Your Own
Give the correct form of sit or set in the blank
for each of the following sentences. 1. We have
______ around the campfire a long while. 2. John
has ______ aside money to buy an MP3
player. 3. You should not ______ on the damp
ground. 4. Mr. Carr told me to ______ the
equipment on his desk. 5. The groceries are still
______ on the kitchen counter.
End of Section
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Sit/Set
Answers
Give the correct form of sit or set in the blank
for each of the following sentences. 1. We have
______ around the campfire a long while. 2. John
has ______ aside money to buy an MP3
player. 3. You should not ______ on the damp
ground. 4. Mr. Carr told me to ______ the
equipment on his desk. 5. The groceries are still
______ on the kitchen counter.
sat
set
sit
set
sitting
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Rise/Raise
The verb rise means to go upward.
Air bubbles rise to the surface.
The verb raise means to move (something)
upward. Raise generally takes an object.
Object
Raise the lid carefully.
Raise the lid carefully.
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Rise/Raise
Raise can also mean to grow or to bring to
maturity. Both of these uses also take an object.
Grammar Guy Says...
Object
They raise corn on their farm.
They raise corn on their farm.
Object
She raised two foster children.
She raised two foster children.
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Rise/Raise
Principal Parts of Rise and Raise Principal Parts of Rise and Raise Principal Parts of Rise and Raise Principal Parts of Rise and Raise
Baseform Present participle Past Past participle
rise is rising rose have risen
raise is raising raised have raised
have risen
rose
raised
have raised
The past and past participle forms of rise are
rose and have risen.
She rose early that morning.
Her brother had risen even earlier.
The past and past participle forms of raise are
raised and have raised.
Several students raised their hands to answer.
Mr. Taylor has raised an interesting question.
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Rise/Raise
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
1. The team (rises, raises) a giant banner before
each game.
2. Smoke was (rising, raising) from the ashes.
3. The kitten slowly (rose, raised) its head.
4. The price of citrus fruit has (risen, raised).
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Rise/Raise
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
1. The team (rises, raises) a giant banner before
each game.
Raises is the correct form because the verb means
to move (something) upward and takes the object
banner.
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Rise/Raise
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
2. Smoke was (rising, raising) from the ashes.
In this sentence, rising is the present
participle form of rise. The verb means to go
upward and takes no object.
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Rise/Raise
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
3. The kitten slowly (rose, raised) its head.
Raised is the correct form because the verb means
to move (something) upward and takes the object
head.
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Rise/Raise
For each of the following sentences, choose the
correct verb form in parentheses.
4. The price of citrus fruit has (risen, raised).
Risen is the correct past participle form of rise
and does not take an object.
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Rise/Raise
On Your Own
Give the correct form of rise or raise in the
blank for each of the following sentences. 1.
Chris ______ early each day to train for the
marathon. 2. Please ______ the blinds to give the
plants some light. 3. The dough is ______ on the
countertop. 4. Gerry has already ______ enough
money for the trip. 5. The Bunsen burner flame
has ______ too high.
End of Section
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Rise/Raise
Answers
Give the correct form of rise or raise in the
blank for each of the following sentences. 1.
Chris ______ early each day to train for the
marathon. 2. Please ______ the blinds to give the
plants some light. 3. The dough is ______ on the
countertop. 4. Gerry has already ______ enough
money for the trip. 5. The Bunsen burner flame
has ______ too high.
rises
raise
rising
raised
risen
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Review A
For each sentence, give the correct form of the
verb indicated in parentheses.

1. In winter, my cat (lie) on a blanket in the
   closet.

1. She (lay) the baby in the crib and quietly left
   the room.

1. The flowers were (sit) by the door when I got
   home.

1. Has your cousin (set) a date for her wedding yet?

1. The temperature has already (rise) by ten degrees.

6. Tyrell (raise) the fallen child to her feet.
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Review A
For each sentence, give the correct form of the
verb indicated in parentheses.

1. In winter, my cat lies on a blanket in the closet.

1. She laid the baby in the crib and quietly left
   the room.

1. The flowers were sitting by the door when I got
   home.

1. Has your cousin set a date for her wedding yet?

1. The temperature has already risen by ten degrees.

6. Tyrell raised the fallen child to her feet.
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Review B
If a verb in one of the following sentences is
incorrect, give the correct form. If a sentence
is already correct, label it C.
1. After the marathon, Millie laid down right on
the sidewalk.
2. A large black cat was setting on the wall in
our backyard.
3. Jody raised from her chair to greet the new
student.
4. The audience rose to give the singer a
standing ovation.
5. Dee lay that tile in the kitchen, and she did
a good job.
End of Section
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Review B
If a verb in one of the following sentences is
incorrect, write the correct form. If it is
already correct, write C.
lay
1. After the marathon, Millie laid down right on
the sidewalk.
sitting
2. A large black cat was setting on the wall in
the backyard.
rose
3. Jody raised from her chair to greet the new
student.
C
4. The audience rose to give the singer a
standing ovation.
laid
5. Dee lay that tile in the kitchen, and she did
a good job.
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The End