1. Mastering Six Troublesome Verbs
Why are these verbs troublesome?
Lie/Lay
Sit/Set
Rise/Raise
Review A
Review B

2. 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
laying
in the grass?
Is Max
sitting or
setting ?
Does the temperature
rise or
raise ?

3. Why are these verbs troublesome?
These verbs cause trouble because they sound alike.
lie
lie
lay
lay
sit
sit
set
set
rise
rise
raise
raise
One vowel sound makes all the difference.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. Grammar Guy Says... 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.

8. Principal Parts of Lie and Lay
Lie/Lay
Principal Parts of Lie and Lay
Base form
Present participle
Past
Past participle
lie
[is] lying
lay
[have] lain
[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.

9. Principal Parts of Lie and Lay
Lie/Lay
Principal Parts of Lie and Lay
Base form
Present participle
Past
Past participle
lie
[is] lying
lay
[have] lain
[is] laying
laid
[have] laid
[have] lain
laid
[have] 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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]

16. Lie/Lay lay lying lie lain laid 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

17. 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.

18. Grammar Guy Says... 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?

19. Principal Parts of Sit and Set
Sit/Set
Principal Parts of Sit and Set
Base form
Present participle
Past
Past participle
sit
[is] sitting
sat
[have] sat
set
[is] setting
[have] set
sat
[have] sat
set
[have] set
The past and past participle forms of sit are sat.
At earlier games we had sat near the back.
At last night’s game we sat in the front row.
The past and past participle forms of set are set and [have] set.
I think she has set them too near the window.
Polly set the plants on the windowsill.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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]

26. Sit/Set sat set sit set sitting 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

27. 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.

28. Grammar Guy Says... 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.

29. Principal Parts of Rise and Raise
Rise/Raise
Principal Parts of Rise and Raise
Base form
Present participle
Past
Past participle
rise
[is] rising
rose
[have] risen
raise
[is] raising
raised
[have] raised
rose
[have] risen
raised
[have] raised
The past and past participle forms of rise are rose and [have] risen.
Her brother had risen even earlier.
She rose early that morning.
The past and past participle forms of raise are raised and [have] raised.
Mr. Taylor has raised an interesting question.
Several students raised their hands to answer.

30. 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).

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. 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]

36. Rise/Raise rises raise rising raised risen 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

37. Review A
For each sentence, give the correct form of the verb indicated in parentheses.
In winter, my cat (lie) on a blanket in the closet.
She (lay) the baby in the crib and quietly left the room.
The flowers were (sit) by the door when I got home.
Has your cousin (set) a date for her wedding yet?
The temperature has already (rise) by ten degrees.
6. Tyrell (raise) the fallen child to her feet.

38. Review A
For each sentence, give the correct form of the verb indicated in parentheses.
In winter, my cat lies on a blanket in the closet.
She laid the baby in the crib and quietly left the room.
The flowers were sitting by the door when I got home.
Has your cousin set a date for her wedding yet?
The temperature has already risen by ten degrees.
6. Tyrell raised the fallen child to her feet.

39. 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]

40. 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.
4. The audience rose to give the singer a standing ovation. C
laid
5. Dee lay that tile in the kitchen, and she did a good job.

41. The End