1. Troublesome Verb Pairs
Lesson 4.9

2. Here’s the Idea
Some pairs of verbs seem similar, but are actually different words with different meanings.
Troublesome verb pairs include lie and lay, rise and raise, sit and set, and learn and teach.

3. Lie & Lay Lie means “to recline.” It does not take an object.
Pat lies on the floor with her model cars.
Lay means “to put or place.”
It does take an object.
She lays a van on top of a carrier truck.

4. Present Past Past Participle
Lie & Lay
Present Past Past Participle
lie lay lain
Pat lies down. Pat lay down. Pat has lain down.
lay laid laid
Pat lays the car down. Pat laid the car Pat has laid the
down car down.
Lie and lay are confusing because the present principle part of lay is the same as the past principle part.

5. Rise & Raise Rise means “to move upward” or “to go up.”
It does not take an object.
Helicopters rise above the trees.
Raise means “to lift up.”
It usually takes an object.
The pilot raises the flaps on the airplane’s wings.

6. Present Past Past Participle
Rise & Raise
Present Past Past Participle
rise rose risen
The plane rises. The plane rose. The plane has risen.
raise raised raised
Joe raises the Joe raised the Joe has raised the
car’s hood car’s hood car’s hood.

7. Sit & Set Sit means “to be seated.” It does not take an object.
Jeff sits next to the flat tire.
Set means “to put or place.”
It does take an object.
He sets the lug wrench on the ground.

8. Present Past Past Participle
Sit & Set
Present Past Past Participle
sit sat sat
Let’s sit up front. We sat up We have sat up
front front.
set set set
Bob sets down Bob set down Bob has set down
the keys the keys the keys.

9. Learn & Teach Learn means “to gain knowledge or skill.”
Sam learned to skateboard.
Teach means “ to instruct” or “to help someone learn.”
Leisha taught Sam to skateboard.

10. Present Past Past Participle
Learn & Teach
Present Past Past Participle
learn learned learned
Maria learns to Maria learned Maria has learned
ski to ski to ski.
teach taught taught
Mr. Lu teaches Mr. Lu taught Mr. Lu has taught
math math math.

11. Practice Time! Choose the proper word from within the parentheses.
Only elevators could (raise, rise) to the upper floors.
Engineers (learned, taught) how to build hydraulic elevators.
These elevators (raised, rose) only freight, not people.
People were afraid to (sit, set) in boxes held up only by ropes.
Then Elisha Graves Otis (lay, laid) their fears to rest.
Otis (learned, taught) builders how to make elevators safe.
rise
learned
raised
sit
laid
taught