Troublesome Verb PairsLesson 4.9

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.

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.

Lie & Lay

Present Past Past Participle

lie lay lainPat lies down. Pat lay down. Pat has lain down.

lay laid laidPat 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 downthe keys. the keys. the keys.

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.

Learn & Teach

Present Past Past Participle

learn learned learned

Maria learns to Maria learned Maria has learnedski. to ski. to ski.

teach taught taught

Mr. Lu teaches Mr. Lu taught Mr. Lu has taughtmath. math. math.

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