Troublesome Verb Pairs

Brighton MiddleMs. Kaste

Copy this chart!Present Present

ParticiplePast Past

Participle

1. sit

2. set

3. lie

4. lay

5. rise

6. raise

Sit & Set

• “sit”- to be seated; to rest (no D.O.)

• “set”- to place or put something somewhere (D.O.)

Sit & Set

Base/Present

PresentParticiple

Past Past Participle

sit is sitting sat have sat

set is setting set have set

Examples

1. Who is (setting, sitting) on the blankets by the pool?

2. Theresa is (setting, sitting) the lawn chairs by the pool.

3. Three boys (set, sat) on the platform.

4. The boys (set, sat) the instruments on the platform.

Examples

5. We had (sat, set) on the pier for an hour before Suzanne arrived with the bait.

6. I had (sat, set) the bucket of bait on the pier.

Rise and Raise

• rise- “to move upward” or “to go up” (no D.O.)

• raise- “to lift something up” (D.O.)

Rise & Raise

Base/Present

Present Participle

Past Past Participle

rise is rising rose have risen

raise is raising raised have raised

Examples

• The fans were (rising, raising) to sing the national anthem.

• Fans were (rising, raising) signs and banners.

• The student (raised, rose) to ask a question.

• The students (raised, rose) a good question.

More Examples

• Prices had (rose, risen).

• The store had (raised, risen) prices.

Lie & Lay • “lie”: to recline; to be in a place;

to remain lying down (no D.O.)

• “lay”: to put something down or somewhere (D.O.)

Lie & Lay

Base/Present

PresentParticiple

Past Past Participle

lie is lying lay have lain

lay is laying laid have laid

Examples

• The silverware is (lying, laying) on the table.

• The waiter is (lying, laying) silverware beside each plate.

• The paper mache (laid, lay) drying in the sun.

• Aunt Martha (laid, lay) the paper mache in the sun to dry.

Examples

• That bicycle had (laid, lain) in the driveway for a week.

• Bill had (laid, lain) that bicycle in the driveway.