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Commonly Confused Verbs
Summary:
This handout contains a list and discussion of common irregular verbs.
LIE versus LAY
Present | Past | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
lie, lying (to tell a falsehood) | I lied to my mother. | I have lied under oath. |
lie, lying (to recline) | I lay on the bed because I was tired. | He has lain in the grass. |
lay, laying (to put, place) | I laid the baby in her cradle. | We have laid the dishes on the table. |
Example sentences:
After laying down his weapon, the soldier lay down to sleep.
Will you lay out my clothes while I lie down to rest?
SIT versus SET
Present | Past | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
sit (to be seated or come to resting position) | I sat in my favorite chair. | You have sat there for three hours. |
set (to put or place) | I set my glass on the table. | She has set her books on my desk again. |
Example sentences:
Let's set the table before we sit down to rest.
RISE versus RAISE
Present | Past | Past Participle |
---|---|---|
rise (steady or customary upward movement) | The balloon rose into the air. | He has risen to a position of power. |
raise (to cause to rise) | They raised their hands because they knew the answer. | I have raised the curtain many times. |
Example sentences:
The boy raised the flag just before the sun rose.
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CMOS Formatting and Style Guide
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Preventing Plagiarism
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Contextualizing Plagiarism
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