Correct Use of Verbs

1. Correct Use of Verbs English I

2. Verbs A verb has four principal parts: infinitive, present participle, past, past participle. The bells ring every day. The bells are ringing right now. The bells rang at noon. The bells have rung for the last time today.

3. Regular Verbs A verb that forms its past and past participle forms by adding –d or –edto the first principle part (infinitive) is a regular verb.

4. Irregular Verbs A verb that forms its past and past participle in some other way than a regular verb is and irregular verb. I will give you a list of commonly misused irregular verbs to know, and you should keep this in your notebook in the grammar section for further reference.

5. Special Problems with Verbs Lie and Lay The verb lie means “to rest” or “to recline,” “to remain in a lying position.” Its principal parts are lie, lying, lay, (have) lain. The verb lie never takes an object. The verb lay means “to put” or “to place” (something). Its principal parts are lay, laying, laid, (have) laid. The forms of this verb may have objects (receivers of the action).

6. Notice the following examples of the use of these verbs. I sometimes lie on the floor. The bills are lying on the table. Yesterday Lambert lay on the grass. How long have the bills lain there? Lay those books down. I am laying the clean towels on this chair. Yesterday Lambert laid the bricks on the patio. Have you laid your report aside?

7. Let’s practice the use of lie and lay. • When I heard about the blizzard, I (lay, laid) in bed for an extra hour. Q #1- Meaning? Q # 2 – Principal part? • Calvin (lay, laid) the jacket on the bed. Q #1- Meaning? Q # 2 – Principal part? • How long have you (lain, laid) there? Q #1- Meaning? Q # 2 – Principal part?

8. Exercise 12Write the correct form of the proper verb (lie or lay) for each of the following. • 1. He _______ the report aside and called for order. • 2. I shall ______ the report down for a while. • 3. She has ______ on the couch all morning. • 4. The baby was _______ quietly in the nurse’s arms. • 5. Is that today’s paper ________ in the mud? • 6. I have _______ the shoes near the fire to dry. • 7. _______ down, Rags. • 8. The lace had ________ in the trunk for years. • 9. Our cat _______ in the sun whenever it can. • 10. I _______ back and rested my head on the cushions.

9. Special Problems with Verbs Sit and Set The verb sit means “to rest in an upright position.” The principal parts are sit, sitting, sat, (have) sat. The verb set means “to put,” “to place” something. The principal parts are set, setting, set, (have) set.

10. Notice the following examples of the use of these verbs. Sit down. Set it down here. Cups sit on a tray. I set the cups there.

11. Exercise 15 Writing the forms of “Sit” and “Set.” For each of the blanks in the following sentences, write the correct form of “sit” or “set,” whichever is required by the meaning. • 1. Please ___ here, Mrs. Brown. • 2. Have you ___ the seedlings in the sun? • 3. We were ___ in the park during the fireworks. • 4. Someone has already ___ the kettle on the stove. • 5. Grandfather is busily ___ tomato plants in the garden. • 6. At the concert, Keith ___ near Susan. • 7. My cat rarely ___ on my lap. • 8. They were ___ on the rocks, watching the surf. • 9. We had ___ still for almost an hour. • 10. Have you ever ___ on the beach at sundown?

12. Special Problems with Verbs Rise and Raise The verb rise means “to go in an upward direction.” Its principal parts are rise, rising, rose, (have) risen. This verb never has an object (receiver of the action). The verb raise means “to move something in an upward direction.” Its principal parts are raise, raising, raised, (have) raised. This verb may take an object.

13. Notice the following examples of the use of these verbs. I always rise early. Someone will raise that question. The price index rose sharply. The publisher raised the price of the paper.

14. Exercise 17 Writing the forms of “Rise” and “Raise.” Write the correct form of “rise” and “raise” for each of the following blanks. • 1. Please ___ and face the class. • 2. After the speech, the reporters ___ several questions. • 3. Will the governor ___ the sales tax again? • 4. The price of fuel has ___ steadily. • 5. Let’s get there before the curtain ___. • 6. Jerry, one of the stagehands, will ___ the curtain. • 7. The bread has ___ beautifully. • 8. The moon ___ and slipped behind a cloud. • 9. The candidate ___ to address her supporters. • 10. The children ___ when the bell rang.

15. Review Exercise F Identifying the correct forms of “Lie” and “Lay,” “Sit” and “Set,” and “Rise” and “Raise.” Choose the correct verb in parentheses, and write it after the proper number. • 1. (Sit, Set) the bird cage on some newspapers. • 2. The cage is (sitting, setting) on some papers. • 3. Please (lie, lay) these blankets on the bed. • 4. The blankets are (lying, laying) on the bed. • 5. Bea (rose, raised) from the couch and answered the door. • 6. The balloon (rose, raised) slowly above the trees. • 7. We (lay, laid) on the sand and studied the stars. • 8. Has Susie (lain, laid) down for her nap? • 9. The garbage bags are (lying, laying) at the curb. • 10. The waters (rose, raised) steadily throughout the night.

16. Review Exercise F (cont.) • 11. We were (sitting, setting) on a rock enjoying the view. • 12. (Sit, Set) those rocks in the garden, please. • 13. Why don’t you (sit, set) here with me? • 14. He carefully (lay, laid) the cloth on the table. • 15. The wiring (lies, lays) behind the wall. • 16. The plumber (lay, laid) the pipes under the floor. • 17. An envelope was (lying, laying) near the desk. • 18. Get up, the sun is (rising, raising)! • 19. Someone (sat, set) on my lunch bag. • 20. The jewels were (lying, laying) on the dresser.