1/18 Easily confused verbs

 Below is a more detailed explanation of each pair of commonly confused verbs, including their meanings, proper usage, and additional examples.

1. Lie vs. Lay

• Lie (lay, lain) – To recline or rest on a surface. It does not take a direct object.

  • Example: I need to lie down for a while.
  • Past: Yesterday, I lay down after lunch.
  • Past Participle: I have lain in bed all day.

• Lay (laid, laid) – To place something down. It requires a direct object.

  • Example: Please lay the book on the table.
  • Past: She laid the keys on the counter.
  • Past Participle: He had laid his coat on the chair.

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2. Sit vs. Set

• Sit (sat, sat) – To take a seat or be in a seated position.

  • Example: She sits near the window.
  • Past: He sat on the bench.
  • Past Participle: They had sat in the front row.

• Set (set, set) – To place something in a specific position. It requires a direct object.

  • Example: Set the plates on the table.
  • Past: He set the clock to the right time.
  • Past Participle: She had set the alarm for 6 AM.

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3. Rise vs. Raise

• Rise (rose, risen) – To go up or increase without an object.

  • Example: The sun rises in the morning.
  • Past: Water levels rose after the storm.
  • Past Participle: Prices have risen recently.

• Raise (raised, raised) – To lift or increase something. It requires an object.

  • Example: She raised her hand to ask a question.
  • Past: He raised his voice.
  • Past Participle: They have raised funds for charity.

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4. Affect vs. Effect

• Affect (affected, affected) – A verb meaning to influence.

  • Example: The weather affects my mood.
  • Past: The new policy affected many people.
  • Past Participle: Stress has affected my sleep.

• Effect (effected, effected) – A verb meaning to bring about change. (Rarely used as a verb.)

  • Example: The new law effected major changes in the system.

• Effect is more commonly used as a noun, meaning "result."

  • Example: The new rule had a great effect on productivity.

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5. Teach vs. Learn

• Teach (taught, taught) – To give knowledge or instruction.

  • Example: She teaches history.
  • Past: He taught English for five years.
  • Past Participle: They have taught students from many countries.

• Learn (learned, learned) – To gain knowledge.

  • Example: He learns quickly.
  • Past: She learned Spanish in school.
  • Past Participle: I have learned a lot from my mistakes.

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6. Bring vs. Take

• Bring (brought, brought) – To carry something toward a place.

  • Example: Bring me a glass of water.

• Take (took, taken) – To carry something away from a place.

  • Example: Take this book to your room.

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7. Lend vs. Borrow

• Lend (lent, lent) – To give something temporarily.

  • Example: I lent him my jacket.

• Borrow (borrowed, borrowed) – To take something temporarily.

  • Example: Can I borrow your phone?

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8. Hear vs. Listen

• Hear (heard, heard) – To perceive sound without effort.

  • Example: I heard a noise outside.

• Listen (listened, listened) – To pay attention to sound.

  • Example: Please listen to me when I speak.

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9. Say vs. Tell

• Say (said, said) – To express something in words.

  • Example: He said he was tired.

• Tell (told, told) – To inform or instruct someone.

  • Example: She told me the truth.

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10. See vs. Watch vs. Look

• See (saw, seen) – To perceive with the eyes.

  • Example: I saw a bird outside.

• Watch (watched, watched) – To observe something in motion.

  • Example: He watched TV for hours.

• Look (looked, looked) – To direct one's vision at something.

  • Example: Look at the sky!

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11. Lose vs. Loose

• Lose (lost, lost) – To misplace or be deprived of something.

  • Example: I lost my keys.

• Loose (loosed, loosed) – To release or make something less tight.

  • Example: The rope is loose.

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12. Forget vs. Leave

• Forget (forgot, forgotten) – To fail to remember.

  • Example: I forgot his name.

• Leave (left, left) – To abandon or depart from somewhere.

  • Example: He left his bag at home.

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13. Find vs. Found

• Find (found, found) – To discover something.

  • Example: I found a dollar on the street.

• Found (founded, founded) – To establish something.

  • Example: They founded a new company.

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14. Throw vs. Threw vs. Through

• Throw (threw, thrown) – To propel something.

  • Example: He threw the ball.

• Through – A preposition, meaning "from one side to the other."

  • Example: She walked through the park.

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15. Drown vs. Sink

• Drown (drowned, drowned) – To suffocate in water.

  • Example: He almost drowned in the river.

• Sink (sank, sunk) – To go below the surface.

  • Example: The ship sank.

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16. Spend vs. Waste

• Spend (spent, spent) – To use time or money wisely.

  • Example: She spent an hour studying.

• Waste (wasted, wasted) – To use something carelessly.

  • Example: He wasted his money on unnecessary things.

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17. Break vs. Brake

• Break (broke, broken) – To damage or destroy something.

  • Example: He broke his phone.

• Brake (braked, braked) – To stop a vehicle.

  • Example: She braked suddenly at the red light.

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18. Can vs. May

• Can – Expresses ability.

  • Example: I can swim.

• May – Expresses permission.

  • Example: May I leave early?