Commonly Misused Words

Lie and Lay Lie: to rest; to recline; to be in a place Does not take a direct object (intransitive) Lay: to put (something) in place Usually takes a direct object (transitive) He will lie down for a nap. Please lay the drinks in the cooler.

Lie and Lay Base Present Participle Past Past Participle lie (is/are) lying lay (has/have) lain (is/are) laying laid (has/have) laid

Practice Do not (lay, lie) the camping gear here. Melanie (lay, laid) in the sleeping bag and tried to keep warm. The campground (lies, lays) in the valley. We are (lying, laying) the tarp over the food.

Sit and Set Sit: to rest in a seated, upright position; to be in a place Rarely takes a direct object Set: to put (something) in a place Usually takes a direct object Please sit in your seat. Please set the canteens over there.

Sit and Set Base Present participle Past Past participle sit (is/are) sitting sat (has/have) sat set (is/are) setting (has/have) set

Practice We were (sitting, setting) near the campfire. Charity had (sat, set) the flashlight on the picnic table. Nick (sat, set) the rocks around the fire. Grant (sat, set) in the hammock between the oak trees.

Rise and Raise Rise: to go up; to get up Does not take a direct object Raise: to lift; to cause (something) to rise Takes a direct object We woke up when we saw the sun rising. We raised the poles to set up the tent.

Rise and Raise Base Present participle Past Past participle rise (is/are) rising rose (has/have) risen raise (is/are) raising raised (has/have) raised

Practice (Raise, Rise) your hand if you want to roast marshmallows! Amber jumped when she saw a snake (rise, raise) from the leaves. We all groaned when Jaylon said we would (raise, rise) at 5:00 for a hike. (Raise, Rise) yours a little; the marshmallow is burning.

Their There They’re Their Possessive form of they There The performers made their own costumes. There Adverb meaning “at that place” We were there at two o’clock. They’re Contraction of they are They’re going with us to the jazz festival.

A Part Apart A part “To belong to something” Apart I am so glad she is a part of our faculty. Apart Adjective meaning “to be separate from something” The rocks fell 30 feet apart. preposition when paired with from (meaning besides) Apart from this cookie, I haven’t eaten anything all day.

Lose Verb that rhymes with shoes “To suffer loss of” When did you lose your books? Loose Adjective that rhymes with moose “Free; not close together; not firmly fastened” The loose chickens roamed the barnyard.

Its Possessive form of it It’s Contraction of it is The dog knocked over its bowl. It’s Contraction of it is It’s due by the end of the week.

You’re Contraction of you are Your Possessive form of you You’re a true friend. Your Possessive form of you Wasn’t that your cue?

Passed Past Passed Verb, the past form of pass Went beyond Past The red car passed me at the finish line. Past Noun meaning “time gone by” To understand the present, you need to study the past. Adjective meaning “of a former time” Sometimes past events are more interesting than present ones. Preposition meaning “beyond” After you drive past the mall, turn right.

To Too Two To Preposition or part of the infinitive form of a verb Too Are you going to the beach this summer? Too Adverb meaning “also” or “more than enough” He is a senior, too. It is too late to go now. Two Adjective or noun We only had two dollars. Two of my favorite fruits are apples and bananas.

Who’s Whose Who’s Contraction of who is or who has Whose Who’s going to the movies this weekend? Whose Possessive form of who Whose book is this?

Complete the practice worksheet. You may work with a partner. “stuff” Complete the practice worksheet. You may work with a partner.