Troublesome Verbs

Before mom left, she had set the cake on the table. Sit/Set Sit My little brother sits still for only a few minutes at a time. Is sitting My little brother is sitting beside my mom. Sat My little brother sat beside my mom yesterday. Have sat My little brother has sat in that seat before. Set Mom set the cake on the table. Is setting Mom is setting the cake on the table. Mom set the cake on the table this morning. Have set Before mom left, she had set the cake on the table.

Sit Sit means “to be seated” or “at rest” It does not have a direct object (hint: when you find the action verb and ask “What?”) Example: I will sit in the easy chair.

Set Set means “to put (something) in a place.” It usually takes an direct object Example: The workers have set their equipment there. Direct object: Set what? _______ Hint: replace the verb with put…if it makes sense then you use the verb set.

My friend laid the teddy bear on the bed. Lie/Lay Lie My teddy bear lies on my bed all day. Is lying My teddy bear is lying on my bed. Lay My teddy bear lay on my bed. Have lain Have those bears lain outside too long? Lay the teddy bear on my bed, please. Is laying She is laying the teddy bear on my bed. Laid My friend laid the teddy bear on the bed. Have laid We have laid the teddy bear on the bed.

Lie Lie generally means “to recline,” “to be in a place,” or “to remain lying down.” Lie does not have a direct object Example: The beam is lying near the edge.

Lay Lay generally means “to put (something) down.” It usually takes a direct object The workers are laying the beams near the edge. Direct object: Are laying what? _____ Hint: replace the verb with put…if it makes sense then you use the verb lay.

Practice Alana had been ____ next to Rosa. Yesterday, we ____ still twice as long for the Jimenez twins! Then we _____ on the floor to play a game. One of the twins ____ on a hat by mistake. He also ___ the plates. The remote control for the television is ____ under the rocking chair. Today, Julia has ___ every single toy safely in the toy chest in her room. Now those broken bits of plastic ____ at the bottom of the wastebasket. He was _____ on the floor, watching television. How long has it _____ there?

Accept/Except Accept~ (verb) to receive Example~ I accept the award on behalf of the children who are starving in Ethiopia. Except- (verb) to exclude TRICK EX= to not include someone/thing Example~ John will accept all donations except perishable items.

Affect/Effect Affect- (verb) To have an influence on or effect a change in To act on the emotions of; touch or move. To attack or infect, as a disease Example~ Inflation affects the buying power of the dollar. Example~ Rheumatic fever can affect the heart.

Affect/Effect Effect (noun) result; consequence Example~ The effects of slow economy will affect many American’s Christmas.

Practice The winners of the spelling bee proudly _______ their awards. Because Josh had a sprained ankle, he was _______ from gym class. All the food _____ the wonton soup was ready. The _____ of smoking are wrinkles, cancer, and possible death. I did not know the antibiotics could ____ people so quickly. When will we know if the chemotherapy has taken _____. What was the ____of his promotion?