1. Commonly Confused Words
Grammar Unit #4 - Usage

2. Remember this from the pretest?
[Chose/Choose] a planet to study.
Layers of dust [lay/lie] on the moon.
Comets [loose/lose] particles.
[Set/Sit] your diorama of the solar system on your desk.

3. Sit vs. Set Sit Set Part of Speech: VERB (present tense)
Most commonly means: to take a seat
Helpful Hint: SIT is used when training a dog: “Sit, Bodie!” Only things with a butt can sit!
Set
Part of Speech: VERB (present tense)
Most commonly means: to put down
Helpful Hint: SET requires a direct object: I set the leash on the table.

4. Lay vs. Lie Lay Lie Part of Speech: VERB (present tense)
Most commonly means: to place an object
Helpful Hint: LAY needs a direct object.
I lay the book on the couch.
Lie
Part of Speech: VERB (present tense)
Most commonly means: to recline
Helpful Hint: LIE does not need a direct object. It is often followed by a prepositional phrase.
I lie on the couch.

5. Lose vs. Loose lose loose Pronunciation: [lOOz]
Part of Speech: VERB (present tense)
Most commonly means: fail to get or win
Example: I lose the game every time I play.
loose
Pronunciation: [lOOs]
Part of Speech: ADJECTIVE
Most commonly means: not tied up or confined; able to move freely
Example: This knot is too loose.

6. Choose vs. Chose Choose Chose Pronunciation: [chooz]
Part of Speech: VERB (present tense)
Most commonly means: to make a choice
Example: I choose to waste my life playing video games.
Chose
Pronunciation: [chohz]
Part of Speech: VERB (past tense)
Most commonly means: to have chosen
Example: I chose to play a video game instead of studying for my grammar test.