Avoiding Typical Errors With Verbs

lie - lied - lied .  Regular verb ( speak falsely )

Ex: You lied to me about your intentions.

lie - lay - lain (to be in  a horizontal position; also to be situated )

Ex: You should lie down if you're not ok.

lay - laid - laid (put down)

Ex: He's just laid his things on the table and left.

rise - rose - risen ( move up, increase - intransitive verb )

Ex: The sun rises in the east.

raise - raised - raised ( lift, increase, transitive verb )

Ex: The government has raised the price of petrol.

wear - wore - worn . Everything you put on you body you wear

( perfume, clothes, accessories )

Ex: How long have you been wearing glasses ?

borrow  x  lend

borrowed - borrowed - borrowed

lend - lent - lent

When you ask for something you borrow; A person lends something to you.

Ex: Can I borrow your pen, please ?

    Can you lend me your pen, please ?

say  X  tell  X  ask

You say something.

You tell someone something.

Ex: You said it was going to rain.

     You told me it was going to rain.

You ask someone something

Ex: I asked him where he lived.

     He asked me my phone number.

preposition + verb ( ing )

After a preposition the verb is always in the gerund form.

Ex: I'm keen on paiting.

     Don't go out without eating something.

     They insited on paying for us.

There be   X   Have

Ex: In Rio, there are wonderful beaches.

      Rio has wonderful beaches.

      There were 150 people at the party.

      The conference room has 200 seats.

The verb have demands a subject.

Lose   X   Miss

Ex: You lose a wallet.

     You lose money.

     You lose a document. 

     You miss the plane.

     You miss the bus.