Troublesome Verbs

Sit/Set

SitMy little brother sits still for only a few minutes at a time.

Is sittingMy little brother is sitting beside my mom.

SatMy little brother sat beside my mom yesterday.

Have satMy 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.

SetMom set the cake on the table this morning.

Have setBefore 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.

Lie/Lay

LieMy teddy bear lies on my bed all day.

Is lyingMy teddy bear is lying on my bed.

LayMy teddy bear lay on my bed.

Have lainHave those bears lain outside too long?

LayLay the teddy bear on my bed, please.

Is layingShe is laying the teddy bear on my bed.

LaidMy friend laid

the teddy bear on the

bed.

Have laidWe 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?