Present Tense

Commonly Confused Verbs

Make / Do Lie / Lay Rise / Raise
Framed | Unframed

Sit / Set

Observe & Compare

Make
Create Something She is making me a cake. (+ indirect object) She makes cakes (for me). (+ indirect object) Caused / Forced They made me cry. They made the computer work. (+ object)

Do
Perform Something Do something! I am done. I have done all the housework this week. Cause / Caused She did me wrong. She did me a favor. It will do you no harm. Expressions: How do you do? (greeting) What do you do? (occupation) How are you doing? (greeting) Do your best! Are you going to do your hair? (style) Can you do without cigarettes. (survived/managed) Do a good turn each day. (perform charitable work) I had to do it all over again. (repeat)

Expressions: I made a mistake. He made a good speech. She made dinner. (prepared) Please, make your bed. (arrange, put together) I'm trying to make a living. (earn) That doesn't make sense. He wants to make a difference. I'm making progress. He made an excuse for being late. (thought of) Make up your mind! (settle/finalize) He made an impression on us. (impressed) Bill and his brother made up. (reconciled) We'll have to make do until Friday. (manage) She is making up her face. (applying makeup) Did you make a good choice. (select) We made out well in the stock market.
(succeeded)

I made up missing assignments. (completed

late)

and many more expressions.

Practice

Choose "make" or "do" to complete the sentence. An asterisk (*) shows the wrong answer.

11. Why can't shoe manufacturers ____ comfortable shoes for women? make 12. I wish shoe they would _____ us a favor and redesign shoes. 13. Can you imagine trying to _____ dinner in high heels? make do do

do

make

14. A person wants comfortable shoes while _____ the dishes. 15. When I shop for shoes, it is often hard to _____ up my mind. 16. It does not ____ sense to buy shoes that will hurt. 17 Buy the shoes that will not _____ harm to your feet. 18. Don't ___ a mistake. make do 19. I _____ a promise to myself . . . am making am doing make make

making make do do

doing do

20. I will ____ without shoes that are trendy and fashionable.

make

do

Observe & Compare

Lie (recline)
Non-transitive (not followed by an object) Lie down and take a nap. He lies in bed awake at night. Expressions The old church lies north of town. (is located)

Lay
Transitive (followed by an object) Lay the baby down for her nap. Lay the book on the table. Expressions He was laid to rest on Sunday. (buried, ended) The legislation laid the foundation for more law

lie past lay participle lain

suits. (made it easier for) lay past laid participle laid

Practice

Choose "lie" or "lay" to complete the sentence. An asterisk (*) shows the wrong answer.

21. San Mateo is a town that _____ southwest of San Francisco. lies

lays

22. Iggy, a guide dog for the blind, often _____ next to his owner , Bob lies lays 23. If Bob ___ a treat on Iggy's paw, he waits until Bob says "OK" to eat it. 24. You can _____ to rest any thoughts dogs being simple-minded. lies lays

lie lay

25. Iggy can respond to over 30 commands including _____ down, roll over and bring me a bottle of water. lie lay

Observe & Compare

Rise (ascend)
Non-transitive (not followed by an
object)

Raise
Transitive (followed by an object) A boy scout raised the flag. My employer raised my salary.

Please rise and say your name. The sun rises in the morning. The bread dough rose quickly. Expressions

Expressions My grandparents raised me. (fostered) Mrs. Green raises roses. (grows) The landlord raised my rent. (increased) Raise the window shades and let some light in. (open)

Practice

Choose "rise" or "raise" to complete the sentence. An asterisk (*) shows the wrong answer.

26. Please ____ your hand if you know the answer to the question. rise 27.The sun ______ late in the winter. rises raises rise rise raise

raise

28. Let the bread dough ______ until it is double in size. 29.Occasionally , grandparents ______ their grandchildren.

raise

Observe & Compare

Sit
Non-transitive (not followed by an object)

Set (place)
Transitive (followed by an object) Please set the dishes on the counter. I had to set my watch for day-light savings time. Expressions I had to set my watch for day-light savings time.
(adjust)

Sit in your own chair. He sat at the airport all morning.

Please set the table. (arrange plates and silverware) He set a good example for us all. (establish) He set out on a long adventure. (embarked) The jello set after two hours in the refrigerator. (firmed)

Practice

Choose "sit" or "set" to complete the sentence. An asterisk (*) shows the wrong answer.

30. Please come in, ____ down and have a cup of coffee. 31. Please _____ your dishes on the kitchen counter. 32. Our house ____ on the top of a hill. (is located) 33. Have you ____ your watch to the correct time? sit sits sit

sit set sets set

set

34. We'll eat as soon as you _____ the table. (put silverware on)

sit

set

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Julie Sevastopoulos 94402 USA

sevastopoulos@smccd.edu - ESL Department - College of San Mateo - San Mateo, CA

Last updated: 11/25/2008