3.1 Some verbs that present difficulties
Below is a list of verbs that perennially cause problems because they have irregular forms as their tense changes:
You can click on each term in the table below to review specific examples.
| bear/bare | drink | lend/loan | see |
| begin | eat | raise | set/sit |
| break | forget | ring | swim |
| bring/buy | go | rise | wake (awake) |
| choose | lay/lie | run |
Bear means to carry (in a literal sense); to tolerate (in a figurative sense)
Example: Present tense:
As the crowd watches, the mourners bear the coffin to the edge of the forest.
(literal sense)
I bear no grudge towards my enemy. (figurative sense)
Example: Simple past tense
As the crowds watched, the mourners bore the coffin to the edge of the forest.
(literal sense)
I bore no grudge towards my enemy. (figurative sense)
Example: Present perfect tense
The crowds see that the mourners have already borne the coffin to the edge of the
forest.
I have never borne a grudge towards my enemy. (figurative sense)
Bare means to uncover. It can be used both literally and figuratively.
Example: Present tense
He bares his chest to the elements. (literal sense)
He bares his soul to his close friend. (figurative sense)
Example: Simple past tense
He bared his chest to the elements (literal sense)
He bared his soul to his close friend. (figurative sense)
Example:Present perfect tense
He has bared his chest to the elements (literal sense)
He has bared his soul to his close friend. (figurative sense)
Begin means to start. Notice how irregular its parts are.
Example: Present tense
I begin my task early.
Example:Simple past tense
I began my task early.
Example: Present perfect tense
I have begun my task early.
Break means to separate into two or more pieces. (This word actually many uses, such as in terms of "breaking a record", "breaking a journey", "breaking for lunch", "a storm breaking" and others. The important thing to remember is how it is used in tenses.)
Example: Present tense
The child breaks the cup.
Example: Simple past tense
The child broke the cup.
Example: Present perfect tense
The child has broken the cup.
Bring/buy. 'To bring' means to come to a place with somebody or with something or to cause or result in something WHEREAS 'to buy' means to get something by paying money for it. Even though the difference in meaning between the two words is clear and simple, common usage is showing that people are constantly confusing the past tense of these verbs.
Example: Present tense
I bring my homework to school for the teacher to mark.
I buy a new exercise book in the supermarket.
Example: Simple past tense
I brought my homework to school for the teacher to mark.
I bought a new exercise book in the supermarket.
Example: Present perfect tense
I have brought my homework to school for the teacher to mark.
I have bought a new exercise book in the supermarket.
Choose means to pick or select.
Example: Present tense
Tom chooses a bright yellow T-shirt for the occasion.
Example: Simple past tense
Tom chose a bright yellow T-shirt for the occasion.
Example: Present perfect tense
Tom has chosen a bright yellow T-shirt for the occasion.
Drink means to take liquid into your body through your mouth. Note how irregular its parts are.
Example: Present tense
Socrates drinks the poisoned potion placed in front of him.
Example: Simple past tense
Socrates drank the poisoned potion placed in front of him.
Example: Present perfect tense
Socrates has drunk the poisoned potion placed in front of him.
Eat means to put food into the mouth, then chew and swallow it. Notice how irregular its parts are.
Example: Present tense
They eat their evening meal in front of the TV.
Example: Simple past tense
They ate their evening meal in front of the TV.
Example: Present perfect tense
They have eaten their evening meal in front of the TV.
Forget means to fail to remember something/someone.
Example: Present tense
People often forget the time when they are enjoying his company.
Example: Simple past tense
People often forgot the time when they were enjoying his company.
Example: Present perfect tense
People have often forgotten the time when they were enjoying his company.
Go means to move or travel from one place to another.
Example: Present tense
He goes to school each day by public transport.
Example: Simple past tense
He went to school each day by public transport.
Example: Present perfect tense
He has gone to school each day by public transport.
Lay/lie Lay means to put something in a particular position. It is often confused with the verb, lie which means to be or put yourself in a horizontal position. (Lay always refers to a noun that immediately follows it; lie is always immediately followed by a preposition, eg., in, on, in front of, behind, above, below and the like.)
Example: Present tense
The hen lays her egg in the nest OR Jill lays her book on the table.
BUT
The cow lies on the straw OR Jill lies on the bed in the afternoon.
Example: Simple past tense
The hen laid her egg in the nest. OR Jill laid her book on the table.
BUT
The cow lay on the straw. OR Jill lay on the bed in the afternoon.
Example: Present perfect tense
The hen has laid her egg in the nest. OR Jill has laid her book on the table.
BUT
The cow has lain on the straw. OR Jill has lain on the bed in the afternoon.
Lend/loan. Lend means to allow somebody to use something for a short time or to give someone money that must be paid back after some time. Loan, strictly speaking, is not a verb but a noun. (e.g. the bank gave him a loan). Certain American influences, however, have crept into our language usage, so that we tolerate its use as a verb when it is put into a context of a formal transfer of, for example, a painting from one gallery to another or money lent to a company.
Example: Present tense
I lend my textbook to my friend on a regular basis.
Example: Simple past tense
I lent my textbook to my friend on a regular basis.
Example: Present perfect tense
I have lent my textbook to my friend on a regular basis.
BUT in the use of "loan" as a verb, note the difference.
Example: Present tense
The bank loans the computer company two million dollars.
Example: Simple past tense
The bank loaned the computer company two million dollars.
Example: Present perfect tense
The bank has loaned the computer company two million dollars.
Raise means to lift something or to look after or to introduce a subject that requires attention. (As a noun, it is often used to indicate an increase in salary. e.g. My boss gave me a raise yesterday).
Example: Present tense
He raises the flag each morning at the assembly.
Example: Simple past tense
He raised the flag each morning at the assembly.
Example: Present perfect tense
He has raised the flag each morning at the assembly.
Ring means to telephone.
Example: Present tense
He rings his friend overseas every night.
Example: Simple past tense
He rang his friend overseas every night.
Example: Present perfect tense
He has rung his friend overseas every night.
Rise means to move upwards. This word is also often used as noun, meaning e.g. an increase in salary/prices, a hill
Example: Present tense
The sun rises in the east.
Example: Simple past tense
The sun rose in the east.
Example: Present perfect tense
The sun has risen in the east.
Run means to move using one's legs but going faster than walking. Notice how irregular its parts are.
Example: Present tense
The athlete runs to win the prize.
Example: Simple past tense
The athlete ran to win the prize.
Example: Present perfect tense
The athlete has run to win the prize.
See means to become aware of something using your eyes. Notice how the parts are irregular.
Example: Present tense
The politician sees the implications of his actions.
Example: Simple past tense
The politician saw the implications of his actions.
Example: Present perfect tense
The politician has seen the implications of his actions.
Set/sit Set means to place something somewhere and sit means to rest. Sit never has an object but set does.
Example: Present tense
The older students set the standards.
BUT
The students sit in the auditorium for the lecture.
Example: Simple past tense
The older students set the standards.
BUT
The students sat in the auditorium
for the lecture.
Example: Present perfect tense
The older students have set the standards.
BUT
The students have sat in the auditorium
for the lecture.
Example: Present tense
The champion swims in the Olympics.
Example: Simple past tense
The champion swam in the Olympics.
Example: Present perfect tense
The champion has swum in the Olympics.
Wake means to cease sleeping (in a literal sense); to move from a state of indifference to action or arouse (in a figurative sense, often awaken). Frequently, today, the phrasal verb to wake up is substituted for to wake.
Example: Present Tense
I wake to the sound of the birds in the trees. OR I wake up to the sound of the birds in the trees. (literal meaning) His action awakes suspicion in me. (figurative meaning)
Example: Simple Past Tense
I woke to the sound of the birds in the trees. OR I woke up to the sound of the birds in the trees. His action awakened suspicion in me. (figurative meaning)
Example: Present Perfect Tense
I have woken to the sound of the birds in the trees. OR I have woken up to the sound of the birds in the trees. His action has awakened suspicion in me.