5962 troublesome verbs part 1 lay lie set let leave

Some pairs of verbs are confusing because they have similar meanings or because
they look alike. Study the chart below.

WORDS MEANING
lay
lie
set
sit
let
leave

PRESENT TENSE PAST TENSE

put, place
rest, recline
put something somewhere
sit down
allow
go away

lay
lie
set
sit
let
leave

laid
lay
set
sat

let
left

PAST PARTICIPLE
(has, have, had) laid
(has, have, had) lain
(has, have, had) set
(has, have, had) sat
(has, have, had) let
(has, have, had) left

Write the verb that correctly completes the sentences. Study the meanings above, and use
context to help you decide which verb is needed.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.

Bree (sat, set) with her mother and dad.
The baby (lay, laid) in her stroller sleeping.
Bree (lay, laid) her program on her lap.
Dad (sat, set) the picnic basket on the ground.
Mom (laid, lain) down the picnic blanket to for a quick nap.

Bree was glad her parents had (left, let) her stay up for the concert.
The bandleader (left, let) the podium.
The musicians stood up to take a bow then (sat, set) down again.
Since no one had (left, let), the band played an encore.
The audience wouldn’t (leave, let) them stop playing.
Because we (sat, set) on the ground for two hours, it was hard to
get up.
18. We should not have (left, let) our lawn chair at home.

Choose the form or lie or lay indicated in (). Use the chart
to help you. Write the sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Mom _________ a hand on my forehead. (past)
I had _________ in bed all morning with a fever. (past participle)
She said, “_________ books and magazines on the floor.” (present)
I asked, “Can I listen to CD’s while I ______ here?” (present)
This hip hop CD has ______ on the self for years. (past participle)
Soon Mom ______ down with me to listen. (past)

Write the letter of the verb that
correctly completes each sentence.
1.

Ona usually ____ on the couch to

watch TV.
A. laid
B. lain
C. lies
D. lays

2.

I usually _______ in this chair.
A. sit
B. set
C. setted
D. Set

3.

Grandpa has ______ for the airport.
A. leave
B. left
C. let
D. leaved

4.

The singer has _____ her music on
the piano.
B. lie
B. laid
C. lay
D. Lain

5.

The jeweller has _____ three rings
on the counter.
A. set
B. sit
C. sat
D. sitted


Write the letter of the verb that
correctly completes each sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Bree (sat, set) with her mother and dad.
The baby (lay, laid) in her stroller sleeping.
Bree (lay, laid) her program on her lap.
Dad (sat, set) the picnic basket on the ground.
Mom (laid, lain) down the picnic blanket to for a quick nap.

Bree was glad her parents had (left, let) her stay up for the concert.
The bandleader (left, let) the podium.
The musicians stood up to take a bow then (sat, set) down again.
Since no one had (left, let), the band played an encore.
The audience wouldn’t (leave, let) them stop playing.
Because we (sat, set) on the ground for two hours, it was hard to
get up.
12. We should not have (left, let) our lawn chair at home.

13. Mom _________ a hand on my forehead. (past) laid
14. I had _________ in bed all morning with a fever. (past participle) lain
15. She said, “_________ books and magazines on the floor.” (present) lay
16. I asked, “Can I listen to CD’s while I ______ here?” (present) lie
17. This hip hop CD has ______ on the self for years. (past participle) laid
18. Soon Mom ______ down with me to listen. (past) lay

1.

Ona usually ____ on the couch to
watch TV.
B. laid
B. lain
D. lies
D. lays

2.

I usually _______ in this chair.
B. sit
B. set

C. setted
D. Set

3.

Grandpa has ______ for the airport.
C. leave
B. left
C. let
D. leaved

4.

The singer has _____ her music on
the piano.
D. lie
B. laid
C. lay
D. Lain

5.

The jeweller has _____ three rings
on the counter.
B. set
B. sit
C. sat
D. sitted