GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS CONFUSING VERBS

GRAMMAR FOR ADVANCED LEANERS
Confusing verbs
Some pairs of verbs in English are subtly different from each other and so can be a
source of confusion for learners. This is because the pairs, e.g. make and do, lay and
lie, have similar meanings but are used to describe different kinds of actions or
situations. These are'false synonyms'. ln other cases there are verb pairs which cause
problems because we use them to describe similar situations even though they have
opposite meanings, e.g. borrow and lend. These are'opposite pairs'. ln this unit we look
at the verb pairs which are most often confused.
FALSE SYNONYMS
Several verbs appear to have similar meanings but are used differently.
A. MAKE and DO
Make often means 'create' or 'produce':
- Aunt Alice is going to make the bridesmaids' dresses.
- Couda cheese is made in Holland.
Make often expresses the idea of building and constructing:
- The muttinationals are making a lot of products in the developing world these days.
We also use make to describe a process of change. The meaning is similar to 'become'
or 'cause to be':
- The spare bedroom has made a wonderful office for Deirdre. (= has become)
- Those new drugs seem to make him very lethargic. (= cause him to be)
Make + object + infinitive (without to) means 'force' or 'command':
- The police officer made me empty my pockets.
Make has a number of idiomatic meanings such as 'earn' and 'keep an appointment':
- He makes $1000 a week on the oil rigs.
- I can't make it on Friday; I'm in a meeting all day.
We often use do to describe an activity or to mean 'carry out / complete a task':
- What are we going to do for your birthday? (= take part in an activity)
- You can go out after you've done your homework. (= you've completed)
We can use do + determiner + -ing form to describe regular tasks at home or at work:
- There isn't much in the fridge as I haven't done the shopping get.

- We do the stocktaking every Wednesday morning.
B. Expressions with make or do
There are several multi-word verbs with make or do
- Don't believe a word he said, he made it and all up. (= invented)
- The government did away with the death penalty in the sixties. (= abolished)
 Ttrere are a number of fixed expressions with either make or do:
- It's time to do a decision. => It’s time to make a decision.
- Who made your heir? => Who did your hair?

Here are some of the most common expressions wilh make and do. (Note that in the
table below, sb = somebody and sfh = something.)
MAKE
an attempt
an appearance
an appointment (= arrange)
qrrangements
a bed
a (phone) call
a charge (for sth)
a choice
a comment
a contribution
a decision
a difference
a discovery
an effort
an enemy of sb
an enquiry

an exception

an excuse
a fire
a fortune
friends (with sb)
a fuss
a gesture
a good / bad job of sth
a habit of sth
a journey
a list
a liviny
love
a mess
a mistake
money

a noise
an offer
a plan
a point
a profit
progress
a promise
a remark
a sound
a speech
a start (on sth)
a suggestion
time (for sthlsb)
trouble

war
a will

DO
your best (= try hard)
business (with sb)
the cleaning / cooking /
ironing / washing (up)
a course
some damage
the dishes
your duty
an exam / a test
an / some exercise

an experiment
sb a fovour
good (= help other
people)
sb some good (= make
sb better/healthier)
your hair / face / nails
harm
the homework /
housework
yourself an iniurg
a job

the laundry
military service

research
the shopping
sport
your teeth (= brush /clean)
well/ badly (= be
successful / unsuccessful)

C. We can describe some actions with either have or take; in other cases we only use
one of these verbs:


HAVE
an appointment
(= an existing arrangement)
an argument
a baby
a care
a chance (to do sth)
a chat
a dance
a drink
an effect (on sth)
a fall
a fit
a go
an/ no / any / idea
lunch / dinner / a meal
a quarrel
a race
a row

a / the right (to)
a say
something to eat
a talk
a think
(no / the) time
a wash
a word (with)

TAKE
account of
action
advantage (of)
a breath
care (of)
a chance
a decision
a dislike to sth / sb
effect
exception (to)
the form of
medicine / drugs
a message
offence (at sth)
part (in)
a photo(graph)
place
power
precedence (over)
responsibility (for)

a risk
root
sides (with sb)
a step / steps
the trouble (to)
gears / months / weeks /
days /
hours, etc.

HAVE or TAKE
a bath / shower
a break
an exam / test
a guess
a holiday / a vacation
a look
a nap
a rest
a seat
a sip
a stroll
a swim

D. BEEN / GONE. The two past participle forms, gone and been, are used with similar
but slightly different meanings. In British English, we use been, not gone,when we
express the idea of visiting or going somewhere and then leaving or returning:
- Jane's just got back. – She’s gone to the doctor.
=> She's been to the doctor's. (= She went and then came back.)
We use gone, not been, when someone has gone somewhere but not yet come back:
- Jane isn't here right now. – She’s been to the doctor.

=> She's gone to the doctor's. (= She went there and hasn't returned.)
For both of these situations, gone is commonly used in US English. [???]
E. To lay expresses an action; it means to put something or someone down in a flat
position. To lie describes a state of being in a horizontal position. Compare:
- You will find the process easier if you lay all the parts on a worksurface. (action)
- I think I'll just lie on the sofa until my headache goes. (state / position)
There is also the verb lie meaning 'to say something that isn't true':
- That child lies all the time. (= says things which are not true)
Notice that these three verbs have different forms:

infinitive
past tense
past participle present participle
lay (= action)
laid
laid
laying
lie (= state)
lay
lain
lying
lie (= tell lies) lied
lied
lying
- Theg've laid new carpet throughout the house.
- We've been laying artificial grass on the new footboll pitch.
- We found the old photographs lying in a drawer.
- Yesterday I was so tired that I lay on the bed all morning. (past simple of lie)
F. SPEAK and TALK. Speak and talk have very similar meanings and are often
equally appropriate:

- I'm going to talk / speak to my teacher about it after the lesson.
We usually use speak, not talk, for formal speeches when a person in authority is
addressing an audience:
- The Prirne Minister talked to Parliament this morning.
=> Before the election the President spoke to the nation on television.
We use speak, not talk, to refer to languages:
- Anetoly talks English with an accent . => Anatoly speaks English with an accent.
We use talk for long conversations.
- We were up half the night speaking. => We were up half the night talking.
There are a number of expressions with speak or talk:
- Could you speak up, I can't hear you. (= talk louder)
- I'd like to talk about our new sales strategy. (= explain/discuss)
- You're talking nonsense. (I strongly disagree with what you are saying.)
C. Raise refers to the action of someone or something lifting, increasing or moving
something else in an upward direction. To rise only refers to the movement itself:
- The government has been urged to raise corporation tax rotes to match those in other
European Union stotes.
- Rates are predicted to rise by ten per cent.
 Because raise refers to an action done to something or someone else it always has a
direct object:
- Fares will raise next year. => They will raise the fares next year.
Rise cannot have an object:
- They will rise the fares next year. => Fares will rise next year.
In formal English we sometimes use arise to refer to problems or difficulties occurring:
- Tissue rejection is a problem which can arise in this procedure.
 Arise does not have an object:
- Let's hope nobody arises the issue. => Let's hope that issue doesn't arise.

Note that these verbs have different forms:
infinitive

past tense
past participle
raise
raised
raised

present participle
raising


rise
rose
risen
rising
arise
arose
arisen
arising
H. ROB and STEAL. We use rob to refer to the person or place that suffered the
robbery; we use steal to refer to what was taken:
- Thieves stole my uncle. => Thieves robbed my uncle.
- A gang stole the head offiee. => A gang robbed the head office.
- They robbed his gold watch. => They stole his gold watch.
We can use the preposition from to link steal to a person or place:
- Colonel Blood stole the crown jewels from the Tower of London in 1665.
We can use the preposition of to link rob with the thing which was taken:
- No man has the right to rob another of his freedom.
OPPOSITE PAIRS
A. borrow / lend
Some verbs act as'mirror images'of each other. They describe the same event from

different sides.
lf you want to use something that belongs to someone else you can borrow il from
them. The owner of something can lend it fo you for a certain period:
'Dad, could we borrow gour electric drill?''Sorrg. I've alreadg lent itto Michael.'
B. Bring /Take and Fetch.
Bring means to take someone or something with you to the place you are now, to your
home, or to the place/event you have been talking about:
- I've brought the pliers you said you needed.
- When are you going to bring your new boyfriend to meet us? (to our house)
- Jane and I got lost on the top of the mountain and we had to stay there till morning.
Fortunately, Jane had brought some food and water.
Take means to move someone or something away from the place you are now, away
from your home or away from the place/event you have been talking about:
- I can't find the cheque book. Dennis must have taken it when he left this morning.
- When are you taking me to meet your parents? (away from here to their home)
 The choice of verb depends on the situation of the speaker:
- Are gou bringing gour scuba gear? (on our holiday)
- Are gou taking gour scuba gear? (on your holiday)
- I brought the car to work today. I am at work now.)
- I took the car to work today. (I am not at work now.)
Fetch means to collect someone or something from another place and bring it to the
place you are now, to your home or to the place you are talking about. We don't use
bring with this meaning of 'collecting':
- Could you bring the children from on Monday?
=> Could you fetch the children from school on Monday? (= go to the school and
bring them home)
PRACTICE
I. Rewrite the sentences using suitable forms of make or do.
0 .What activities are you planning for next week? => What are yow doing next week?

1. Heavy rains have led to parts of the road becoming impassable.
2. We're going to have the roof repaired next spring.
3. It's all part of the research I'm carrying out for my dissertation.
4. I'm rather busy this evening so lwon't be able to meet you at the cinema.
5. The old pond has become a wonderful paddling pool for the kids
6. How can you talk to me like that after all I've achieved for you!
7. Are you going to take any more aerobics classes?
8. In many countries women still earn less money than men for the same work.
9. They forced the hostages to walk for three days without food or water.
10. They've been producing Rolls Royce cars in the same factory for forty years.
II. Complete the sentences with a suitable form of have or take.
1. You sometimes have to wait a year or two for the plants to really............root in the
soil.
2. Unless a cheque is received by return of post we will have no option but...............
steps to recover the disputed sums through the courts.
3. I can't help you with that, I'm afraid; I.............absolutely no idea when it comes to
electrics.
4. You want to become a doctor at your age? It years to get through a medical degree.
5. Do you mind if I.............a quick wash before we sit down to eat?
6. She's very worried about the takeover. Perhaps you should a chat with her about it.
7. And what makes you think you............the right to lecture me on morality?
8. I'm not feeling too good today; I .............the most almighty row with my girlfriend
last night.
9. 9n the latest developments in the civil war it appears that the rebel army power in the
southern provinces.
10. I can't think why you're so reluctant to go. Come on, ..............a risk for oncel
11. We regret to announce that Alvin Claymore is unable part in tonight's performance
owing to ill health.
12. The residents insist on.............their say; they're going to demand a public meeting
with the housing committee.

13 With any luck the new policing initiative a positive elfect on the appalling crime rate
around here.
l4 I know I'm old-fashioned but I do...........exception to all the bad language on TV
these days.
15 You really can't put this off any longer; you must a decision on the Knowlson case
today.
III. Choose the best word in italics for each sentence.
1.We'd better order a taxi to bring / take us to the airport next week.
2. My uncle borrowed / lend me the money to buy my first car.
3. Shall I bring / tahe my holiday photos when I come over on Saturday?
4. Is there any chance of you bringing / fetching the kids from their swimming lesson
tonight?


5. The car isn't here, I'm borrowing / lending it to my sister for the week.
6. My boyfriend went to Japan on a business trip and brought / took me a fantastic MP5
player.
7. Can I borrow / lend your dictionary? I left mine at home.
8. When my girlfriend left me she brought / took my entire CD collection.
9. Would you like me to fetch / bring your car from the garage this afternoon?
10. Is there any chance I could borrow / lend your calculator over the weekend?
IV. In the following texts some lines (l-17) have a mistake with the verb and some
lines are correct. Find and underline any incorrect verbs and write the correct
verb form, then tick () the correct lines. The exercise begins with two examples (0)
and (00).
US RATE RISE
0. The Chancellor returned from this month's meeting of the 'Group
............
00. of Six' with news that interest rates are to be rised by an average of raised
1. half a percentage point in the United States. While the Chancellor

.............
2. has gone in Dallas city markets have been feverish with rumours of .............
3. even higher increases. The US dollar has been laying at an all-time
.............
4. low for several weeks and the American trade deficit has been rising .............
5. steadily. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve has been to Tokyo to .............
6. discuss the problems which have arose from pressure in Congress to .............
7. tackle the deficit. He will be in Japan until next Tuesday.
.............
PRICELESS TREASURE DISAPPEARS
8. The Benton Horde, a priceless collection of ancient Roman silver, has
.............
9. disappeared from its display cabinet in the British Museum. At today's .............
10. emergency press conference, Museum director Alan Woods talked of .............
11. his theory that the treasures had probably been robbed by a professional .............
12. gang on behalf of a specific collector as the silver is too well-known to .............
13. be sold on the open market. Ten museums have been stolen in the last .............
14. six months and the number has been raising steadily over the last few .............
15. years. The Benton Horde is one of Britain's most important collections .............
16. of Floman silver. lt was found in 1926, having laid undiscovered for .............
17. almost sixteen centuries beneath a Sussex field.
.............

ANSWER KEY
I.
1. Heavy rains have made parts of the road impassable.
2. We're going to have the roof done next spring.
3. lt's all part of the research I'm doing for my dissertation.

4. I'm rather busy/l'm doing something this evening so I won't be able to make the

cinema / make it.
5. The old pond has made a wonderful paddling pool for the kids.
6. How can you talk to nre like that after all I've done for you!
7. Are you going to do any more aerobics classes?
8. In many countries women still make Iess (money) than nren for the same work.
9. They made the hostages walk for three days without food or water.
10. They'vebeen making Rolls Royce cars in the same factory for forty years.
II.
1. take 2. to take 3. have 4. takes / will take 5. have 6. have 7. have 8. had
9. has taken 10. take 11. to take 12. having 13. will have 14. take 15. take
III. 1. take 2. lent 3. bring 4. fetching 5. lending
6. brought 7. borrow 8. took 9. fetch 10 borrow
IV.
1.  2. gone => been 3. lay => lying 4.  5. been => gone
6. arose => arisen 7.  8.  9.  10. talked => spoke
11. robbed => stolen 12  13 stolen => robbed
14. raising => rising 15.  16. laid => lain 17. 