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Confusable Verbs: Practice Questions with Answers

11 practice questions on Confusable Verbs, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.

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1. Q.1

   Choose the correct form: Please ___ the book on the table. (A) lie (B) lay

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   Answer: lay

   Solution:

   1. The sentence has a direct object ("the book") — "lay" (to put something down) is correct, not "lie."

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2. Q.2

   Choose the correct form: I need to ___ down; I have a headache. (A) lie (B) lay

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   Answer: lie

   Solution:

   1. There’s no direct object — this is about reclining, so "lie" is correct, not "lay."

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3. Q.3

   Choose the correct form: The sun ___ every morning at 6 AM. (A) rises (B) raises

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   Answer: rises

   Solution:

   1. There’s no direct object, and the sun moves on its own — "rises" is correct, not "raises."

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4. Q.4

   Choose the correct form: The old man ___ quietly on the bench for hours. (A) sat (B) set

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   Answer: sat

   Solution:

   1. There’s no direct object — the man is the one sitting, so "sat" (the past of "sit") is correct, not "set."

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5. Q.5

   Choose the correct form: Please ___ the plates on the table before the guests arrive. (A) sit (B) set

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   Answer: set

   Solution:

   1. The sentence has a direct object ("the plates") — "set" (to put something down) is correct, not "sit."

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6. Q.6

   Choose the correct form: Yesterday, the dog ___ in the sun all afternoon. (A) lay (B) laid

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   Answer: lay

   Solution:

   1. This is the past tense of "lie" (to recline), which is "lay" — not "laid," which is the past tense of "lay" (to put something down).

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7. Q.7

   Choose the correct form: The children ___ around the campfire, telling stories. (A) sat (B) set

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   Answer: sat

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8. Q.8

   Choose the correct form: She ___ her hand to ask a question. (A) rose (B) raised

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   Answer: raised

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9. Q.9

   Choose the correct form: The price of petrol has ___ sharply this month. (A) risen (B) raised

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   Answer: risen

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10. Q.10

    Choose the correct form: He ___ the documents on my desk this morning. (A) lay (B) laid

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    Answer: laid

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11. Q.11

    Choose the correct form: She ___ the vase carefully on the shelf. (A) sat (B) set

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    Answer: set

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