Review exercise: Frequently confused verbs

In the following sentences identify whether or not the highlighted verb or compound verb is used correctly.

1. The leftover casserole has been setting in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

Oops!

Question:
The leftover casserole has been setting in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed compound verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb has been setting is transitive, but the sentence describes the position of the casserole, not the act of placing it somewhere. Thus, the correct answer is has been sitting.

Good work!

Question:
The leftover casserole has been setting in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed compound verb is correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb has been setting is transitive, but the sentence describes the position of the casserole, not the act of placing it somewhere. Thus, the correct answer is has been sitting.

2. The cows were laying in the field even though it was raining.

Oops!

Question:
The cows were laying in the field even though it was raining.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed compound verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb were laying is transitive, but the sentence describes the position of the cows, not the act of lying down. Thus, the correct answer is were lying.

Good work!

Question:
The cows were laying in the field even though it was raining.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed compound verb is correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb were laying is transitive, but the sentence describes the position of the cows, not the act of lying down. Thus, the correct answer is were lying.

3. Set that vase on the sideboard.

Good work!

Question:
Set that vase on the sideboard.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed verb is correct.
Explanation:
The verb set is transitive and calls for a direct object (that vase); it describes the act of placing the vase rather than describing its position.

Oops!

Question:
Set that vase on the sideboard.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The verb set is transitive and calls for a direct object (that vase); it describes the act of placing the vase rather than describing its position.

4. The beavers spent the afternoon lying new branches on the lodge.

Oops!

Question:
The beavers spent the afternoon lying new branches on the lodge.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The verb lying is intransitive, but the sentence describes the act of placing the branches, not the position of the branches. Thus, the correct answer is laying.

Good work!

Question:
The beavers spent the afternoon lying new branches on the lodge.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed verb is correct.
Explanation:
The verb lying is intransitive, but the sentence describes the act of placing the branches, not the position of the branches. Thus, the correct answer is laying.

5. Joe argues that setting in a rocking chair is a form of aerobic exercise.

Oops!

Question:
Joe argues that setting in a rocking chair is a form of aerobic exercise.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The verb setting is transitive (and calls for a direct object), but the sentence does not describe the act of placing something or someone in a particular place. Thus, the correct answer is sitting.

Good work!

Question:
Joe argues that setting in a rocking chair is a form of aerobic exercise.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed verb is correct.
Explanation:
The verb setting is transitive (and calls for a direct object), but the sentence does not describe the act of placing something or someone in a particular place. Thus, the correct answer is sitting.

6. The entire group suddenly sitted down.

Oops!

Question:
The entire group suddenly sitted down.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed verb is not correct.
Explanation:
Sitted is not standard English; it is not one of the principal forms of either to sit or to set. The correct answer is sat.

Good work!

Question:
The entire group suddenly sitted down.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed verb is correct.
Explanation:
Sitted is not standard English; it is not one of the principal forms of either to sit or to set. The correct answer is sat.

7. While they were lying the new linoleum, the men listened to rap music.

Oops!

Question:
While they were lying the new linoleum, the men listened to rap music.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed compound verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb were lying is intransitive, but the sentence describes the act of placing the linoleum on the floor. Thus, the correct answer is were laying.

Good work!

Question:
While they were lying the new linoleum, the men listened to rap music.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed compound verb is correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb were lying is intransitive, but the sentence describes the act of placing the linoleum on the floor. Thus, the correct answer is were laying.

8. The cat preferred to set on the dining room table.

Oops!

Question:
The cat preferred to set on the dining room table.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed compound verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The infinitive to set is transitive and calls for a direct object, but there is no direct object in the sentence. Thus, the sentence requires the intransitive verb to sit.

Good work!

Question:
The cat preferred to set on the dining room table.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed compound verb is correct.
Explanation:
The infinitive to set is transitive and calls for a direct object, but there is no direct object in the sentence. Thus, the sentence requires the intransitive verb to sit.

9. After the clerk had laid the fabric on the table, Bridget saw several small grease spots.

Good work!

Question:
After the clerk had laid the fabric on the table, Bridget saw several small grease spots.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed compound verb is correct.
Explanation:
The dependent clause describes the act of placing the bolt of fabric on the table; therefore, the transitive verb had laid is appropriate.

Oops!

Question:
After the clerk had laid the fabric on the table, Bridget saw several small grease spots.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed compound verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The dependent clause describes the act of placing the bolt of fabric on the table; therefore, the transitive verb had laid is appropriate.

10. While Karen and Ian were sitting the post in the concrete, they were harassed by clouds of black flies.

Oops!

Question:
While Karen and Ian were sitting the post in the concrete, they were harassed by clouds of black flies.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed compound verb is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence describes the action of placing the post in the concrete, and thus requires the transitive compound verb form were setting.

Good work!

Question:
While Karen and Ian were sitting the post in the concrete, they were harassed by clouds of black flies.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed compound verb is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence describes the action of placing the post in the concrete, and thus requires the transitive compound verb form were setting.

11. Samira laid down for a short nap before the concert.

Oops!

Question:
Samira laid down for a short nap before the concert.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed verb is not correct.
Explanation:
Laid is the past participle and must be used with an auxiliary verb. The correct answer is lay.

Good work!

Question:
Samira laid down for a short nap before the concert.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed verb is correct.
Explanation:
Laid is the past participle and must be used with an auxiliary verb. The correct answer is lay.

12. We have set here four hours and still haven’t caught a fish.

Oops!

Question:
We have set here four hours and still haven’t caught a fish.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed compound verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb have set is intransitive, but the sentence describes the position of the people rather than the act of sitting down. Thus, the correct answer is have sat.

Good work!

Question:
We have set here four hours and still haven’t caught a fish.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed compound verb is correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb have set is intransitive, but the sentence describes the position of the people rather than the act of sitting down. Thus, the correct answer is have sat.

13. After lying the egg carton on the counter, Beverly began to search for the frying pan.

Oops!

Question:
After lying the egg carton on the counter, Beverly began to search for the frying pan.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The verb lying is intransitive, but the sentence requires the transitive verb laying because it describes the action of placing the carton on the counter.

Good work!

Question:
After lying the egg carton on the counter, Beverly began to search for the frying pan.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed verb is correct.
Explanation:
The verb lying is intransitive, but the sentence requires the transitive verb laying because it describes the action of placing the carton on the counter.

14. After she had sat her laptop down, she was able to find her keys.

Oops!

Question:
After she had sat her laptop down, she was able to find her keys.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed compound verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb had sat is intransitive, but the sentence describes the action of putting the laptop down. The correct answer is the transitive had set.

Good work!

Question:
After she had sat her laptop down, she was able to find her keys.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed compound verb is correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb had sat is intransitive, but the sentence describes the action of putting the laptop down. The correct answer is the transitive had set.

15. Charlie and Paul lied in the sun all afternoon.

Oops!

Question:
Charlie and Paul lied in the sun all afternoon.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed verb is not correct.
Explanation:
Note that lied (used in the sense of reclining) is not standard English; the correct past tense of the verb lie is lay.

Good work!

Question:
Charlie and Paul lied in the sun all afternoon.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed verb is correct.
Explanation:
Note that lied (used in the sense of reclining) is not standard English; the correct past tense of the verb lie is lay.

16. The youngest child usually sets in a special chair.

Oops!

Question:
The youngest child usually sets in a special chair.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed verb is not correct.
Explanation:
This sentence describes the position of the child and requires the intransitive verb sits.

Good work!

Question:
The youngest child usually sets in a special chair.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed verb is correct.
Explanation:
This sentence describes the position of the child and requires the intransitive verb sits.

17. We spent the morning lying on the sofa watching cartoons instead of raking the leaves.

Good work!

Question:
We spent the morning lying on the sofa watching cartoons instead of raking the leaves.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed verb is correct.
Explanation:
The participle lying is intransitive and describes the position of we rather than the act of placing (laying) something on the sofa. Thus, the correct answer is lying.

Oops!

Question:
We spent the morning lying on the sofa watching cartoons instead of raking the leaves.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The participle lying is intransitive and describes the position of we rather than the act of placing (laying) something on the sofa. Thus, the correct answer is lying.

18. Jason carefully sits the bamboo container on the windowsill.

Oops!

Question:
Jason carefully sits the bamboo container on the windowsill.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The sentence describes the act of placing the container on the windowsill, and thus requires the transitive verb sets.

Good work!

Question:
Jason carefully sits the bamboo container on the windowsill.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed verb is correct.
Explanation:
The sentence describes the act of placing the container on the windowsill, and thus requires the transitive verb sets.

19. The records were ruined because they had laid on top of the radiator all weekend.

Oops!

Question:
The records were ruined because they had laid on top of the radiator all weekend.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed compound verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb had laid is transitive, but the sentence describes the position of the records rather than the act of placing them on the radiator. The intransitive verb had lain should be used.

Good work!

Question:
The records were ruined because they had laid on top of the radiator all weekend.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed compound verb is correct.
Explanation:
The compound verb had laid is transitive, but the sentence describes the position of the records rather than the act of placing them on the radiator. The intransitive verb had lain should be used.

20. Lie those boxes on the top shelf in the garage.

Oops!

Question:
Lie those boxes on the top shelf in the garage.
Answer:
The answer correctly formed verb is not correct.
Explanation:
The verb lie is intransitive, but the sentence has a direct object (those boxes) and requires a transitive verb (lay).

Good work!

Question:
Lie those boxes on the top shelf in the garage.
Answer:
The answer incorrectly formed verb is correct.
Explanation:
The verb lie is intransitive, but the sentence has a direct object (those boxes) and requires a transitive verb (lay).

Copyright notice for HyperGrammar 2

© Department of English, Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa
A tool made available online by the Translation Bureau, Public Services and Procurement Canada

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