Problem Verbs

Problem Verbs

1. HANG

1. Write the correct form of 'hang' in the following sentences. Be careful to observe sequence of tenses.

(a) The man was ---------- (hanged/hung) for murder. 

(b) She ---------- (hanged/hung) the picture on the wall. 

(c) She ---------- (hung/hanged) the photo on the wall.

(d) She ---------- (hung/ hanged) herself last night. 

(e) He was ---------- (hung/ hanged) for murder. 

2. LIE/ LAY

2. Write the correct form of 'lie' or 'lay' in the following sentences. Be careful to observe sequence of tenses.

(a) The old man was found ---------- (lying/laying) dead in his room. 

(b) They have ---------- (lain/laid) a tree across the canal to cross it. 

(c) Don’t ---------- (lie/lay) the groceries on the table. 

(d) The old man was tired, so he decided to ---------- (lie/lay) down for a while.

(e) He was ---------- (lying/laying) on the floor.

(f) The baby ---------- (lies/lays) on the mat. 

(g) The baby ---------- (lay/lied) on the mat.

(h) The baby has ---------- (lain/laid) on the mat. 

(i) Books are ---------- (lying/laying) open on the floor. 

(j) The cowboy ---------- (lies/lays) that a wolf has attacked his cows.

(k) The cowboy ---------- (lied/ laid) that a wolf had attacked his cows.

(l) The cowboy has ---------- (lied/ laid) that a wolf attacked his cows.

(m) He is always ---------- (lying/ laying)  that he cannot swim. 

(n) The hen ---------- (lays/ lies) an egg every day. 

(o) Mother ---------- (laid/ lay) the baby on the bed.

(p) They have ---------- (laid/ lied) grapes on the roof to dry. 

(q) Our hens are not ---------- (laying/ lying) eggs. 

(r) He was ---------- (laying/ lying) on the floor. 

3. SIT/ SET

3. Write the correct form of 'sit' or 'set' in the following sentences. Be careful to observe sequence of tenses.

(a) Nobody likes to ---------- (sit/set) idly all day long. 

(b) The astronauts ---------- (sit/set) a television camera on the moon. 

(c) We love to ---------- (sit/set) in the sun in winter.

(d) Students ---------- (sit/ set) at their desk in the classroom. 

(e) We ---------- (sat/ set) on the floor and enjoyed the orchestra. 

(f) I have ---------- (sat/ sitten) for you all day long. 

(g) You are ---------- (sitting/ setting) idly. 

(h) They ---------- (set/ sat) a table before us. 

(i) They have ---------- (set/ sat) a date for their wedding. 

(j) I am ---------- (setting/ sitting) a fan in my room. 

4. RISE/ RAISE

4. Write the correct form of 'rise' or 'raise' in the following sentences. Be careful to observe sequence of tenses.

(a) During flood, water in the river ---------- (raised/rose) too high. 

(b) ---------- (Rise/raise) your head and see the man over there. 

(c) We wanted to ---------- (raise/rise) the picture one more foot.

(d) The mongoose ---------- (rose/raised) its head to see the snake.

(e) Global warming will ---------- (rise/raise) water level of the sea. 

(f) The captive ---------- (rises/ raises) hands to surrender. 

(g) The police ---------- (risen/ raised) the gun and fired. 

(h) She has ---------- (risen/ raised) her voice with anger. 

(i) We are ---------- (rising/ raising) fund to help the poor. 

(j) The sun ---------- (raises/ rises) in the east. 

(k) She ---------- (raised/ rose) from bed early. 

(l) Prices have ---------- (raised/ risen) to high.  

(m) The water level is ---------- (raising/ rising) fast. 

5. KNOW/KNOW HOW TO

5. Write the correct form of 'know' or 'know how to' in the following sentences. Be careful to observe sequence of tenses.

(a) Do you ---------- ---------- (know/ know how to) swim?

(b) The cats did not ---------- ---------- (know/ know how to) divide the egg.

(c) Pat has been driving for fifteen years, but he doesn't ---------- ---------- (know/ know how to) to change a tire properly.

(d) I was away from home. So, I do not ---------- (know/ know how to) who broke into the house. 

(e) The owner of the house was in, so he ---------- (know/ know how to)  about the robbery.

(f) She ---------- (know/ know how to) manage her boss. 

(g) Everybody does not ---------- (know/ know how to) make Coca-Cola. 

(h) Scientists ---------- (know/ know how to) Milton’s third law. 

(i) We ---------- (know/ know how to) about their engagement.

(j) We ---------- (know/ know how to) to type before we entered the computer class.

(k) I don't ---------- (know/ know how to) to dance, but I tries.

6. SAY/TELL

6. Write the correct form of 'say' or 'tell' in the following sentences. Be careful to observe sequence of tenses.

(a) Can you ---------- (say/ tell) the time?

(b) Who ---------- (say/ tell) you that I was going to Tokyo?

(c) John ---------- (say/ tell) that he has already seen the movie.

(d) The notice ---------- (say/ tell) that the school shall remain open tomorrow.

(e) Grandma ---------- (say/ tell) us some funny stories. 

(f) Who ---------- (say/ tell) that I was going to Tokyo?

(g) You ---------- (say/ tell) Kitty that the party would begin that night. 

(h) Andy ---------- (say/ tell) us that it had rained in torrents in his town.

(i) Andy ---------- (say/ tell) that it had rained in torrents in his town.

(j) Hamlet ----- "To be or not to be, that is the question."

(k) The judge ordered the witnesses to ---------- (say/ tell) the whole truth about the accident.

(l) Never ---------- (say/ tell) a lie even in fun. 

(m) The teacher -----  (say/ tell) that we would not have any homework during the vacation.

(n) I saw my friend in the library and ---------- (say/ tell) that I had wanted to talk to him.

(o) Mike ---------- (say/ tell) that he always does his homework in time.

(p) It is foolish t ---------- (say/ tell) a secret to a person who spreads gossip.

Problem Verbs - Answers

1. HANG

(a) The man was hanged for murder.

(b) She hung the picture on the wall.

(c) She hung the photo on the wall.

(d) She hanged herself last night.

(e) He was hanged for murder.

2. LIE/ LAY

(a) The old man was found lying dead in his room.

(b) They have laid a tree across the canal to cross it.

(c) Don’t lay the groceries on the table.

(d) The old man was tired, so he decided to lie down for a while.

(e) He was lying on the floor.

(f) The baby lies on the mat.

(g) The baby laid on the mat.

(h) The baby has lain on the mat.

(i) Books are lying open on the floor.

(j) The cowboy lies that a wolf has attacked his cows.

(k) The cowboy lied that a wolf had attacked his cows.

(l) The cowboy has lied that a wolf attacked his cows.

(m) He is always lying that he cannot swim.

(n) The hen lays an egg every day.

(o) Mother laid the baby on the bed.

(p) They have laid grapes on the roof to dry.

(q) Our hens are not laying eggs.

(r) He was lying on the floor.

3. SIT/ SET

(a) Nobody likes to sit idly all day long.

(b) The astronauts set a television camera on the moon.

(c) We love to sit in the sun in winter.

(d) Students sit at their desk in the classroom.

(e) We sat on the floor and enjoyed the orchestra.

(f) I have sat for you all day long.

(g) You are sitting idly.

(h) They set a table before us.

(i) They have set a date for their wedding.

(j) I am setting a fan in my room.

4. RISE/ RAISE

(a) During flood, water in the river rose too high.

(b) Raise your head and see the man over there.

(c) We wanted to raise the picture one more foot.

(d) The mongoose raised its head to see the snake.

(e) Global warming will raise water level of the sea.

(f) The captive raises hands to surrender.

(g) The police raised the gun and fired.

(h) She has raised her voice with anger.

(i) We are raising fund to help the poor.

(j) The sun rises in the east.

(k) She rose from bed early.

(l) Prices have risen to high.

(m) The water level is rising fast.

5. KNOW/KNOW HOW TO

(a) Do you know how to swim?

(b) The cats did not know how to divide the egg.

(c) Pat has been driving for fifteen years, but he doesn't know how to change a tire properly.

(d) I was away from home. So, I do not know who broke into the house.

(e) The owner of the house was in, so he knew about the robbery.

(f) She knows how to manage her boss.

(g) Everybody does not know how to make Coca-Cola.

(h) Scientists know Milton’s third law.

(i) We knew about their engagement.

(j) We knew how to type before we entered the computer class.

(k) I don't know how to dance, but I tries.

6. SAY/TELL

(a) Can you tell the time?

(b) Who told you that I was going to Tokyo?

(c) John said that he has already seen the movie.

(d) The notice says that the school shall remain open tomorrow.

(e) Grandma told us some funny stories.

(f) Who told you that I was going to Tokyo?

(g) You told Kitty that the party would begin that night.

(h) Andy told us that it had rained in torrents in his town.

(i) Andy told us that it had rained in torrents in his town.

(j) Hamlet said, "To be or not to be, that is the question."

(k) The judge ordered the witnesses to tell the whole truth about the accident.

(l) Never tell a lie even in fun.

(m) The teacher said that we would not have any homework during the vacation.

(n) I saw my friend in the library and said that I had wanted to talk to him.

(o) Mike said that he always does his homework in time.

(p) It is foolish to tell a secret to a person who spreads gossip.