There are some words which can cause confusion in meaning if we are not careful about their spelling because they can be confused for another word which is very similar in spelling.
Here are some commonly confused verbs
die / dying / died
dye / dyeing / dyed
hop / hopping / hopped
hope / hoping / hoped
mop / mopping / mopped
mope / moping / moped
scrap / scraping / scraped
lie (recline) / lying / laid or lain
lie (tell a lie) / lying / lied
Complete the following sentences.
1. The rabbit .......................... across the field.
To hop is to jump. The different forms of this verb are: hop / hopped / hopped
2. I was ........................... that you could lend me a pound.
To hope is to expect and want something to happen. The different forms of this verb are: hope / hoping / hoped.
3. She ........................ the skirt to match her blouse.
To dye is to color. The different forms are: dye / dyeing / dyed
4. The poor woman is ...........................
5. The rough surface of the floor made ........................ difficult.
To mop is to clean by wiping. The different forms are: mop / mopping / mopped
6. I slipped and .......................... an elbow.
To scrape is to bruise. The different forms are: scrape / scraping / scraped
7. The witness .......................... to the jury.
To lie is to speak falsely. The different forms of this word are: lie / lying / lied
8. The king ............................ now in his final resting place.
Lie can mean recline. The different forms of this verb are: lie / lies / lying / laid or lain
9. I .......................... down on the couch yesterday.
The past tense of lie (recline) is lay.
10. Please .................................. the plate down now.
To lay is to put something down. The past tense of lay is laid.
11. The tiles were .......................... in a geometric pattern.
Laid is the past tense of lay. To lay is to place, arrange etc.
12. It is a mistake to .............................. too much emphasis on grades.
To lay is to place, assign, put etc.
Answers
1. The rabbit hopped across the field.
2. I was hoping that you could lend me a pound.
3. She dyed the skirt to match her blouse.
4. The poor woman is dying.
5. The rough surface of the floor made mopping difficult.
6. I slipped and scraped an elbow.
7. The witness lied to the jury.
8. The king lies now in his final resting place.
9. I lay down on the couch yesterday.
10. Please lay the plate down now.
11. The tiles were laid in a geometric pattern.
12. It is a mistake to lay too much emphasis on grades.
