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Language point:
Confusing verbs 2
BBC Learning English The Flatmates
Here are some pairs of verbs that you might sometimes find confusing.
We use 'see' and 'hear' for sights and sounds that come to our eyes and ears,
without us trying to see or hear them. For example, Tim said 'Did you see any of the
Games?'
'Listen' and 'watch' are used to describe paying attention to sights and sounds that
are going on. For example, Helen said 'I watched some of the Olympics on TV.'
We can use 'tell' to report the main idea of what someone said. We don't have to repeat
the exact words the person used:
She told me to close the window. (She may have said, 'Please close the window' or
'Shut the window' or 'Would you mind closing the window please?')
With 'speak' we usually use a preposition 'to', 'about' or 'of' before the object when the
meaning is 'talk' or 'converse':
I spoke to him about his behaviour.
She spoke about her work at the university.
He spoke of his interest in photography.
It's also possible to use 'speak' without a preposition, meaning someone's language
ability:
Does he speak French?
She can speak four languages.
The three forms of this verb are: lie, lay (past) and lain (past participle):
The dog lay under the tree.
The bones have lain there for thousands of years.
'Lay' means
1. put something in a flat or horizontal position, usually carefully. It's a transitive verb
so it's followed by an object (and usually a preposition or adverb):
She laid the baby gently on the sofa so as not to waken him.
He laid the plates down on the table.
The three forms of this verb are: lay, laid (past), laid (past participle):
Can you lay this vase carefully over there please?
She laid the two dresses on the bed trying to decide which one to wear.
I've laid all the pieces of jigsaw puzzle on the table so we can start putting it together.
Vocabulary:
on great form
feeling or being very well, very healthy and in good spirits
Would you like to try an online quiz about this language point? Go to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode160/quiz.shtml