Understanding Confusing Verbs in English

Bear (borne, borne/born)

Bear means to carry or endure.

• Past: borne
• Past Participle: borne (when referring to carrying) / born (when referring to birth)

Examples:

• She bore the burden bravely. (Past)
• The message was borne by the courier. (Past Participle, carrying)
• He was born in Mumbai. (Past Participle, birth)

Find (found, found)

Find means to discover or locate.

• Past: found
• Past Participle: found

Examples:

• I found my keys. (Past)
• She has found a solution. (Past Participle)

Found (founded, founded)

Found means to establish or create.

• Past: founded
• Past Participle: founded

Examples:

• They founded the company in 1990. (Past)
• The city was founded centuries ago. (Past Participle)

Hang (hung, hung)

Hang means to suspend something.

• Past: hung
• Past Participle: hung

Examples:

• I hung the picture on the wall. (Past)
• The clothes were hung to dry. (Past Participle)

Hang (hanged, hanged)

Hang means to execute by hanging.

• Past: hanged
• Past Participle: hanged

Examples:

• The criminal was hanged for his crimes. (Past)
• They were hanged after the trial. (Past Participle)

Lie (lay, lain)

Lie means to recline or rest.

• Past: lay
• Past Participle: lain

Examples:

• He lay on the bed. (Past)
• She had lain there all afternoon. (Past Participle)

Lay (laid, laid)

Lay means to place something down.

• Past: laid
• Past Participle: laid

Examples:

• She laid the book on the table. (Past)
• They have laid the groundwork for the project. (Past Participle)

Lie (lied, lied)

Lie means to tell a falsehood.

• Past: lied
• Past Participle: lied

Examples:

• He lied about his age. (Past)
• She has lied before. (Past Participle)

Rise (rose, risen)

Rise means to move upwards.

• Past: rose
• Past Participle: risen

Examples:

• The sun rose at dawn. (Past)
• They have risen to the challenge. (Past Participle)

Raise (raised, raised)

Raise means to lift something up.

• Past: raised
• Past Participle: raised

Examples:

• He raised his hand. (Past)
• The funds were raised for charity. (Past Participle)