13 verbs we misused

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Remember that you should never say or write like that.

1. Lay, not lay down

"I didn't put sugar in!" - the caring grandmother informs you. With two, by the way, higher educations. The reality is that this verb can confuse even the most well-read. What to do? Remember the rule: verbs with the root-lie-have the right to exist only in two cases:

• if there is a prefix in front of the root (put, superimpose, attach);
• if the root is followed by the suffix -sya (to lie down).

2. Drive, not drive

There is only one competent imperative form of the verb "go" - "go." Although there is a vernacular "go". Linguists are dissatisfied, but tolerate.

3. Plant, not plant

Cucumbers. Or a child on your knees. About a century ago, this form of the verb was as common as "plant". In about the same way, “fall” and “fall” existed on an equal footing. But decades have passed, and today, in literate speech, "falling" and "planting" is unacceptable. At least potatoes in the country, at least guests at the table can only be planted.

4. Let's light it up, not light it up

"Burn" refers to verbs with alternating root consonants. They change like this:

• I am: burning.
• You: burn.
• He (she, it): burns.
• We: burn.
• You: burn.
• They: harness.

If you look closely, it turns out that only verbs in the first person singular (I) and the third person plural (they) stand out from the general row: I light it up, they light it up. In any other numbers and persons, only the form with a doubled "w" is used: "Tonight we will light up!" And nothing else.

5. Flowing, not flowing

"Leak" is another verb with alternating consonants at the root. The story is the same as with "burn": I flow, they flow, but the water flows exclusively. Or leaking.

6. Bakes, not bakes

And one more verb with alternating consonants at the root. The rule is the same as with "burn" and "flow".

7. Come, not come

Many people write “to come” because they remember “to go” too well. Others have heard something about the letter "y" in this word, so they insert it wherever possible: you come, come, come. But the "y" in this verb exists only in the infinitive - "to come."

8. Let's go, don't send

The verb “to go” in the motivating mood has three equally literate forms at once: “let's go”, “let's go”, “let's go”. As for the verb "let's go", this is a purely colloquial form, to which linguists have a lot of complaints. "Send" is generally a gross mistake, simply unacceptable in competent speech.

9. Wave, don't wave

A competent literary form of the verb "wave" now is "wave": "Wave to uncle!" However, lately "waving" has become an acceptable form in colloquial speech. It is possible that soon she will enter the literary literature on an equal footing with "waves" rights.

10. Crying, not crying

The story is the same as with “wave”: the literary form of the verb “cry” is now only derivatives of “crying”: I cry, you cry, he cries, we cry, you cry, they cry. The only difference from the previous example is that the form "weeps" to this day is considered erroneous both in colloquial and literary speech.

11. Rinse, not rinse

In fairness, we note that the verb "strip" is still there - as a purely colloquial form. If we are talking about literate speech, then there is only one option - "rinse".

12. Climb, not climb

There is a verb "to climb". Or "climb". These two forms are considered almost equal, except that "climbing" has a slightly more conversational connotation. Depending on which verb you use as a basis, the third person plural form can be different: they climb or climb. But the words "climb" do not exist at all.

13. Put on or dress

Just remember: in any incomprehensible situation, say or write “put on”. Don't even hesitate. If according to the rules it is correct to “dress”, you cannot say otherwise. “I put on a coat”, “She puts on tights”, “Before putting on something, he looks at the tag”, “Mom asked me to put on a hat”. But: "Mom asked me to dress my younger brother." In this example, the tongue will not turn to say "put on".