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Grades 5-6 - Troublesome Word Pairs

Grammar & Writing Activities »

Name: __________________________ Date: ________________
 
Troublesome Word Pairs: Affect/Effect
 
 
Write a weather report for a news broadcast in which you correctly use both affect and effect at least twice each and in different tenses. Have a partner check for correct usage and then read the broadcast aloud.
 
 
Challenge: Use context clues to try to figure out the meanings of affect and effect in the sentences above. Write your guesses here.
 
affect: _________________________________________
 
effect: _________________________________________
 
Use a dictionary or online resource to look up the alternative forms of affect and effect and practice using them with a partner. 
 
There are some words in English that sound similar and may look similar, but are spelled and used differently. Sometimes it can be hard to tell them apart. 
 
Affect and effect
 
Affect is most often used as a verb. 
Examples:
How will the falling snow affect the opening of school? (future tense verb)
The inspiring movie affected the students in a positive way. (past tense verb)
 
Effect is most often used as a noun. 
Examples:
The effect of falling snow on school openings will be announced. (noun, subject)
The inspiring movie had a positive effect on the students. (noun, direct object)
 
There are other less frequent uses of both affect (noun form) and effect (verb form). 
 
Examples: Reggie’s voice had an unusual affect that made him sound important. (noun)
The purpose of the meeting is to effect changes that will help the community. (verb)
Name: _____________________________________ Date: ________________
 
Troublesome Word Pairs: Sit/Set
 
Suppose you are the planner of a large dinner party. Write instructions for the people helping you about the placement of dishes and where you would like the guests to sit. Use sit and set at least three times each in at least two different tenses. Exchange your instructions with a partner and underline all forms of the verbs sit and set wherever they occur. Check each other’s work for correct usage.
 
 
There are some words in English that sound similar and may look similar, but are spelled and used differently. Sometimes it can be hard to tell them apart. 
 
Sit and set
 
Sit is an intransitive verb. It does not take an object.
 
Please sit down.
Where would you like to sit?
 
Set is a transitive verb. It takes an object that receives an action from the verb.
 
Please set the tray down.
You can set those items anywhere you like.
 
Sit and set are NOT interchangeable. Review the sentences below.
 
INCORRECT: I would like to set here. Shall I sit plates on the table?
CORRECT: I would like to sit here. Shall I set plates on the table?
 
Both of these verbs are irregular. See the chart below to review the verb tenses.
 
Infinitive Present Past    Past Participle   Future
to sit he sits he sat he has sat he will sit
to set he sets(it) he set (it) he has set (it) he will set (it)
Name: _____________________________________ Date: ________________
 
Troublesome Word Pairs: Lie/Lay
 
 
Write a series of sentences about the same character using as many forms of both verbs above as possible. Show them to a partner and check each other for correct usage. Challenge: With your partner, practice using the different forms aloud in conversation.
 
There are some words in English that sound similar and may look similar, but are spelled and used differently. Sometimes it can be hard to tell them apart. 
 
Lie and lay
 
Lie is an intransitive verb. It does not take an object.
Examples:
Aunt Rose is tired and needs to lie down. 
I will lie here on the sofa.
 
Lay is a transitive verb. It takes an object that receives the action of the verb.
Examples:
Mom said she will lay the dress on the bed. 
Lay that book on the table.
 
Lie and lay are NOT interchangeable. Review the sentences below.
 
INCORRECT: Mario should lay on the bed if he is tired. I will lie a blanket out for him.
CORRECT: Mario should lie on the bed if he is tired. I will lay a blanket out for him.
 
One challenging part of these two verbs is found in their conjugations, or how their tenses are formed. Review the chart below.
 
Infinitive Present Past    Past Participle Future
to lie she lies she lay she has lain      she will lie
to lay she lays (it) she laid (it) she has laid (it) she will lay (it)
 
If you notice from the list above, the past tense of lie is lay. The past tense of lay is laid. These forms take practice. See the examples below.
Examples:
Yesterday, Sally lay on the rug and watched TV.
Ken laid the clean cloth on the kitchen table.
 
Name: _____________________________________ Date: _______________
 
Troublesome Word Pairs: Can/May
 
 
 
Write six sentences that contain the word can or the word may. Include questions as well as statements. Write the sentences again and leave a blank for those words. Have a partner fill in the blank with either can or may. Check each other’s work.
 
There are some words in English that sound similar and may look similar, but are spelled and used differently. Sometimes it can be hard to tell them apart. 
 
Can and may
 
The helping verb can refers to ability. 
Examples:
My mom can run for five miles without stopping!
You can do anything if you put your mind to it.
 
The helping verb may refers to permission or a possibility. 
Examples:
The designer may wish to choose the tiles himself.
You may go out and play after supper.
 
Can and may are NOT interchangeable. There is a meaning distinction.
 
HINT: Substitute the words “able to” for can or may. Do you mean, for example, “is able to”? If not, choose may. Review the examples below.
 
INCORRECT: Can I ride my bike after I do my homework?
CORRECT: May I ride my bike after I do my homework? (The speaker here asks for permission. The question is not, Am I able to ride my bike?)
 
INCORRECT: May we win the race?
CORRECT: Can we win the race? (The question here is, Are we able to win the race? This is not a question that asks permission.)
Name: _____________________________________ Date: ________________
 
Troublesome Word Pairs: Let/Leave, Teach/Learn
 
 
 
 
Write three sentences using let and leave, and three sentences using teach and learn. Rewrite the sentences leaving blanks for those words, and have a partner complete the sentences. Check each other for correct usage.
 
There are some words in English that sound similar and may look similar, but are spelled and used differently. Sometimes it can be hard to tell them apart. 
 
Let and leave
 
Let and leave have many shades of meaning. In colloquial, or regional, English, let and leave are close in meaning but not the same. Use a dictionary to review the many shades of meaning of these two verbs.
 
In one of its meanings, the verb let has to do with allowing or permitting something. To check the word, substitute the word allow. Examples:
Let me help you with that. (Allow me to help you with that.)
Mary will let me be by myself for a while. (Mary will allow me to be by myself.)
 
In one of its meanings, the verb leave has to do with letting something remain. Examples:
Dad will leave the pie on the counter for you.
I will leave you alone until you feel better.
 
Let and leave are NOT interchangeable. Review the examples below of colloquial expressions in English.
 
INCORRECT: Let your brother alone. Leave him be.
CORRECT: Leave your little brother alone. Let him be.
 
Teach and learn
 
To teach something is to impart knowledge. To learn something is to receive knowledge. These two verbs are NOT interchangeable.
 
INCORRECT: I will learn you how to solve this math problem. 
CORRECT: I will teach you how to solve this math problem. I am sure you can learn it.