There are a number of verb pairs that can be confusing to learners of English. In the above example, 'Did you hear him speak?' is correct because it refers to the experience. 'listen', on the other hand, refers to the action of paying attention to someone speaking (listening). This confusing verb pairs reference helps with some of the most common pairs:
of the speaker or listener to another location. For example:
the speaker.
of the speaker or hearer. For example:
the speaker.
Use 'get' to express a point of
arrival or a destination. For example:
I got to work at seven thirty this morning.
It took us three hours to get to San Francisco.
Important Note: 'Get' is often used together with a specific point of time, a duration of time, or a specific destination.
Verb Forms: Get - Got - Gotten (got) - Getting
Use 'go' to express the journey, trip or experience in general. This includes both the journey to and from the destination. For example:
We went to Hawaii on vacation.
How often have you gone to that restaurant?
Important Note: 'Go' is also often used in general to speak about the entire journey, trip or experience, rather than the actual traveling to a location.
Verb Forms: Go - Went - Gone - Going
Differences Between Bring, Take and Fetch
Use 'bring' to express movement towards or with a person that is at the current location. For example:
Could you bring me that newspaper, please?
Have you brought the documents along?
Important Note: 'Bring' is often used together with 'here' to indicate a location
close to the speaker.
Verb Forms: Bring - Brought - Brought - Bringing
Use 'take' to express movement away from a person to a another location. For example:
We took our dog with us on vacation.
Do you take your briefcase with you to work every day?
Important Note: 'Take' is often used together with 'there' to indicate a location
away from the speaker.
Verb Forms: Take - Took - Taken - Taking
Use 'fetch' to express the action of going to an object and bringing to back to the current location: For example:
Here Frankie! Go fetch the Ball!
Could you fetch the paper for me this morning?
Important Note: 'Fetch' is often used as a noun to speak about the game of running and getting a ball or other toy with a dog.
Verb Forms: Fetch - Fetched - Fetched - Fetching
Differences Between See and Watch
Use 'see' to speak about the entire event or experience of watching a film, show, concert, etc. For example:
Have you seen the latest film by Spielberg?
We saw the new play at the Hello Theater last weekend.
Verb Forms: See - Saw - Seen
Use 'watch' to speak about the action of viewing something on TV, online, etc. For example:
Just a moment, I'm watching a video clip on YouTube.
Tom's watching TV, let me get him for you.
Verb Forms: Watch - Watched - Watched - Watching
Differences Between Listen and Hear
Use 'listen' to speak about the action of paying attention to someone, or something such as music, a lecture, etc. For example:
I'm listening to the String Quartet No. 2 by Borodin.
Pay attention when you listen to him speak.
Verb Forms: Listen - Listened - Listened - Listening
Use 'hear' to speak about an entire event or completed action of listening. For example:
Did you hear Tom's speech last night?
I haven't heard her sing yet.
Verb Forms: Hear - Heard - Heard
Differences Between Lend and Borrow
Use 'lend' to express the act of giving money or to another person for a period of time before expecting repayment of the original money (plus interest if a commercial loan). For example:
Can you lend me $20 until tomorrow?
The bank loaned her enough to purchase a new car.
Important Note: You can also 'lend' objects or things. In this case, the object is expected to be given back after a certain period of time.
Verb Forms: Lend - Lent - Lent - Lending
Use 'borrow' to express the act of taking money from another person or institution to pay back after a certain period of time. For example:
I borrowed $50 from a friend last week.
How much have you borrowed from the bank?
Important Note: You can also 'borrow' objects or things. In this case, the object is expected to be given back after a certain period of time.
Verb Forms: Borrow - Borrowed - Borrowed - Borrowing
Differences between Say and Tell
Use 'say' to to speak
in general about something that has been said by someone. 'Say' is often used to report what someone else has said.
John said he had a good time in Las Vegas.
The teacher often says we need to study more.
Important Note: 'Say' refers to any type of speech and is therefore more general in nature.
Verb Forms: Say - Said - Said - Saying
Use 'tell' to mean that someone has instructed or informed someone else of something. 'Tell' is often used to report what someone else has told a specific person.
Angela told them to hurry up.
Our friends told us about their experiences in Germany.
Important Note: 'Tell' is always followed by an indirect object. The infinitive form is often used following the construction to indicate instructions (see example above).
Verb Forms: Tell - Told - Told - Telling
Differences between Speak and Talk
There is little difference between 'speak' and 'talk' and they are often used interchangeably.
'Speak' is often used when someone is speaking to a group of people in general. 'Speak' is also used with languages.
Peter speaks both German and Italian.
She spoke about her problems at work.
Important Note: 'Speak' tends to be used in more formal situations.
Verb Forms: Speak - Spoke - Spoken - Speaking
'Talk' is used to express informal conversation between a limited number of people.
My wife and I talked about our child's future.
She continued talking to Jack after I left the room.
Important Note:'Talk' is often used with the preposition 'about' when introducing the subject of conversation, and 'to' when introducing the conversational partner.
Verb Forms: Talk - Talked - Talked - Talking
Differences between Raise and Rise
Use 'raise' to indicate that something is lifted into another position by another person or thing.
I raised the books above my head.
She raised her hand in class.
Important Note:'Raise' is also used to express bringing up children, as well as increasing salary. Remember that 'raise' takes a direct object (the object being raised by someone or something).
They raised my weekly salary by $200.
They raised their children to respect the elderly.
Verb Forms: Raise - Raised - Raised - Raising
Use 'rise' to express movement of the subject from a lower to a higher position.
I rose from my chair and left the room.
She hasn't risen from that seat for more than three hours.
Important Note: 'Rise' can also indicate the act of getting up in the morning.
I like to rise early and get work done.
Verb Forms: Rise - Rose - Risen - Rising
Differences between Remind and Remember
Use 'remind' to indicate that someone has reminded someone else to do something. Use the phrasal verb 'remind of' to indicate that someone or something else reminds you of someone or something else.
Jane reminded me to get him something for his birthday.
She reminded me of my sister.
Important Note: 'Remind' always takes an object.
Verb Forms: Remind - Reminded - Reminded - Reminding
'Remember' is used when a person remembers to do something on his or her own. 'Remember' is also used to express recollections of a past event.
I remembered to post the letters.
I remember studying all night long for exams.
Important Note:'Remember + Infinitive (to do)' refers to someone who remembers to do something. 'Remember + Gerund (ing form)' refers to a memory of a past event.
Verb Forms: Remember - Remembered - Remembered - Remembering
Differences between Leave and Let
Use 'leave' to express movement away from a place.
I left the house at five o'clock.
She always leaves for work at seven in the morning.
Important Note: 'Leave' can also express the idea that someone has forgotten or placed something in another place.
She left her keys on the table.
I usually leave the papers in the top drawer.
Verb Forms: Leave - Left - Left - Leaving
Use 'let' to express the idea that someone allows another person do something.
I let them leave work early.
She lets her children watch TV on Saturdays.
Important Note: Remember that 'let' is always followed by an object and a verb in the base form without 'to'.
Verb Forms: Let - Let - Let - Letting
Differences between Set and Sit
Use 'set' to express the placement of an object on a surface.
I set the plates down on the table.
She set the books on chest of drawers.
Important Note: 'Set' is often used to refer to placing plates, glasses and other utensils on the table.
Verb Forms: Set - Set - Set - Setting
Use 'sit' when referring to the subject which moves from a standing to a sitting position.
Can I sit down?
Please sit on this chair.
Important Note:'Sit' is often used with the preposition 'down'.
Verb Forms: Sit - Sat - Sat - Sitting
