First of all, I want to share a link to an awesome poetry handbook for those desiring to sell their poetry. It is put out by Writer’s Digest Books (lots of goodies from them!), those folks who put out the Writer’s Market and other “market” books for selling writing.
From the back of this helpful “sales” book:
*Features on the realities of poetry publishing, mistakes to avoid, identifying scams, giving great readings, and promoting your work.
*Information on workshops, organizations, and online resources that help poets perfect their skills and network with fellow poets and editors.
*Thorough indexes to make choosing the best potential markets easier.
*Access to all “Poet’s Market” listings in a searchable online database.
I haven’t sold a lot of poetry—just a few for review to Blue Mountain Art and a few here and there for Christian newsletters and magazines. However, I would love to have more time to spend on this (probably not happening since I am working on my thirty-fourth curriculum book right now!). For those who enjoy writing poetry, I say, go for it! Seeing your poetry published is extremely rewarding—and to be able to motivate, inspire, uplift, challenge, or humor someone through your words is incredible!
Sit and rise have I’s–and lie does too. “Coz these are things that I, all by myself, can do. Set, raise, and lay are words that you choose When each one has an object after it to use.
Sit and rise have I’s–and lie does too. “Coz these are things that I, all by myself, can do. Set, raise, and lay are words that you choose When each one has an object after it to use.
Fill in the blanks below with the correct forms/tenses of sit/set.
She _________ down and wept when she heard the news.
They _______ down.
They _______ the plants out.
They will be _______ the clothes out beforehand.
Yesterday, he ________ down to rest.
They will ________ the clothes out to dry.
He _________ down.
He is ____________ down.
They will be _________ the clothes out beforehand.
We will get back to our sit/set; rise/raise; lie/lay study next week. However, I am adding a new little feature to LL 365–the holidays for that month capitalized and punctated properly (well, relatively so!). Many holidays come and people wonder, “Do you cap Day in Thanksgiving Day?” “Do you show possession to Fool in April Fools Day?” etc. etc.
So…for April…a list of holidays punctuated and capitalized as correctly as I found! Note that different style guides (i.e. Associated Press vs. Modern Language Association, etc.) choose to punctuate and capitalize lesser known (National Kool-Aid Day!) or newer things (i.e. email ve e-mail) differently. In those cases, it is truly a style preference rather than a hard and fast rule. So….Happy April…I mean, happy April! 🙂 And definitely, Happy Easter!
Sit and rise have I’s–and lie does too. “Coz these are things that I, all by myself, can do. Set, raise, and lay are words that you choose When each one has an object after it to use.
“Sit, Fido! Before I have to set you down myself!”
Remember these sit and set tips:
Sit has an I—and I alone can do it (it is not done TO something else).
I sit down.
Yesterday I sat down.
Before that I had sat down.
Sit means to recline or lower down to a sitting position—anybody or anything can sit, as long as it does it by itself (i.e. it is NOT set)
The chair sits in the corner empty, missing its owner.
She sat there and pouted all afternoon.
They are sitting down in protest.
She has sat there in tears all day.
They are sitting in the parlor.
Set does not have an I—it is done TO something.
Set must have an object following it—something that it is setting.
Set the table.
Set the baby down in her seat.
God set the stars in the sky.
Set the book on the counter.
We will be setting up decorations at noon.
The jello still needs to set . (It’s like you are saying to set the jello!)
She sets the table as though a king is coming.
Set is the same base word for all of its tenses: set; set; set; sets; setting. That is why I recommend teaching this Wacky Word pair first (of the three).
Okay…the tenses for the three:
1, Sit
a. Base form: sit—Today I sit down. (Remember—no object; down is an adverb here, not an object.
b. Past simple: sat—Yesterday I sat down.
b. Past participle: sat—Before that, I had sat down.
d. Third person singular: sits—The dog sits in the corner.
e. Present participle/gerund: sitting—I was sitting down.
2. Set
Base form: set—Today I set the vase on the table. (Object—vase)
Past simple: set—Yesterday I set the vase on the table.
Past participle: set—Before that I set the vase on the table.
Third person singular: sets—She sets the vase on the table.
Present participle/gerund: setting—I am setting the vase on the table.
Sit and rise have I’s–and lie does too. “Coz these are things that I, all by myself, can do. Set, raise, and lay are words that you choose When each one has an object after it to use.
I am going to take sit/set; rise/raise; and lie/lay one pair at a time over the next few days; however, I wanted to start the series (or at least this second post) with teacher tips.
I have watched kids with glossed over eyes as I have tried many techniques and order to teach these tricky pairs, and have had many difficulties “rise” up and confuse them (and me!):
People lie; things get laid down—sort of works, but it’s not just people who lie—the sun lies on the horizon; the city lies asleep in the early morning hours; the animal lies in the middle of the road….you get the idea
People lie; things get laid down—but it still didn’t help with the sit/set and rise/raise dilemma
The past tense of lie (as in yesterday I lay down to take a nap…don’t I wish!) is the same as the current tense of lay (as in I am going to lay the book on the table)—poor kids!
And so many more!
So here are a few tips that I would like to pass along to those trying to teach these rules:
Consider a rhyme or mnemonic like the one above to reinforce the I’s in sit, rise, and lie—when we remind students that I do those things—and they have I’s in them, we are helping them remember that these do not have objects following them.
Do NOT start with lie. It is by far the most confusing of the trio—and I try to do that one after rise and sit (with fewer exceptions, etc.) are established in students’ minds.
DO start with sit. Set has the same tense for all—present; past; and past participle. Today I set the table; yesterday I set the table; before that I have set the table.
If you are teaching from a Christian standpoint, Jesus and God are prime examples of rise/rose/has risen and raise/raised/has raised:
Jesus will rise from the grave. God will raise Jesus.
Jesus rose from the grave. God raised Jesus.
Jesus has risen from the grave. God has raised Jesus.
Suggested order: sit/set; rise/raise; and lie/lay.
