Grammatically Correct 11/02/04
A weekly grammar tip created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors.
University of Houston-Victoria
3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, TX 77901
Rise versus Raise
by Shawn Brett
It is a common mistake to use rise in place of raise and vice-versa because both words have the general meaning of “to move upwards.” The difference is that raise is a transitive verb and rise is an intransitive verb. Also, something can rise by itself, but an external force is needed to raise an object.

Ex: Someone in the store always raises prices. (In this sentence raises is a transitive verb and prices is the object. The external force someone is needed to raise prices.)

Ex: The sun rises in the morning. (In this sentence rise is an intransitive verb: it doesn't have an object. The sun rises by itself.)

It’s also helpful to take a look at the different forms of each of these verbs. “Rise” is an irregular verb and, therefore, requires unusual spelling changes for the past and past participle forms.

Present
Past
Past Participle
rise rose (have, has, had) risen
raise raised (have, has, had) raised

Ex: The people rose to their feet to sing the National Anthem.
Ex: It is true that the average temperature has risen over the past few years.
Ex: Mary raised her hand.
Ex: They had raised enough money to complete the project.

Definitions

transitive verb
A verb that must have an object. There must be something (some type of item, place, person, or other object) that receives the action of the verb.

intransitive verb
A verb that has a subject, but no object.

past participle
A participle that expresses a completed action.

Definitions are from Longman Advanced American Dictionary.
Recommended Grammar Website of the Week
by Shawn Brett
In addition to our own website, this week we recommend Dr. Grammar. This web site offers resources on business communications, information on documenting online sources, common errors in English, and much more.

Visit Dr. Grammar at http://www.drgrammar.org/
Test Your Knowledge
by Shawn Brett
Test your understanding by choosing the correct word in the following sentences.

1. The landlord rose/raised the rents every chance he got.

2. When the child released the balloon, it (raised/rose).

3. The ashes from the fire had (raised/risen) in the air and started some new fires nearby.

4. Oh no! The skunk is (raising/rising) its tail!


Answers

1. The landlord raised the rents every chance he got.

2. When the child released the balloon, it rose.

3. The ashes from the fire had risen in the air and started some new fires nearby.

4. Oh no! The skunk is raising its tail!

 

Grammatically Correct is a grammar tip of the week created by Academic Center Peer Writing Tutors at the University of Houston-Victoria in Victoria, Texas.

Comments about this newsletter should be directed to Summer Leibensperger, leibenspergers@uhv.edu.

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