Grammar Mishaps: Raise vs. Rise

Grammar Request: My students often use raise and rise incorrectly. Could you write a hub on the difference?

Both words can mean "to move upwards", but they are not interchangeable. "Rise" is an intransitive verb and "raise" is a transitive verb.

Intransitive verbs, like rise, do not require an object. "Rise" does not require an object to do the motion. E.g., the sun rises every morning; she rose from her nap around 2 o'clock. The sun is rising on its own as did the napping girl.

Transitive verbs, like raise, require an object. "Raise" requires an object to cause the motion. E.g., she raised her hand to answer the question; She raised the girl up onto his shoulders. The girl moved her own arm to answer the question and physically lifted the child onto his shoulders.

• Raise is a regular verb: raise, raised, raised

• Rise is an irregular verb: rise, rose, risen

1. To elevate: She raised the bar in the competition.
2. To lift something: Please raise your hand.
3. To set upright by building: They raised the statue in her honor.
4. To bring to maturity: She raised him all by herself.
5. To increase: He raised his bet by five dollars.

There are similarities between "raise/rise" and "lay/lie".

"Raise" and "lay" both require an outside object to do the action. You raise something else up and lay something else down.

"Rise" and "lie" are done to oneself. You rise yourself (or the subject of the sentence) up and lie yourself (or the subject of the sentence) down.

Both of these examples require an object to do the motion.

• She raised up her arms in disgust.
• She laid the pillow on top of the bed.

Both of these examples do not have an object causing the motion

• They will rise up against their oppressors.
• All she wanted was to lie down on the sofa for 15 minutes.

• to cause or help to rise to a standing position
• to awaken or arouse

• to stir up or incite <raise a rebellion>
• to flush (game) from cover
• to recall from or as if from death

• to set upright by lifting or building <raise a monument>
• to lift up <raise your hand> <raise sunken treasure>
• to place higher in rank or dignity; to elevate
• to heighten or invigorate <raise the spirits>
• to end or suspend the operation or validity of <raise a siege>

• to get together for a purpose; to collect <raise funds>
• to grow, cultivate <raise cotton>
• to bring to maturity; to rear <raise a child>
• to breed and bring (an animal) to maturity

• to give rise to; to provoke <raise a commotion>
• to give voice to <raise a cheer>

• to bring up for consideration or debate <raise an issue>

• to increase the strength, intensity, or pitch of <don't raise your voice>
• to increase the degree of
• to cause to rise in level or amount <raise the rent>
• to bet more than (a previous bettor)
• to make a higher bridge bid in (a partner's suit)
• to increase the bid of (one's partner)
• to increase the amount of (a poker bet)
• to make light and porous <raise dough>

• to cause to ascend <raise the dust>

• to multiply (a quantity) by itself a specified number of times <raise two to the fourth power>

• to bring in sight on the horizon by approaching <raise land>

• to bring up the nap of (cloth)
• to cause (as a blister) to form on the skin

• to increase the nominal value of fraudulently <raise a check>

• to articulate (a sound) with the tongue in a higher position

• to establish radio communication with

raise, raised, raised