The dilemma of
lead/led and
loose/lose
Is it
led or
lead?
HELP!
UWF Writing Lab
Mini-Lesson #57
Lead:
1. Lead is pronounced leed, and it is
the infinitive form of the verb
meaning “to go first.”
2. Its principal parts are lead,
leads, leading, led, and have led.
3. Lead is also pronounced like “bed”
when it refers to the graphite at
the end of a pencil.
Led:
1. Lead becomes led when it takes a
past tense or participle form
(example: has/have/had led and
was/were/are/is led)
Examples:
1. The valedictorian will lead the
senior class across the stage on
graduation day.
2. We were led to believe that the
defendant was innocent.
3. The lead in each pencil is broken.
Loose:
1.
Loose is an adjective meaning “not
securely fastened or tightened” or
“free from restraint.”
2. Loose rhymes with goose.
Lose:
1.
Lose is a verb meaning “to fail to
win” or “to be unsuccessful in
retaining possession of.”
2. Lose rhymes with choose.
3. The principal parts of lose are
lose, loses, losing, lost, and have
lost.
Examples:
1. I hope we do not lose the game.
2. The loose nail caused the
structure to wobble.
3. The student was upset about losing
her favorite book.
Practice!
1. I felt bad about
loosing/losing my best
friend’s necklace.
2. The dog led/lead the
rescue group through the
mountains to look for the
lost child.
3. The led/lead in my pencil
broke while I was taking my
test.
4. My dog escaped from the
yard and ran loose/lose
throughout the
neighborhood.
5. The chair had a loose/lose
screw, causing the chair to
break when someone sat.
Practice!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
I felt bad about losing my best
friend’s necklace.
The dog led the rescue group
through the mountains to look for
the lost child.
The lead in my pencil broke while
I was taking my test.
My dog escaped from the yard
and ran loose throughout the
neighborhood.
The chair had a loose screw,
causing the chair to break when
someone sat.