lay down I just wanted to lay down and have a rest.
I just wanted to lie down and have a rest. lay down = put something down: ‘Just lay the books down on the floor.’ lie down = put your body into a horizontal position, especially on a bed: ‘I think I’ll go and lie down for half an hour.’ lead Ali asked us if we would lead him to the theatre one night.
Ali asked us if we would take him to the theatre one night. After breakfast I led my daughter to school as usual.
After breakfast I took my daughter to school as usual. See Language Note at TAKE learn 1
In the museum I learned Balinese culture.
In the museum I learned about Balinese culture. learn a foreign language: ‘How long have you been learning Italian?’ learn about a subject: ‘Today we’ve been learning about the functions of the human brain.’ 2
See KNOWLEDGE 2 leave 1
I leave from Bilbao on 12th June.
I leave Bilbao on 12th June. I left from the shop without buying anything.
I left the shop without buying anything. leave somewhere (usually WITHOUT from): ‘If I leave the office at six, I’m home by ten to seven.’ Use leave from only when you want to refer to the place where a journey, trip, excursion etc begins: ‘The coach will be leaving from in front of the hotel at six o’clock sharp.’ 2
Ken’s aunt left to New York on 17th April.
Ken’s aunt left for New York on 17th April. leave (somewhere) for somewhere else (NOT
