We usually use the word lead (li:d) to describe a cable that connects an electrical device to a plug socket. 4) A wire connecting things Double electrical power socket with lead switched on I have to use a lead when I take Rusty for a walk. The pronunciation is the same as the noun above (li:d) In this sense, lead is synonymous with the word leash. It attaches to their collar and we hold it. 3) Dog’s leash Owner walking their dog using a dog leashĪ lead is also used for dogs when taking them on walks. If you would like to change it to an adjective, use leading. Please be aware that lead role and lead singer are both compound nouns. Kurt Cobain was the lead singer of Nirvana. The pronunciation is the same as the Present Simple form of lead (li:d).ĭaniel Radcliffe had the lead role in Harry Potter. The word lead is often used in front of the nouns singer and role when we speak about the principal position of these people. 2) The principal position in music or film Lead singer of a band The pronunciation is the same as the past form of the verb: lɛd (short e sound) Lead is denser than most common materials and has the chemical element Pb. Similar to lead as a verb, lead as an noun has a lot of meanings. Please note, we never use led as an adjective. Take 5: Write other examples of lead as an adjective below. Their family played a leading part in the town’s success. In this case, it has the same meaning as principal or foremost.Ī number of leading experts were at the conference this morning.Īnother way to say this is, a number of principal experts were at the conference this morning. Leading in this case is pronounced as liːdɪŋ – that is leed + ing. If you want to use lead as an adjective, it is more common to use it in its -ing form l eading. Remember, when you are confused about lead and led for verbs, led is always the past and lead is always the present.

Take 5: Can you think of any more examples for each definition? Write them in the comments below. Past Participle form: The department has led the medical field for 60 years. Past tense: the factory led the way in making shoes. Present tense: she always leads the race. Past Participle form: Dave had led the pirates to their doom. Past Participle form: water on Mars has led scientists to believe there might be life out there. Past tense: her previous lies led Sandra to believe she wasn’t telling the truth. Present tense: the incident leads me to believe Kenny was wrong. Lost in thought 4) To be the reason why someone thinks something Past Participle form: deforestation has led to higher carbon emissions.įor this use, the verb to cause is a synonym. Past tense: her hard work led to a promotion. Present tense: bee stings can lead to severe pain for some people. Past Participle form: the door had led to a library before Jane got rid of it. Past tense: the maze led to the bottom of the garden. Present tense: the stairs lead to the swimming pool. Long corridor in a hotel 2) To connect one object or place to another Past Participle form: Steve had led the receptionist to his new desk. Past tense: Lauren led her friends through the streets of New York City. Present tense I lead my horses to their stables for work daily. 1) To show a person or animal the correct direction Are you ready? Get yourselves strapped in for the many definitions of lead. There are loads, so it’s best to pay attention when reading this next part. The many definitions of lead as a verbĪs you read above, lead means lots of things. The best trick is to practice long e sound and short e sound as the is the main difference. Take 5: practice the pronunciation differences between lead and led. Remember that led is the past of lead and lead is pronounced leed Also take note that lead is an irregular verb so leaded does not exist. It is pronounced leed with a long e sound.

However, before we go into any of that, look at the table below that tells you the Present Simple, Past Simple and Past Participle forms of the verbs, and how they’re pronounced differently. The definition of to lead has various different meanings, and it is important that you know all of them. Perhaps the most common use of lead is as a verb. Idioms with lead Lead staircase Lead as a verb Is this a lot to take on board? No worries. To make matters even more complicated, they sometimes sound like each other depending on their use. Hello lovely students! Lead and led are two words in the English language that often lead to confusionconfuse English learners.

Lead past tense past participle