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lead ~ lead ~ led

The problem with this set is with the pronunciation: the first ‘lead’ is pronounced with a long ‘e’ sound; and the second ‘lead’ rhymes with “led” in which the letter ‘e’ rhymes with the letter ‘e’ in “bed”.

“Lead”, as a verb — lead – led – led – leading  means ‘to show somebody the way to a place or to do something; guide; to be in the front of some action; to go with, especially with somebody, showing the way’; and as a noun, it means ‘the act of leading; (being) the first or in the front place of competition, race, studies, etc.’,

{A ‘leader‘, a noun is the person who leads others; and ‘lead’, a noun, is a person who is given the main character in a story, drama or film.}

e.g.

Who is this young man that always leads that old lady, holding her hand, to the shops?

My horse was in the lead, so I thought I would win the race, but …

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“Lead”, pronounced as ‘led’, is a noun which means ‘a soft but heavy metal used in making pipes and roof covers, and in making (firearm) ammunition (bullets, cartridges, etc.), and pencils’,

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“Led” is the past and the past participle form of the verb word ‘lead’ — lead — led — led.

{Please, go to the first item of this entry ‘lead’.}

e.g.

The over-burning of the fossil fuel led to global warming.

What led you to this disastrous conclusion?

Common Errors:

1.

My new colleagues asked me if I could lead them to a cinema.   [wrong]

My new colleagues asked me if I could take them to a cinema.   [right]

2.

After dinner he led his girlfriend back to her hostel as usual.       [wrong]

After dinner he took his girlfriend back to her hostel as usual.    [right]

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