Finn: Hello, I'm Finn and you're listening to Question and Answer of the Week from BBC Learning English.

Yang Li: 大家好，我是杨莉。《你问我答》节目是专门为解答听众朋友在英语学习过程中遇到的种种难题而设计的，每周从听友来信中选择一个问题进行解答。

Finn: Today we’re explaining the difference between the words 'rise' and 'raise'. The question was raised by Hu Ke from Henan province.

Yang Li: 今天我们将解答胡珂同学提出的同义词问题。虽然rise 和raise 都有提升的意思但是在使用时有几个主要的区别：第一，在它们作为动词的时候，一个是及物动词，一个是不及物动词。

Finn: The verb 'to raise' is a transitive verb which can take an object, for example: "Hu Ke raised a question." Or: "The company raised its prices by 10%."

Yang Li: To raise 是及物动词a transitive verb, 后面要带着宾语。 比如上面的例句，某公司提高了百分之十的价格。

Finn: Rise, on the other hand, is an intransitive verb and cannot be followed by an object. For example: "Prices have risen by 10%."

Yang Li: To rise 是不及物动词an intransitive verb. 动词后面不跟宾语。比如，价格上涨了百分之十。

Finn: There is another difference to pay attention to: ‘raise’ is a regular verb (raise, raised, raised), whereas ‘rise’ is irregular (rise, rose,risen).

Yang Li: 第二点是动词形态的不同。Raise 是规则动词raise, raised, raised. Rise 是不规则动词rise, rose, risen.

Finn: Let’s listen to some more examples:

Insert:

Chris raised his voice in order to be heard.New buildings are rising throughout the city.Yvonne has raised two children by herself.

Finn: Ok, so far we’ve talked about the pair 'rise' and 'raise' as verbs. But they can also be used as nouns. In British English we often hear the word rise being used to mean an increase in salary, such as 'a pay rise'. In American English however, they often use the word raise instead, they would say 'a pay raise'.

Yang Li: Raise 和rise 也可以作名词。在英式英语中涨工资这个概念可以用rise. 但是在美式英语中则用raise. 比如我想说，Tom 的老板拒绝给他涨工资。那Finn, 英式英语怎么说?

Finn: Tom’s boss refused to give him a rise.

Yang Li: Thank you. 那美式英语又怎么说?

Finn: Tom’s boss refused to give him a raise.

Yang Li: Thanks Finn. Now let’s quickly sum up the main differences between raise and rise when they are used as verbs.

Finn: Ok, firstly, raise is a transitive verb whereas rise is an intransitive verb.

Yang Li: Secondly, raise is a regular verb whereas rise is an irregular verb.

Finn: And when used as a noun, they mean can mean an increase in something like salary but again there is a difference between British English and American English.

Yang Li: Now shall we try a little translation exercise? I will say the Chinese and you give me the English, OK Finn?

Finn: 好的。I will give the English but I am sure that everyone at home will be a lot faster than me at translating.

Yang Li: Don't be modest, I know you are very good. Number one: 太阳从东方升起。

Finn: 太阳从东方升起。The sun rises in the east.

Yang Li Good. Number two: 学生们都举手迫切回答问题。

Finn: The students all raised their hands, 举手 eager to answer the question.

Yang Li: Number three: 现在人们的生活水平普遍提高了。

Finn: 普遍提高了OK. Nowadays people’s living standards have risen generally.

Yang Li: 注意这句话里的risen. 这是rise 的过去分词past participle. Now the last one, number four: 明天我们老板请客因为他提薪了。

Finn: Our boss will treat us to dinner as he’s just got a pay rise. That’s British English, in American English you would say he’s got a pay…?

Yang Li: Raise.

Finn: Raise, that's right.

Yang Li: Well done Finn.

Finn: Thank you.

Yang Li: Is there anything else you want to add?

Finn: Oh yes. And of course our email address is questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk. Thanks for listening and see you nexttime.

Yang Li: Bye bye.