Grammar - Raise or Rise

These two verbs, raise and rise, are almost the same – to move up from a low position to a higher one.

The difference between the two verbs is actually grammatical. The verb raise needs an object, the verb rise cannot be used with an object.

So, for example, you can write the following:

• “I think the company should raise their wages.” – The word wages is the object of the verb.

Another way of writing the same thing without having an object for the verb is as follows:

• “The wages should rise.”

Another way of looking at it is as follows:

• “They need to raise their standards.” – The word standards is the object.

• “Standards need to rise.”