Actually, you can say "the picture is hanging," or you can "the picture weighs." The difference in the meaning of phrases, for which you will need to understand the meaning of the text. In addition, in the second phrase, the verb usually follows a clarifying continuation in the form of an infinite addition: how much does the picture weigh.
So, before you understand how it is right: it weighs or hangs - you need to decide on the meaning of the words. Let's try to do it.
Hang
This verb has several meanings. If we are talking about a picture, a chandelier, a mirror, etc., most often, we mean that the object "is in a hanging position, being attached to something vertical, directed downward, without support":
"This picture has hung here for many years, let it hang on."
Perhaps allegorical, figurative, meaning:
"She hangs on the phone all evening."
"Silence hung in the room."
"This program hangs, does not respond to requests."
In the direct sense, we are talking about a situation in which two are involved: the subject of the action and the place - a noun plus an excuse (example: hanging on a wall). Moreover, the place, if not indicated, is usually implied ("the rope hangs from a tree").
To weight
This is a verb of a different meaning. He reports that an object has a certain weight - that is, it weighs a certain amount of grams, kilograms, tons, etc. The root vowel is most often stressed, so there are no problems with writing it:
- "Please weigh that box over there."
- "It is impossible to determine by eye how much grandmother’s suitcases weigh."
- "We somehow built a canopy of old branches."
- "This chandelier needs to be outweighed."
How to check
Most often, the root "vis" is in an unstressed position. To dispel doubts about how to write correctly - “weighs” or “hangs”, we select a test word with emphasis on the first syllable - hang, hang. Try not to change the meaning of what was said!
A phrase in which a picture
weighs or hangs can be rephrased for oneself to check an unstressed vowel, for example, as follows:
"The picture hung on the wall" - "The picture hung, swinging on one nail."
More examples:
- “A bird hangs in the air” - “A bird hung in the sky above it.”
- "Wet clothes hung, dried on a rope" - "Wet clothes hung on a rope."
- "New Year's garlands hung on a Christmas tree" - "Glittering garlands hung on a Christmas tree."
note
However, it is not always possible to correctly interpret the meanings of a word with the roots “vis” and “weight”. Compare:
- "The lamp hangs on the ceiling" - "The lamp was hung on the ceiling."
- “Let the carpet hang here, then remove it” - “I will hang it here, and then remove it.”
- "Is this canvas hanging wrong?" “Yes, perhaps I will outweigh it.”
Here we come to the definition of the verb voice.
In the verbs of the active voice, the object itself performs the action, and the noun denoting it appears in the sentence as the subject.
The verb "hangs" the active voice: the lamp hangs; hair hanging from the forehead; let the rope hang (the rope hangs); darkness hangs; a pause hangs, etc.
In the verbs of the active voice with the root "vis" we write the letter "and".
The passive voice of the verb is aimed at objects over which actions are performed, and the noun-object over which actions are performed, appears in the sentence as an addition: they hung a lamp; hung the rope; hung the stairs; hung out a banner.
The letter "e" is written in verb forms with the root "weight", with a passive voice.
But, as a rule, in verbs with the root “weight” the stress falls on the root vowel and does not cause difficulties.
Compare:
"A sparkling garland hung on a Christmas tree" and "We hung a sparkling garland on a Christmas tree."
In the first sentence, “hung” - a verb with a valid voice (“garland” - subject, “hung” - a predicate), in the second sentence the verb of a passive voice is used.
Other examples of the use in sentences of verbs of real and passive voice with the roots "vis" and "weight":
"A grid with apples hung on a tree branch" and "Sergei, coming, always hung a grid with apples on a tree branch."
"Let the picture hang here for now" - "We will hang the picture here, above the table."
So to summarize. If in doubt about how to write, it weighs or hangs:
- clarify the meaning of the phrase;
- try picking up test words;
- determine the verb of the pledge in front of you.