Answers to 'So You Think English Is Easy?'
Test your pronunciation skills with these sentences and remember the usual rule is that with a two syllable word, with a noun, the emphasis is usually on the first syllable while with a verb, the stress is generally on the second syllable. Sentences where there is only one syllable in the confusing word (or sometimes two or more), it is a case of different pronunciation altogether.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present .
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
Answers:
In English, for every rule, there are exceptions!
1) The bandage was wound (WOW-nd) around the wound (WOO-nd).2) The farm was used to produce (proDUCE) produce (PROduce).
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse (refuse) more refuse (REFuse).
4) We must polish (PAWlish) the Polish (Polish) furniture.
5) He could lead (LEED) if he would get the lead (LEH-D) out.
6) The soldier decided to desert (deSERT) his dessert (desSERT) in the desert (DESert).
7) Since there is no time like the present (PREsent), he thought it was time to present (present) the present (PREsent) .
8) A bass (BASS) was painted on the head of the bass (BASE) drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove (DUHve) DOH-ve)I nto the bushes.
10) I did not object (obJECT) to the object (OBject).
11) The insurance was invalid (inVALid) for the invalid (INvalid).
12) There was a row (RAU) among the oarsmen about how to row (RO).
13) They were too close (CLOSE) to the door to close (CLOZE) it.
14) The buck does (DUZ) funny things when the does (DOZ)are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer (SEWer) fell down into a sewer (SEU-er) line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow (SOW) to sow (SO).
17) The wind (WIND) was too strong to wind (WY-ND) the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear (TEHr) in the painting I shed a tear (TEEr).
19) I had to subject (subJECT) the subject (SUBject) to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate (intiMATE) this to my most intimate (INtimate) friend?
Tricky, huh!
