VERB or ADJECTIVE vs. NOUN
|
abstract absent accent adept augment combine commune compact concert conduct conflict console consort construct contest contract contrast convert convict decrease desert digest discharge discount |
ENvelope / enVElope escort exploit extant / extent extract ferment fragment incense / insense incline increase incite / insight infix inlay insult INterchange / interCHANGE INvalid / inVAlid object offset outrage overhang perfect permit pervert |
present produce project progress prostrate rebel record reefer (obsolete slang, "marijuana cigarette") vs. reFER refill* refuse revel second* segment subject survey* suspect torment transfer* transplant transport |
* : Currently undergoing change.
Canadians often pronounce these words with the accent on the first
syllable.
complement
compliment
decrement
document
implement
increment
ornament
regiment
supplement
Notice that although there may be no corresponding verb, the reinforced
vowel appears in corresponding adjectives:
rudiment - rudimentary
NOUN or ADJ. vs. VERB
|
ADvocate afFILiate AGGregate ANimate aPPROpriate apPROximate arTIculate asSOciate |
coordinate deGENerate DELegate deLIberate DUplicate |
eLAborate estimate exPAtriate gRAduate inItiate INtimate SEparate |
These can be either nouns (or sometimes adjectives) and verbs. While the
position of the accent does not change, the last vowel is pronounced as
"schwa" (like the "a" in "above") for a noun or
adjective, and "ay" (like the "a" in "ate") for a
verb.
This is not perfectly regular, e.g. "CONcentrate" can be a
noun or a verb, and is pronounced with the same accentuation and vowels
("ay"). Furthermore, some of these words are basically verbs, and
require some sort of prefix to become nouns (or adjectives), e.g.,
deFAME >>> defaMAtion
GEnerate >>> unreGEnerate, generAtion,
etc.
VIolate >>> inVIolate, vioLAtion, etc.
suBORdinate >>> isuBORdinate,
subordiNAtion, etc.
On the other hand, some of these words are nouns (or adjectives) only,
such as:
DElicate, ilLIterate,
proTEctorate (with "schwa")
Others are verbs only, such as:
eNUmerate, eXOnerate,
ilLUminate,
pronounced as expected (with "ay"). Note the exceptions:
inCARnate, SEnsate, inSEnsate ("ay").
NOUN vs. VERB (+/- voiced
Consonsant)
advice advise
bath bathe
belief believe
breath breathe
diffuse diffuse
half halve
house house
loath loathe
mouth mouth
proof prove
safe save
sheath sheathe
shelf shelve
teeth teethe
use use
wreath wreathe
SINGULAR vs. PLURAL (+/- voiced
Consonant)
knife knives
this these
wife wives
TENSE vs. LAX VOWELS
|
able ability antique antiquity arise arisen atrocious atrocity blaspheme blasphemy brief brevity clear clarify compare comparable concise concision crime criminal deep depth defame defamatory depose deposit deprave depravity divine divinity docile docility dream dreamt exclaim exclamatory explain explanatory fable fabulous fatal fatality *febrile febrility ferocious ferocity five fifth futile futility grade gradual grateful, ingrate gratitude homonym homonymous hostile hostility humane humanity imbecile imbecility impede impediment inane inanity insane insanity |
juvenile juvenility labour laboratory long length natal natality nation national nature natural *obese obesity omen ominous opaque opacity precise precision profane profanity puerile puerility pyramid pyramidal rapacious rapacity rapid rapidity recite recitation redeem redemption repose repository resume resumption rite ritual sacrifice sacrificial senile senility serene serenity solid solidify strain strenuous strong strength sublime sublimation,
subliminal subside subsidiary supervise supervision suppose suppository supreme supremacy tenacious tenacity *transit transitory tyrant tyrannous
(tyrannical) vile vilify virile virility volatile volatility |
|
actual actuality brutal brutality dynasty dynastic energy energize generous generosity fallacy fallacious familiar familiarity formal formality geometry geometric Hebrew Hebraic idol idolatry |
minor minority neutral neutralize Plato platonic prosper, prosperous, prosperity remedy remedial sensual sensuality singular singularity Socrates Socratic summary summarily Titan titanic tyrant tyrannical
(tyrannous) vital vitality |