wind, bow, row, live, close, and a vague idea for a definition game.
That's enough to start my head and gums throbbing. Does anyone have anything?
Help a thick English Teacher
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
Help a thick English Teacher
Right, I've just promised to create a list and think of a game using words that have the same spelling but at least two pronunciations. However, I've also just had a tooth out and I can't remember what you call this phenomena (not in the mood for trawling through grammar books) and as for imagination .....! Well, does any body have any ideas or even any words that I can add to my miniscule list. So far I have:
wind, bow, row, live, close, and a vague idea for a definition game.
That's enough to start my head and gums throbbing. Does anyone have anything?
wind, bow, row, live, close, and a vague idea for a definition game.
That's enough to start my head and gums throbbing. Does anyone have anything?
Right, we're all a little confused here, however, thanks for the homophones, -grphs,
-nyms lists etc. as they have given me some ideas for homework and crossword games. Basically Lorikeet hit the nail on the head. What I'm after is this .... "Phew! That was close. That car nearly hit us!" compared to " What time does the shop close?" or perhaps " He is sitting in the back row" and "Me and my boss have had a row." Or even, "In Japan you must bow." and " She wore a bow in her hair." Now it isn't called homophone or any of the above. In fact I used to know it and I'm not too sure if it has a "homo" in it (no anti gay jokes intended by the way) in fact I think it starts with a "poly" something. I've had a butchers in a very big Oxford grammar thingy this morning and so far no luck. Any boffins out there? What the bloody hell do you call this thing? By the way, Al does have a point. Some of these words are going to depend on the countrie's pronunciation (not accent), particularly standard American English contrasted with standard British English. It would appear that this could get very complicated. Anyway, please keep those word lists coming in and thanks for your help.
-nyms lists etc. as they have given me some ideas for homework and crossword games. Basically Lorikeet hit the nail on the head. What I'm after is this .... "Phew! That was close. That car nearly hit us!" compared to " What time does the shop close?" or perhaps " He is sitting in the back row" and "Me and my boss have had a row." Or even, "In Japan you must bow." and " She wore a bow in her hair." Now it isn't called homophone or any of the above. In fact I used to know it and I'm not too sure if it has a "homo" in it (no anti gay jokes intended by the way) in fact I think it starts with a "poly" something. I've had a butchers in a very big Oxford grammar thingy this morning and so far no luck. Any boffins out there? What the bloody hell do you call this thing? By the way, Al does have a point. Some of these words are going to depend on the countrie's pronunciation (not accent), particularly standard American English contrasted with standard British English. It would appear that this could get very complicated. Anyway, please keep those word lists coming in and thanks for your help.
Alma's list had some good ones in it, but I didn't "get" some of them--whether a pronunciation difference, or a lack of knowledge on my part.
For example, "axes". I can only think of one pronunciation, that of the tool that can be used for chopping wood. What's the other one?
"bass" is a good one and should be added to Dale's list. (the fish and the instrument)
What about "aye"? I can only think of the word that means "yes" and sounds like "I". Is there another? (Not afraid to show my ignorance here
)
"buffet" seems to be a good one too, as is "does". (what the wind does and what you eat; the part of the verb and plural for an animal)
I would say I figured out about half of them. heh
For example, "axes". I can only think of one pronunciation, that of the tool that can be used for chopping wood. What's the other one?
"bass" is a good one and should be added to Dale's list. (the fish and the instrument)
What about "aye"? I can only think of the word that means "yes" and sounds like "I". Is there another? (Not afraid to show my ignorance here
)"buffet" seems to be a good one too, as is "does". (what the wind does and what you eat; the part of the verb and plural for an animal)
I would say I figured out about half of them. heh
You are indeed looking for homonyms (homo=same nym=name).
Axes can be the plural of axe or the plural of axis.
If it is the plural of axis, the second syllable is pronounce like the word "ease".
homonym
n : two words are homonyms if they are pronounced or spelled the same way but have different meanings
Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University
Axes can be the plural of axe or the plural of axis.
If it is the plural of axis, the second syllable is pronounce like the word "ease".
Thanks for the lists everyone. By the way, Ulma was the most correct and Celeste was as good as correct. It would seem that the Grammar Dictionaries aren't too clear on the matter anyway. It is a Homograph in that it is spelled the same but has a different meaning but as the word is pronounced differently it can be called a "partial homonym". But the more exact word I've just forgotten and I don't have a dictionary at hand. It's called "heter" something and not "poly" as I first thought. Anyway, I still can't think of a fun activity for something like this. I suppose I could write a short newspaper-style article with the word pairs (both meanings of bow, row, routed, etc.) and have them read it, trying to get the correct pronunciation by context. Actually ..... that's not bad. I'm off to work! Thanks again.
gosh this has changed last time I was here was erm...4 years ago (at least!)
anyway..nice I steel/steal your idea !!
My pupils find it 'stupid English people' english to have different pronun.
Reading (city) and reading are still my favourite...even after 4 years working at this school they still can't see it.
nice to be back
anyway..nice I steel/steal your idea !!
My pupils find it 'stupid English people' english to have different pronun.
Reading (city) and reading are still my favourite...even after 4 years working at this school they still can't see it.
nice to be back
Hi folks,
Just a quick thank-you for the ideas. This is all I've come up with for now. You pre-teach the vocab and then get them to say the lines. Later they must give you their own sentences. It can be used from intermediate upwards. I'm going to try and turn it into a story when I get a moment. Anyway, here it is:
Homographs (partial homonyms)
Bow row wind wound sewer windy close routed sow lead tear bass does minute live dove
1. They dove into the sea.
2. The wind howled across the moors.
3. The archer put an arrow in his bow.
4. My watch stopped because I forgot to wind it.
5. She was a sewer by trade and made curtains for people.
6. The bus station is close.
7. They had a very bad row last night and now they’re not speaking.
8. They always bow with their hands against the chest in Thailand.
9. She wound the clockwork toy and put it on the floor.
10. The smell from the sewer was unbearable.
11. I went fishing and caught a bass.
12. The film was so sad that it brought a tear to my eye.
13. I only waited a minute, perhaps two.
14. The loyalist army was routed at the battle of Barton Fen.
15. Sid Vicious played bass in the Sex Pistols.
16. A general must lead his men into battle from about twenty miles behind the front line.
17. The dove stands for peace in many countries.
18. I always tear up my letters when I finish reading them.
19. There were some beautiful does at the zoo. The bucks were kept in a separate enclosure.
20. They live in London.
21. We are going to close the shop early and go up the pub.
22. The soldier had a terrible wound on his leg.
23. He sat in the back row.
24. My feet felt as heavy as lead.
25. It was a windy day.
26. The road was routed through a beautiful village.
27. The farmer had to sow the seeds early in the morning.
28. I saw it happen live on TV.
29. Germs are minute. You need a microscope to see them.
30. It was a windy road and we had to drive very carefully.
31. He had two male pigs and a big sow.
32. I think they should arm English teachers and so does she.
That should do the trick. Can anyone think of something else I could with this?
Just a quick thank-you for the ideas. This is all I've come up with for now. You pre-teach the vocab and then get them to say the lines. Later they must give you their own sentences. It can be used from intermediate upwards. I'm going to try and turn it into a story when I get a moment. Anyway, here it is:
Homographs (partial homonyms)
Bow row wind wound sewer windy close routed sow lead tear bass does minute live dove
1. They dove into the sea.
2. The wind howled across the moors.
3. The archer put an arrow in his bow.
4. My watch stopped because I forgot to wind it.
5. She was a sewer by trade and made curtains for people.
6. The bus station is close.
7. They had a very bad row last night and now they’re not speaking.
8. They always bow with their hands against the chest in Thailand.
9. She wound the clockwork toy and put it on the floor.
10. The smell from the sewer was unbearable.
11. I went fishing and caught a bass.
12. The film was so sad that it brought a tear to my eye.
13. I only waited a minute, perhaps two.
14. The loyalist army was routed at the battle of Barton Fen.
15. Sid Vicious played bass in the Sex Pistols.
16. A general must lead his men into battle from about twenty miles behind the front line.
17. The dove stands for peace in many countries.
18. I always tear up my letters when I finish reading them.
19. There were some beautiful does at the zoo. The bucks were kept in a separate enclosure.
20. They live in London.
21. We are going to close the shop early and go up the pub.
22. The soldier had a terrible wound on his leg.
23. He sat in the back row.
24. My feet felt as heavy as lead.
25. It was a windy day.
26. The road was routed through a beautiful village.
27. The farmer had to sow the seeds early in the morning.
28. I saw it happen live on TV.
29. Germs are minute. You need a microscope to see them.
30. It was a windy road and we had to drive very carefully.
31. He had two male pigs and a big sow.
32. I think they should arm English teachers and so does she.
That should do the trick. Can anyone think of something else I could with this?
Just something I came across I hope it helps
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce. (You may get an error here on your grammar check; it's even confused.)
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.
A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. (another grammar check)
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) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in
France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we
find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers
don't groce and hammers don't ham?
If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth
beeth?
One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? No. Two moose.
One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend. If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian
eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?
Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the
creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all.
That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the
lights are out, they are invisible.
T
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce. (You may get an error here on your grammar check; it's even confused.)
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.
A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum. 9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. (another grammar check)
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) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in
France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we
find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers
don't groce and hammers don't ham?
If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth
beeth?
One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? No. Two moose.
One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend. If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian
eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?
Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the
creativity of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all.
That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the
lights are out, they are invisible.
T