Tuesday, January 11, 2011

English words: spell the same but may sound different...

and could even have very different meaning!

Years ago, I came up with 'Do you see what I saw?' which seems incorrect but if 'saw' referred to sawing a piece of wood for instance, then it is right. If 'saw' was meant to be past tense of 'see' than it should be 'Did you see what I saw?' or in the present tense: 'Do you see what I see?'. But don't take my word for it, I am HP6 as far as grammar is concerned.

Someone has compiled the following which should be a good test of anyone's English, especially with our present crop of students in mind; with my attempt at explaining in my own way as simple as possible (read that's all I know!) :

1) The bandage was wound around the wound .
(past tense of 'wind' pronounced like 'wine'; wound as in injured part of body)

2) The farm was used to produce produce .
(produce as in yield; produce as in grains or vegetables)

3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse .
(as in not to accept; as in garbage)

4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
(as in rubbing to make something shine; Polish as in something from Poland)

5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
(as a leader; lead could mean bullet in this context)

6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert .
(as in leaving a place; desert as in a place full of sand like Sahara Desert)

7) Since there is no time like the present , he thought it was time to present the present .
(as in 'now'; as in 'give'; and as in 'gift')

8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
(a type of fish; the biggest drum found in a drum-kit)

9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
(as in a type of pigeon; past tense of dive)

10) I did not object to the object .
(as in oppose; as an item referred to)

11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid .
(as in void or not valid; as in a disabled person)

12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row .
(as in an argument; as in rowing a boat)

13) They were too close to the door to close it.
(as in near; as in shut)

14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
(as in 'do' of singular subject; as in female deers)

15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
(as in someone who sews; as in sewerage)

16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow .
(as in female pig; as in sowing seeds)

17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
(as in strong breeze; as in wrap)

18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear .
(as in being torn; as in tear drop)

19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
(as in subdue; as in a person under observation)

20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
(as in confide; as in close)


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