1. Homographs.
Note that there are two meanings for the word row and two different pronunciations.
row (pronounced /raʊ/) A row is a serious disagreement between people or organisations.
row (pronounced /rəʊ/) When you row you sit in a boat and make it move through the water with oars.
Read these sentences. How do you pronounce the words in bold?
| 1 | a. You're just doing this to wind me up. |
| b. Something is blowing in the wind. | |
| 2 | a. It's a long and windy road. |
| b. It was a wet and windy night. | |
| 3 | a. Live and let live. |
| b. The Stone Roses are performing live tonight. | |
| 4 | a. Read me a story. |
| b. He read me a story. | |
| 5 | a. There's no lead in this pencil. |
| b. You lead, I'll follow. | |
| c. You ought to put the dog on a lead. | |
| 6 | a. Close the door, will you? |
| b. You're driving too close to the car in front. | |
| 7 | a. When he wears my shirts, he tears them. |
| b. Her eyes filled with tears. | |
| 8 | a. He wound up his speech and sat down. |
| b. The wound is healing nicely and the patient is healthy. |
2. Listen and repeat.
Listen to the recording
and repeat what you hear.
| 1 | a. You're just doing this to wind me up. |
| b. Something is blowing in the wind. | |
| 2 | a. It's a long and windy road. |
| b. It was a wet and windy night. | |
| 3 | a. Live and let live. |
| b. The Stone Roses are performing live tonight. | |
| 4 | a. Read me a story. |
| b. He read me a story. | |
| 5 | a. There's no lead in this pencil. |
| b. You lead, I'll follow. | |
| c. You ought to put the dog on a lead. | |
| 6 | a. Close the door, will you? |
| b. You're driving too close to the car in front. | |
| 7 | a. When he wears my shirts, he tears them. |
| b. Her eyes filled with tears. | |
| 8 | a. He wound up his speech and sat down. |
| b. The wound is healing nicely and the patient is healthy. |