Our Crazy American English - Page 3

Non native English speakers often face an additional problem that native English speakers do not have to face. In fact, native English speakers do not always recognize what they actually doing. In each the following sentences we have a set of heteronyms. Heteronyms are sets of words spelled the same, pronounced differently and have different meanings. An example is bass. One is a fish and the other is a deep sounding musical tone. The native English speaker knows how to pronounce each these words and their meaning based on the context of the sentence. In addition number 7 contains a homograph. A homograph are sets of words spelled the same. pronounced the same but have two differnet meanings (present - now and present - gift). Also to confuse things more, sentence 6 and16 also contain homophones. Homophones are sets of words that are spelled differently, pronounced the same and have different meanings (desert dessert) (so sow).

  1. The bandage was wound around the wound.
  2. The farm was used to produce produce.
  3. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
  4. 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. There is no time like the present 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. The farmer needed help with planting so he 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. It took a minute to find the minute item.
  21. He was content with the content of his speech.
  22. The house I live in has a live snake.
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