Some nouns and verbs have the same form in English.

For example:

She set an Olympic record. (noun)

She's recording her new song in the studios. (verb)

However, the pronunciation (i.e. syllable stress) is different. Where "record" is used as a noun, the stress
is on the first syllable: RE-cord (where "re" is the same sound as the "re" in "relative").

But when "record" is used as a verb, the stress is on the second syllable: re-CORD, and the "re" sounds
like "ri", as in "remember".)

Here are some more examples of nouns and verbs that have the same form, but different pronunciation.
You can listen to the audio (under each pair of sentences) to hear the differences in syllable stress.

To do with finance

increase

Noun: INcrease "There's been an increase in the number of students."

Verb: inCREASE "Numbers are increasing."

decrease

Noun: DEcrease "We've seen a decrease in the bird population."

Verb: deCREASE "Numbers are decreasing every year."

import

Noun: IMport "This is a cheap import."

Verb: imPORT "They import their oil from the UK."

export

Noun: EXport "Oil is one of their biggest exports."

Verb: exPORT "We need to export more."

discount

Noun: DIScount "Is there a discount on this?"

Verb: disCOUNT "They discounted the theories."

refund

Noun: REfund "I'd like a refund please."

Verb: reFUND "We'll refund you 50%."

To do with authority or argument

permit

Noun: PERmit "Do you need a permit to fish here?"

Verb: perMIT "They won't permit her to leave the country."

conflict

Noun: CONflict "They're reporting armed conflict in the area."

Verb: conFLICT "His opinion conflicted with hers."

contest

Noun: CONtest "She entered a beauty contest."

Verb: conTEST "They contested the results."

insult

Noun: INsult "Your offer is so low it's an insult."

Verb: inSULT "Don't insult me!"

protest

Noun: PROtest "There's a student protest today."

Verb: proTEST "They're protesting against cuts."

rebel
Noun: REbel "He was a rebel when he was younger."

Verb: reBEL "He rebelled against authority."

To do with renewal

rewrite

Noun: REwrite "That's a rewrite of an old song."

Verb: reWRITE "She rewrote her story."

update

Noun: UPdate "We've got some updates for you."

Verb: upDATE "We're updating our files."

upgrade

Noun: UPgrade "They got an upgrade on the flight."

Verb: upGRADE "It's time to upgrade our computer."

To do with communication

invite

Noun: INvite "I received an invite to her party."

Verb: inVITE "They invited us to their house."

misprint

Noun: MISprint "There's a misprint in the book."

Verb: misPRINT "He misprinted the word."

insert

Noun: INsert "Put a couple of inserts in this text."

Verb: inSERT "He inserted a few words into her paragraph."

survey
Noun: SURvey "Let's do a customer survey to find out."

Verb: surVEY "They surveyed over 1000 people."

Miscellaneous

contrast

Noun: CONtrast "There's a big contrast between you two."

Verb: conTRAST "He contrasted the two pictures."

detail

Noun: DEtail "It's just a minor detail."

Verb: deTAIL "The story details their struggle with poverty."

escort

Noun: EScort "You'll need an escort to get through security.

Verb: esCORT "He escorted her out of the door."

perfume

Noun: PERfume "He bought her a bottle of perfume for her birthday."

Verb: perFUME "The roses perfumed the room."

reject

Noun: REject "This is one of the rejects from the factory."

Verb: reJECT "He rejected her advice."

upset

Noun: UPset "The victory was an upset in the championships."

Verb: upSET "He upset her with his cruel remarks."

When noun and verb have different meanings

compound
Noun: COMpound "They lived in a compound."

Verb: comPOUND "Current policy is just compounding problems."

contract

Noun: CONtract "Have you signed the contract?"

Verb: conTRACT "The economy is contracting."

conduct

Noun: CONduct "The conduct of the student was unacceptable."

Verb: conDUCT "They're conducting an enquiry."

object

Noun: OBject "He treats her like an object."

Verb: obJECT "She objected to the proposals."

subject

Noun: SUBject "What subjects do you study?"

Verb: subJECT "She was subjected to harsh criticism."

present

Noun: PREsent "He gave her a present."

Verb: preSENT "He's going to present his findings."

project

Noun: PROject "They're working on a project."

Verb: proJECT "He projects himself well."

refuse

Noun: REfuse "The refuse collectors are on strike."

Verb: reFUSE "He refused permission."

desert

Noun: DEsert "They went travelling in the Sahara desert."

Verb: deSERT "The soldiers deserted their post."

Reminder:

Intonation is the rise and fall of the voice in speech. The two kinds of intonation are falling intonation
and rising intonation.

A falling intonation is used at the end of (1) a statement, a command, or a request and (2) a question
which cannot be answered by yes or no.

A rising intonation is used (1) at the end of a yes/no question, (2) after a phrase within a sentence, and
(3) in enumerating persons, places, objects and others.

Set Up: Read the dialogue with a classmate. Read one part while your classmate reads the other part.
Answer the questions that follow. Take note of the rising and falling intonation at the end of each
sentence.

Danny: Have you heart the news? Mark won the Spelling Quiz Bee Contest!

Pamela: No, I haven’t. What did he receive as a prize?

Danny: Mark got $500 in cash!

Pamela: Really? That’s wonderful!

Danny: Not only that. He will tour to Boracay for a week with his family.

Pamela: That’s great! I will tell Mark to bring me white sand for my aquarium.

Danny: As for me, seashells will do.

Pamela: Look Danny, Mark is coming!

1. Who won in the spelling Quiz Bee Contest?

2. What prizes did he received?

3. What are the things that Pamela and Danny would like Mark to bring them from Boracay?

Gear Up:
Listen to your teacher as he/she reads the following sentences. Take note of the intonation in each
sentence.

1. Rising Intonation:

a. At the end of a yes/no question

Is your best friend coming?

Are you ready for the school play?

Did you do your homework?

b. After a phrase within a sentence

Mr. Cruz teaches industrial arts in high school.

Mrs. Tan, the new president, launched a livelihood project.

There are many books about the Philippines in the school library.

c. In enumerating persons, places, objects, etc.

The family went to Puerto Galera, Boracay, Bohol and Pagudpud.

We ate durian, marang, mangoes and mangosteen.

The teacher met the pupils, the parents, the guardians, and the school administrator.

2. Falling Intonation

a. A statement, command, or request

The girls will serve as usherettes.

Please lend me your book.

My teacher is very patient.

b. A question which cannot be answered by yes or no.

How can you make a chocolate cake?

Who are going to the party?

When will the boys play the band?

Read the following sentences. Write a downward arrow , if the sentence has a falling intonation and an
upward, if it has a rising intonation.
We all got high grades.

May I see your assignment?

The contestants qualified for the contest.

Some people like to read books, play tennis, swim and watch movies.

Did he recite the poem well?

Who won in the contest?

Are you coming with us?

The Cebuanos make good guitars.

There are many places to visit in Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Please seat beside each other.

Work Out:

Read the following sentences. If the sentence has a falling intonation, write F, if it has a rising intonation,
write R.

There are wonderful places in the Philippines.

Have you met our new principal?

Girls are interested in dances, but boys are interested in sports.

Where did you leave your bag?

Mrs. Legaspi bakes tarts, cakes, cookies and breads.

What will you wear for the party?

Please come to my party.

My mother bought rice, viand, vegetables and fruits.

Can you come with me?

Together with his cousins, Krystal flew to Davao