Inside The Language

thank you so much!

Hi Sara, what you are refering to are called “phrasal verbs” and unfortunately there are no rules for them.

The solution is to read a lot of English material and make a note of the phrasal verbs you encounter. Afterwards create a list and study from it.

Here is a link for more information on them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrasal_verb#Examples

Hi,

well,i have another question.there are always some words like “off” or “up”

which come after some verbs and change their meaning compeletly.for example: “lead” and “lead off”

is there any way or rule for learning them or you just have to memorise them?

thank you mr. Alston

Since I have mentioned the importance of learning prefixes and suffixes, I am re-posting them for your convenience. The time you spend becoming familiar with this material will be rewarding for you to know certain words without the use of a dictionary.

Make a good effort to see words that begin or end with these prefixes and suffixes and then compare them with the actual meaning from an online dictionary such as from www.dictionary.com

PREFIXES

Prefix= Means beginning 

Examples
a-, an-
not, without

amoral, anesthetic, apolitical, asocial

ab-
away from
abduction, abstain, abnormal

ad-
to, toward
adjoin, adjacent (lying near to)
ambi-
both
ambidextrous, ambivalent
ana-
up, back, again
analogy, anatomy, anagram
anti-
against
antipathy, antiwar, antisocial
apo-
from, away from
apology, apologize
auto-
self
autobiography, automobile, autocracy, automaton
bene-
good
benediction benevolent benefactor
cata-, cat-
down, against
catastrophe—a turning down
centro, centri-
around, center
concentric, centrifugal
circum-
around
circumlocution circumference, circumvent
com-
with, together
communal, community
con-
with, together
connect, confide conspire
contra-
against
contradict, contravene
de-
down, away
descend, deject (cast down)
dia-, di-
through, across
diameter, division
dis-
apart, not
disengage, discord, discomfort
dys-
ill, difficult, bad
dysfunctional, dysentery
e-
out of, from
elect (choose out of), eject (throw out)
ecto-
on the outside
ectoderm—outer skin
en-, em-
in
empathy—feeling in
endo-
within, inside
endoscope—instrument for observing inside
epi-
upon
epitaph epidermis, epicenter
eso-
inward, within
esoteric—more inward, esophagus
eu-
well, good
euthanasia—good death
ex-
out of, from
exhume, exhale, exodus
hetero-
other, different
heterosexual, heterodoxy, heterodox heterogeneous
homo-
same
homosexual, homogeneous, homogenized
hyper-
over
hypertension, hypersensitive, hyperactivity
hypo-
under
hypotension, hypodermic
il-
not
illegitimate, illicit, illegal, illegible
im-
not
imperfect, impolite, impossible
im-
into
imbibe (drink in, take in)
in-
not
indiscreet, invisible
in-
into
incorporate (take into the body)
inter-
between
intervene (come between), interstate
intra-
within
intrastate, intramural
ir-
not
irregular, irrational, irredeemable
macro-
large
macrocosm, macroeconomics
mal, male-
bad, evil
malediction malevolent, malnutrition
meta-
beyond
metaphysical
micro-
small
microscope, microcosm, microeconomics
mono-
one, single
monologue, monotheism, monarchy, monogamy
neo-
new, recent
neologism, neo-liberal, neonatology. neolithic
ob-
against
object, obstruct (build against)
palin-, pali-
back, again
palindrome
pan-
all, every
pantheism, Pan-Hellenic, panorama, pandemic
para-
false
paramilitary, paralegal, parachute
per-
through
percolate (flow through) perforate (punch through)
peri-
around
perimeter, periscope
phil-, philo-
like, lover of
philosophy, Francophile, bibliophile, philanthropy
poly-
many, several
polygon, polygamy, polytechnic, polytheism
post-
after
postgraduate, posthumous postpone
pre-
before
precede, predict (tell before)
pro-
for, forward
promote, project
pros-
toward, in front
prospect—view in front, something coming up
proto-
first
prototype, protoplasm, protobiology
pseudo
false
pseudonym, pseudoscience
re-
again, back
repeat, recede, regress (step back)
retro-
back
retrogression, retroactive
se-
away from
seduce (lead away), secede
sub-
under
submarine, subject, subhuman subterranean
sur-, super-
over, above
superhuman, superego, superintend, surpass
syn-, sym-, syl-, sys-
with, together
symphony, synonym, system, syllable
tele-
distant, far off
telephone, telepathy, television, telegram
trans-
across
transient, Transatlantic, transport (carry across)

SUFFIXES

Suffixes definition= After

Examples

-agog, 
-a little star
-ism
the belief in
pacifism, terrorism, socialism, communism
-ist
one who believes in
pacifist, terrorist, socialist, communist
-ite
one connected with
meteorite, polite, cosmopolite
-logy
study field of
biology, geology, etymology, cardiology
-oid
resembling, like-shaped
asteroid, spheroid
-or, -er
one who takes part in
doctor, actor, teacher, driver
-phobia
exaggerated fear
photophobia, claustrophobia, agoraphobia
-sis
act, state, condition of analysis

Try teaching something to someone. One of the best ways of understanding something is to attempt to teach it.

But there’s a big difference between understanding sth and being able to explain it to others, i think i’d better review it more.

oh, that was great, i understood. thank u so much

thank you Mr alston.

The word “import” has a common meaning of “to bring in merchandise from a foreign country.” However, there is another use of this word as a verb which means to “be of consequence” or importance (see import in the spelling of importance). For example, consider this: “Heavy rain is a matter of great import for farmers.”

This word is not commonly used so don’t worry if your understanding is not clear.

In the case of the word “content” this is a lot easier to understand and explain.

“Content” (pronounced kon-tent) means “to contain something,” for example:

“Most books have a Table of Contents.” 

Now the other use of this word is pronounced (kun-tent) which means “to be satisfied with something.”  For example: 

“Mary is content with her husband!”

See the difference between the use of the same word but is pronounced differently and has a different meaning. This is known as a “Heteronym.”

I hope this helps.

Tnx for ur attention.
I cant get the point about import and content …..

I understand this material can be confusing, however, which part is confusing to you? Let’s focus on that part and try to get an understanding.

Thanks for your feedback! 

Wow, it’s very useful, and got it but i found it confusing. :(

Spending time studying prefixes and suffixes will reward you with being able to come close to knowing the meaning of a word without a dictionary.

For example in the previous lessons on homographs, homophones, and heteronyms you can learn something about these words from knowing the prefixes and suffixes of the words:

Homo=same / Graph=something written.

Using this knowledge, “Homographs” means words with the same writing (spelling).

The same thinking applies to the word “Homophones”

Homo=same / Phones=sound, therefore, “Homophones” means “words with the same sound.”

Finally, “Heteronyms” are not as easy to determine but “hetero” means“different” and “nyms” means “name,” therefore, you could guess that“heteronyms” has something to do with different names or in this case words that sound different and has different meanings.

Learning the root of English words (etymology) can be fun and beneficial in learning English!

Samineh, so true concerning the function of the words, or in other words, it is essential to know the setting of the word(s). 

In addition, when listening to a speaker in person, the tone, intonation, facial expression, body movement, and other factors play an important part in determining the mood of the speaker.

You posted a good and helpful comment, thanks!

I think besides the pronounciation, paying attentin to the function of the words ,verb,subject,object, can be helpful in determining the heteronyms.Amm i right Mr . Alston?

Mahbubeh, you are getting deeper inside the language in your question concerning how native speakers can determine the use of heteronyms in the same context.

Actually it’s not as difficult as it may appear, let’s  take a look at what is required.

1. Exposure to words in your conversation - You have to become familiar with common words that you are likely to encounter.  For example, let’s analyze this statement from the previous lesson:

“They were “too” “close” to the door “to” “close” it.” 

To understand the above sentence a student has to know that one meaning of“close” means to be “near something” and one meaning of “close” means to“shut something.”

Even though this word is spelled the same, it has a different pronunciation and a different meaning. Knowing this, it is simply used to communicate a thought.

It is not necessary to know that this type of word is called a ”Heteronym,” the main thing is to know the various meanings of the word.

Also notice the word ”too” before the first “close” and “to” before the second“close.” These words are pronounced the same but have different meanings which are called “Homophones.”

If the only encounter of the word ”close” is from memorizing it from a dictionary, it may be difficult to relate it in a sentence. 

If the encounter of the word is from using it in speaking and/or writing, then it will be easier to realize the dual pronunciation and meaning.

I hope this explanation will help you and others, feel free to ask additional questions.

thank you Mr alston,

could you please explaine more about (context is the main point to determine  if its a Hetronym)?.how Hetronyms are discernable for native speakers,when they are in a same context?

i  do all my best to learn English and speak like a native speaker.i hope you will help me in this way.

Mahbubeh, it seems that you have a good foundation of English.

In regards to your question, “Heteronyms” slightly relate to stress and more towards intonation during speaking but not always, it depends on the word. However, context is the main point to determine if it is a “Heteronym.”

The words “import” and “content” are heteronyms; “import” is a more difficult word to discern that it is a heteronym.

A good dictionary (with pronunciation text) is very helpful to determine if it is a heteronym.

Good questions and comments!

thank you Mr alson ,

i read your  last two explanations about Hetronyms they are very useful and i even took note ,actually i have studied about this topic in university we have had a course that the professor explained them generally .and now i added what you mentioned to my previews knowlege.

anyway, i have many question about them because i mess them up i scare of making mistakes .

we had a course (phonetic and phonology) that really made sense because i think pronounciation is one of the most important things in English,if i mispronounciate a word it would’nt make sense,but how can i avoid of these kind of mistakes when i have to use Hetronyms.

do Hetronyms ralate to STRESS and Intonation? 

am i right to add (Import.Import)(Content.content) as Hetronyms?

Lesson Part 3 Nos. 11-15 – Heteronyms Explanations:

Samineh, “the bottom line” phrase is used to indicate the most important aspect of something. For example, “It is good to have an education but the “bottom line is to earn a livelihood with it!”

Now for Lesson Part 3 Nos. 11-15 – Heteronyms

Heteronyms are words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and meanings. It is very important that you are aware of this distinction to prevent confusion when you encounter these types of words.

Context and knowledge of them are keys to understanding this anomaly in English. At the end of the lesson I will repost the entire list so you won’t have to scroll down.

Instructions for understanding the lesson explanations:

1. The explanation is written under the sentence.

2. The first set of parenthesis ( ) contains the word spelled as it is pronounced but is not the correct spelling of the word.

3. The second and third parenthesis ( ) contains the meaning of the word.

4. After you read the spelling and meaning of the words, read the entire sentence without stopping. The goal is to understand what you are reading and comprehend immediately the same way a fluent speaker would understand.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions on what you do not understand.

Now for the explanations:

11. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.

The insurance was (in-valid) (not good) for the (in-va-lid) (a person who is seriously ill and cannot help them self.)

12. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.

There was a row (roe) (disagreement, dispute, contention) among the oarsmen about how to row (roe) (to propel a boat using an oar (paddle)).

13. They were too close to the door to close it.

They were too close (near) to the door to close (cloze) (to shut) it.

14. The buck does funny things when the does are present.

The buck does (duhz) funny things when the does (dohz) (plural of doe which is a female deer) are present (prez-sant) (on location).

15. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.

A seamstress and a sewer (soh-er) (a person or thing that sews fabric) fell down into a sewer (sue-er) line (a large pipe to carry away human waste in a city or town.)

End

Well, I hope this lesson was helpful and that it will enable you to increase your English knowledge.

There is one more lesson remaining in this lesson and I hope to post it in a week or so.

Please feel free to comment or ask questions for clarification and make every effort to express your thoughts, silent learning should be combined with using what you learn at every opportunity.  Do not be afraid of making mistakes, we all make them!

Below is a repost of the entire Heteronym lesson: 

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) 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 presentthe 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) To help with planting, the farmer 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) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?