Noun – Verb Changes Sometimes the pronunciation of the letter “s” will change depending on whether the word is being used as a noun/adjective or a verb: Noun or Adjective with /s/
abuse /ə’bjuːs/ Verb with /z/ abuse /ə’bjuːz/ close – closer – closest /kləʊs – kləʊsə – kləʊsɪst/ close /kləʊz/ diffuse /dɪˈfjuːs/ diffuse /dɪˈfjuːz/ excuse /ɪk’skjuːs/ excuse /ɪk’skjuːz/
house /haʊs/
house /haʊz/
merchandise /ˈməːʧəndʌɪs/ merchandise /ˈməːʧəndʌɪz/ misuse /mɪsˈjuːs/ misuse /mɪsˈjuːz/ Sometimes the spelling will change like in advice /ədˈvʌɪs/ and device /də’vʌɪs/ (nouns) but advise /ədˈvʌɪz/ and devise /də’vʌɪz/ (verbs). Further Notes:
1) abusive /ə’bjuːsɪv/ but abuser /ə’bjuːzə/ 2) house /haʊs/ but houses /haʊzɪz/ and housing /haʊzɪŋ/ 3) I’m used to it /juːst/ (=modal verb) but I’ve used it /juːzd/ (=past tense of to use) 4) has /haz/, but has to /has tə/
The following words are often confused:
1) loose /luːs/ but lose /luːz/ 2) Miss /mɪs/ but Ms /məz/ 3) dessert (=pudding) /dɪ’zəːt/ is the same pronunciation as the verb to desert (=leave). However, the dry place is a desert /ˈdɛzəːt/
More information on the next few pages refuse /ˈrɛfjuːs/ refuse /rɪˈfjuːz/ use /juːs/ use /juːz/
