Noun/Verb Stress Pairs
Below is a list of common noun/verb pairs in English where the stress shifts depending on usage.
Quick Rule
- Noun → stress on the first syllable
- Verb → stress on the second syllable
This pattern is very common in English, especially with words borrowed from Latin/French.
Noun/Verb Stress Pairs
| Noun convict | Verb convict |
|---|---|
CON‑vict(noun) Meaning A person found guilty of a crime罪成的犯人 Examples
| con‑VICT(verb) Meaning To declare someone guilty of a crime宣判…有罪,證明…有罪 Examples
|
| Noun conduct | Verb conduct |
|---|---|
CON‑duct(noun) Meaning Behavior, manner of acting行為,舉止 Examples
| con‑DUCT(verb) Meaning To lead, guide, or carry out引領,主持,進行 Examples
|
| Noun present | Verb present |
|---|---|
PRES‑ent(noun) Meaning A gift or something given禮物 Examples
| pre‑SENT(verb) Meaning To offer, show, or give something formally呈獻,頒發,展示 Examples
|
| Noun permit | Verb permit |
|---|---|
PER‑mit(noun) Meaning An official document giving someone authorization to do something許可證,執照 Examples
| per‑MIT(verb) Meaning To allow someone to do something允許,准許 Examples
|
| Noun record | Verb record |
|---|---|
REC‑ord(noun) Meaning A piece of information or official writing about past events記錄,檔案,唱片 Examples
| re‑CORD(verb) Meaning To set down in writing or store sound and images for future use記錄,錄音,錄影 Examples
|
| Noun object | Verb object |
|---|---|
OB‑ject(noun) Meaning A material thing that can be seen and touched物體,物件,受詞 Examples
| ob‑JECT(verb) Meaning To say something to express one's opposition or disapproval反對,抗議 Examples
|
- contract
- Noun: CON‑tract → an agreement
- Verb: con‑TRACT → to shrink; to agree formally
- increase
- Noun: IN‑crease → a rise
- Verb: in‑CREASE → to grow
- decrease
- Noun: DE‑crease → a reduction
- Verb: de‑CREASE → to reduce
- import
- Noun: IM‑port → goods brought in
- Verb: im‑PORT → to bring in
- export
- Noun: EX‑port → goods sent out
- Verb: ex‑PORT → to send out
- suspect
- Noun: SUS‑pect → a person under suspicion
- Verb: sus‑PECT → to think something is true
- address
- Noun: AD‑dress → a location, speech
- Verb: ad‑DRESS → to speak to, to deal with
- project
- Noun: PRO‑ject → a plan, assignment, or piece of work
- Verb: pro‑JECT → to throw forward, to forecast, or to display
- conflict
- Noun: CON‑flict → a struggle, disagreement
- Verb: con‑FLICT → to clash, to disagree
- contest
- Noun: CON‑test → a competition
- Verb: con‑TEST → to challenge, to oppose
- rebel
- Noun: RE‑bel → a person who resists authority
- Verb: re‑BEL → to resist or fight against
- subject
- Noun: SUB‑ject → a topic, a person under authority
- Verb: sub‑JECT → to cause to undergo, to control
- insult
- Noun: IN‑sult → an offensive remark
- Verb: in‑SULT → to offend
