English is a very flexible language. Theoretically, any word and, more specifically, any noun may be used as a verb. The words below, for example, may be nouns or verbs according to their position in the sentence.
conduct influence judge limit love
notice object produce question surprise
All you need is love. (noun) I know you loveme. (verb)
In practice however, not every noun gets verbified. Although there are no special rules what guides the practice is mainly the desire to sound coherent and clear, to make oneself understood, not to sound odd or different from one’s fellow beings.
Some noun-verb pairs may shift in spelling. Observe the difference:
noun: advice bath breath cloth proof
verb: advise bathe breathe clothe prove
Take my advice and leave now.(noun) I won’t advise her.(verb)
Some noun-verb pairs may shift in intonation. Observe the difference: the stress falls on the first syllable of the noun and on last syllable of the verb.
noun: cónduct dígest éscort ínsult próduce récord
verb: condúct digést escórt insúlt prodúce recórd
That is his first platinum récord. (noun)
Let’s recórdthe show. (verb)
Try pronouncing aloud the pairs below. Remember: although there are some exceptio
ns, the stress of a noun is on the first syllable, and that of a verb is on the last syllable.
a conflict – to conflict a present – to present
a contest – to contest a produce – to produce
a contract – to contract a progress – to progress
a contrast – to contrast a project – to project
a convert – to convert a protest – to protest
a convict – to convict a rebel – to rebel
a default – to default a recall – to recall
a discharge – to discharge a reject – to reject
an incline – to incline a research – to research
an insult – to insult a subject –to subject
an object – to object a survey – to survey
a permit – to permit a suspect – to suspect
Elisabeth Prescher é graduada em Le
tras pela Universidade Mackenzie e pós graduada em Educação Infantil pela FMU. Possui certificados de Proficiency in English pelas universidades de Michigan e Cambridge. É professora, pesquisadora, autora de readers, livros de apoio didático, gramáticas e livros didáticos de inglês para o Ensino Fundamental I, II e Ensino Mèdio. Passatempo favorito: escrever.
