Verbs Ending in -ate
Approximately 1,000 English verbs end in the -ate suffix. These verbs are common in scientific, academic, and business contexts.
Listen to the following words. Can you figure out the rule for word stress in verbs that end in -ate?
The Rule: Stress the second syllable before the suffix.
Examples: MOtivate, conGRAtulate, CALculate
Many learners of English stress the the -ate syllable. Even if the you add an -ed (EStimated) or -ing (EStimating) suffix, you wouldn't change the stress pattern. The only time you change the stress pattern is when you add an -ion suffix.
Listen to the examples:
|
EStimate |
EStimated |
EStimating |
EStimator |
estiMAtion |
|
INdicate |
INdicated |
INdicating |
INdicator |
indiCAtion |
Tip
Sometimes -ate words are adjectives, nouns and adverb.
adjective: That's an accurate description.
Noun: She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins
Adverb: Send the letter immediately.
The stress pattern is the same, but the -ate is pronounced differently. In nouns, adjectives and adverbs, the -ate is pronounced like "it".
|
Noun (ate= it) |
Verb (-ate=ate) |
|
Here is a duplicate of the letter. |
We need to duplicate the letter. |
|
He is going to give us an estimate. |
He's going to estimate the cost. |
|
She is a recent graduate. |
She will graduate in May. |