Here's a word you see all the time: graduate.
Did you know it has two different pronunciations depending on how you use it?
Yes, the same word spelled exactly the same sounds different when you say "I will graduate" (verb) versus "She is a graduate" (noun).
This pattern applies to dozens of common English words ending in -ate, including separate, estimate, duplicate, and many more. Mastering this rule will instantly make your English sound more natural.
The Key Rule
- When it's a VERB: The ending -ate is pronounced with a full, clear vowel sound, like the word "eight" (/eɪt/).
- When it's a NOUN or ADJECTIVE: The ending -ate is reduced to a short, unstressed sound, like "it" or "ut" (/ət/).
Why This Happens
English naturally reduces vowels in unstressed syllables, especially at the end of nouns and adjectives. Verbs, on the other hand, tend to keep the full vowel sound to emphasize the action.
Compare:
- Verb: /...eɪt/ (long, full vowel)
- Noun/Adjective: /...ət/ (short, reduced schwa)
Clear Examples
Let's look at how pronunciation changes in these common word pairs:
1. Graduate
2. Separate
3. Estimate
4. Duplicate
5. Elaborate
Common Mistakes
The most frequent error is using the verb pronunciation (/eɪt/) for everything. This sounds unnatural to native speakers.
- "He is a university gradu-ATE." (Sounds overly emphasized and foreign)
- "He is a university gradu-it." (Sounds natural and fluent)
Spanish and Portuguese speakers often make this mistake because their languages don't reduce unstressed vowels the same way English does.
More Words That Follow This Pattern
Here are additional -ate words where the pronunciation changes based on part of speech:
| Word | Verb Pronunciation | Noun/Adjective Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| advocate | /ˈædvəkeɪt/ | /ˈædvəkət/ |
| alternate | /ˈɔːltərneɪt/ | /ˈɔːltərnət/ |
| animate | /ˈænɪmeɪt/ | /ˈænɪmət/ |
| appropriate | /əˈproʊprieɪt/ | /əˈproʊpriət/ |
| approximate | /əˈprɑːksɪmeɪt/ | /əˈprɑːksɪmət/ |
| associate | /əˈsoʊʃieɪt/ | /əˈsoʊʃiət/ |
| coordinate | /koʊˈɔːrdɪneɪt/ | /koʊˈɔːrdɪnət/ |
| delegate | /ˈdelɪɡeɪt/ | /ˈdelɪɡət/ |
| deliberate | /dɪˈlɪbəreɪt/ | /dɪˈlɪbərət/ |
| moderate | /ˈmɑːdəreɪt/ | /ˈmɑːdərət/ |
| predicate | /ˈpredɪkeɪt/ | /ˈpredɪkət/ |
| subordinate | /səˈbɔːrdɪneɪt/ | /səˈbɔːrdɪnət/ |
Words That Are Only Nouns or Adjectives
Some -ate words are only used as nouns or adjectives (never as verbs). These always have the reduced pronunciation (/ət/):
Practice Exercise
Read these sentences aloud, paying attention to whether each -ate word is a verb or a noun/adjective:
- "The company will duplicate (/eɪt/) the files and send you a duplicate (/ət/)."
- "They need to coordinate (/eɪt/) their efforts as coordinate (/ət/) points on the map."
- "Can you elaborate (/eɪt/) on your elaborate (/ət/) plan?"
- "I estimate (/eɪt/) the cost will match the original estimate (/ət/)."
- "We need to separate (/eɪt/) the items into separate (/ət/) boxes."
Quick Memory Trick
Ask yourself: "Is this word describing an action or a thing/quality?"
- Action (verb) = Full sound (/eɪt/), like "eight"
- Thing or quality (noun/adjective) = Reduced sound (/ət/), like "it"
Why This Matters
Using the correct pronunciation helps native speakers understand you better and makes your speech sound more natural. It's one of those subtle features that separates intermediate speakers from advanced ones.
Next time you see a word ending in -ate, pause and ask yourself: "Am I using this as an action or as a thing?" Your pronunciation should follow!
Want to learn more about vowel reduction in English? Check out our guide on the schwa sound, the most common vowel in English.