Pronunciation: Same word pronounced differently

Nouns vs Verbs and Adjectives vs Verbs

Quite a number of nouns and verbs – so are some adjectives and verbs – while of the same spelling, are stressed differently. When they function as nouns or as adjectives, stress falls on the first syllable; when they function as verbs, stress falls on the last syllable:

• • We would like to increase our market share.
  • The dock workers were fighting for an increase in salary.
  • I called to update our CEO on our production.
  • I called to provide our CEO with an update of our production.
  • Common salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine.
  • The problems were compounded by severe food shortages.

More noun/verb and adjective/verb examples are tabulated below: