SPEAK with understanding
→ Read or Listen to the passage. Locate all of the meanings of the homonym or heteronym. Studying for a test: limit and time your responses to 30-60 seconds.

HETERONYM: TEAR

“During the sad movie, a single tear rolled down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. My friend noticed but stayed quiet. Later that afternoon, my little brother tried to open a package too quickly and made a long tear down the side of the paper. At school the next day, our teacher asked us to be careful not to tear the pages of our books while turning them. On the playground, a boy’s shirt caught on the fence and ripped in a sudden tear.”

How many meanings did you find?

List of the different ways that this word can be used.

SPEAK w/ P I E

  • Pronunciation

    • Tear (/tɪr/) → sounds like ear.

    • Tear (/tɛr/) → sounds like care.

  • Intonation Practice
    “A tear rolled down her face.”
    “He made a long tear in the paper.”
    “Be careful not to tear the page.”

  • Expression Tip
    For crying, stretch the sound like ear.
    For ripping, say it shorter, like care.

SEVERAL MEANINGS

  1. Tear (/tɪr/) – a drop from the eye when crying.

  2. Tear (/tɛr/) – a rip or hole in something.

  3. Tear (/tɛr/) – to pull or rip something apart.

IDIOMS/EXPRESSION

  • In tears – crying heavily.

  • Tear down – destroy.

  • Tear through – move very quickly.