HETERONYM: DESERT
“We drove for hours through the hot desert, where sand stretched as far as the eye could see. The sun blazed overhead, and we stopped only once for water. Later that night, after dinner, my friend felt upset and accused me of trying to desert him during a tough conversation. I explained that I wasn’t walking away but just needed time to think. The next day at school, we learned about soldiers who chose to desert their posts during battle, risking punishment for leaving without permission.”
How many meanings did you find?
List of the different ways that this word can be used.
What are your thoughts:
Why do you think the narrator needed time alone before finishing the conversation?
What does the empty desert setting add to the feeling of the story?
Why might someone feel hurt if a friend seems to “desert” them?
SPEAK with P • I • E
P — Pronunciation
DEsert → stress on DE
deSERT → stress on SERT
I — Intonation
We crossed the DEsert early in the morning.
I can’t believe he tried to deSERT his team like that.
E — Expression
DEsert → usually calm, neutral, descriptive; used when talking about place or environment.
deSERT → often surprised, disappointed, or emotional; used when someone leaves a person or responsibility.
