Dove vs Dove

• Dove (a type of bird) – Noun

• Dove (past tense of dive) – Verb

Pronunciation

These words are homonyms, meaning they are spelled the same, sound the same, but have different meanings.

• Dove (Noun): Pronounced /dʌv/ (DUHV) — A bird.

• Dove (Verb): Pronounced /doʊv/ (DOHV) — Past tense of dive.

Listen to the audio. They sound the same.

What makes them different is your intonation, expression, and context, or the other words in the sentence.

Instruction

Read each sentence aloud and practice identifying the meaning of "dove" in context.
Can you tell which “dove” is being mentioned as you read each sentence?

Example Sentences

1. A white dove flew gracefully across the sky.
   a. A type of bird
   b. Past tense of dive

2. He dove into the lake to save the child.
   a. A type of bird
   b. Past tense of dive

3. The dove perched on the branch outside my window.
   a. A type of bird
   b. Past tense of dive

4. She dove into her work with enthusiasm.
   a. A type of bird
   b. Past tense of dive

5. The dove cooed softly in the morning light.
   a. A type of bird
   b. Past tense of dive

6. He dove under the waves to search for seashells.
   a. A type of bird
   b. Past tense of dive

7. The children watched as the dove landed near the fountain.
   a. A type of bird
   b. Past tense of dive

8. She quickly dove behind the couch to hide.
   a. A type of bird
   b. Past tense of dive

9. The dove is often associated with peace and purity.
   a. A type of bird
   b. Past tense of dive

10. He dove headfirst into the swimming pool.
    a. A type of bird
    b. Past tense of dive

Answers

1. a

2. b

3. a

4. b

5. a

6. b

7. a

8. b

9. a

10. b

Intonation

Instructions: Intonation is controlling the rise and fall of your voice. When we do this with words and phrases, we send the listener a specific message.

Dove (a type of bird)

1. The dove flew gracefully across the sky. (Stress dove to focus on the bird.)

2. A single dove perched on the windowsill. (Highlight dove to emphasize its presence.)

3. The soft cooing of the dove was calming. (Emphasize cooing to create the scene.)

Dove (past tense of dive)

1. He dove into the pool with perfect form. (Stress dove to highlight the action.)

2. She dove headfirst into the icy water. (Emphasize headfirst to show intensity.)

3. The bird dove from the tree into the water. (Highlight dove to describe the motion.)

Expression

The following explains how stressing or emphasizing the bolded words alters the tone or focus of the sentence and offers some helpful tips. Practice stressing these words when speaking. Create your own sentences with the following words and phrases.

Dove (a type of bird):

1. White dove: Suggests purity or symbolism.

   • Tip: Highlight white to evoke its symbolism.

   • Sentence: A white dove landed on the rooftop.

2. Cooing dove: Focuses on its sound.

   • Tip: Emphasize cooing to highlight the calming effect.

   • Sentence: The cooing dove was soothing to hear.

3. Graceful dove: Highlights its elegant movement.

   • Tip: Stress graceful to show admiration.

   • Sentence: The graceful dove soared above the garden.

Dove (past tense of dive):

1. Dove into the pool: Describes the specific action.

   • Tip: Highlight pool to show the location.

   • Sentence: He dove into the pool with excitement.

2. Dove under: Suggests a quick motion downward.

   • Tip: Emphasize under to show the direction.

   • Sentence: She dove under the table to hide.

3. Dove headfirst: Indicates intensity or eagerness.

   • Tip: Stress headfirst to show the determination.

   • Sentence: He dove headfirst into the new project.

Things to Remember:

The word "dove" is used in different contexts:

• Dove (a type of bird): Works with descriptive words like "white," "cooing," or "graceful."

  • Example: The white dove perched on the tree.

• Dove (past tense of dive): Often paired with actions like "dove into," "dove under," or "dove headfirst."

  • Example: She dove into the icy water.