• Saw (past tense of see) – Verb

• Saw (a tool for cutting) – Noun

Pronunciation

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

• Saw (Verb): Pronounced /sɔ/ (SAW) — Past tense of see.

• Saw (Noun): Pronounced /sɔ/ (SAW) — A tool for cutting.

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 "saw" in context.
Can you tell which “saw” is being mentioned as you read each sentence?

Example Sentences

1. He saw a beautiful sunset on the beach.
   a. Past tense of see
   b. A tool for cutting

2. She used a saw to cut the wooden plank.
   a. Past tense of see
   b. A tool for cutting

3. They saw the movie last weekend at the theater.
   a. Past tense of see
   b. A tool for cutting

4. The carpenter’s saw was sharp enough to cut through thick wood.
   a. Past tense of see
   b. A tool for cutting

5. I saw her walking her dog in the park.
   a. Past tense of see
   b. A tool for cutting

6. He borrowed a saw to fix the broken fence.
   a. Past tense of see
   b. A tool for cutting

7. We saw the stars shining brightly in the night sky.
   a. Past tense of see
   b. A tool for cutting

8. The electric saw made cutting the wood much faster.
   a. Past tense of see
   b. A tool for cutting

9. She saw an opportunity and decided to take it.
   a. Past tense of see
   b. A tool for cutting

10. The worker replaced the blade on his saw before starting the project.
    a. Past tense of see
    b. A tool for cutting

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.

Saw (past tense of see)

1. I saw her smiling in the crowd. (Stress saw to highlight the observation.)

2. We saw an incredible performance last night. (Emphasize saw to show the experience.)

3. He saw the problem and immediately fixed it. (Highlight saw to focus on his quick reaction.)

Saw (a tool for cutting)

1. The carpenter’s saw was perfect for the job. (Stress saw to focus on the tool.)

2. He sharpened the saw before using it. (Highlight saw to describe the preparation.)

3. The saw cut through the wood effortlessly. (Emphasize saw to focus on the cutting action.)

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.

Saw (past tense of see):

1. Saw clearly: Indicates a clear observation.

   • Tip: Stress clearly to show certainty.

   • Sentence: I saw clearly what happened during the event.

2. Saw her: Emphasizes noticing someone.

   • Tip: Highlight her to indicate the person.

   • Sentence: He saw her at the café yesterday.

3. Saw something new: Suggests experiencing or noticing something unfamiliar.

   • Tip: Stress something new to highlight the discovery.

   • Sentence: We saw something new at the science museum.

Saw (a tool for cutting):

1. Sharp saw: Focuses on the effectiveness of the tool.

   • Tip: Highlight sharp to indicate the condition of the tool.

   • Sentence: The carpenter worked with a sharp saw to ensure precision.

2. Electric saw: Refers to a powered cutting tool.

   • Tip: Emphasize electric to show the type of saw.

   • Sentence: He used an electric saw to cut the heavy logs.

3. Handheld saw: Describes a manual cutting tool.

   • Tip: Stress handheld to specify the type of tool.

   • Sentence: The worker preferred using a handheld saw for small tasks.

Things to Remember:

The word "saw" is used in different contexts:

• Saw (past tense of see): Works with phrases like "saw clearly," "saw her," or "saw something new."

  • Example: He saw her waving from across the street.

• Saw (a tool for cutting): Commonly paired with words like "sharp saw," "electric saw," or "handheld saw."

  • Example: The electric saw made the task easier.