Vocabulary: leave

Pronunciation: IPA /liːv/ (RP/Canadian). (General American also /liːv/.)

Stress: One syllable.

Verb: To depart/go away

  • Meaning: To move away from a place; to stop being present.
  • Examples:
    • Simple: “I will leave now.”
    • Medium: “She decided to leave her company.”
    • Complex: “After the breakup, he chose to leave town without saying goodbye.”
  • Grammar note: Irregular verb. Forms: leave – leaves – left
  • Synonyms: Depart, exit, quit.
  • Common phrases: leave for (place), leave early, leave late.

Verb: To allow to remain

  • Meaning: To not remove/take away; to permit something to stay.
  • Examples:
    • Simple: “Please leave the light on.”
    • Medium: “He left the windows open despite the rain.”
    • Complex: “The vet left the injured bird in the team’s care overnight.”
  • Common phrases: leave behind (leave something behind), leave alone.

Verb: To give permission

  • Meaning: To allow someone to do something.
  • Example: “”Criticism is welcome,” the teacher said. “Do not leave praise out either.”

Noun: Time away from work

  • Meaning: Permission to be absent.
  • Example: “She is on leave until Friday.”

Intriguing Facts

  • “Left” as the past tense of leave means both “departed” and “did not take” (e.g., “left a cookie”)
  • Similar sounding words: “Leaved” exists but is rare (plant-related usage) and “levy” (tax)
  • Common confusion: “Leave” vs “Leave”: Stress matters! “Leave therapy” (verb) vs “a leaf on the tree” (noun)

Becoming an Expert

  • Tips:
    • Use visual timetables: Pictures of travel (leave), open hands (allow remain).
    • Create comparison sentences: “She left (departed) the room” vs “Leave (keep) the door open.”
    • Group paraphrases: Depart → “exit campus”, “quit school”, “vacate premises”.

Mini-Tasks

1. Sentence Challenge: Use “leave” to mean “to allow remain”.

2. Synonym Hunt: Find a synonym for “leave” meaning “take time off work”.

3. Context: In cricket, when might you say “I chose to leave” while hitting a ball?