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Word: Tennis

Meaning:
A sport played between two players (singles) or four players (doubles) who hit a ball back and forth over a net using strung rackets.

Pronunciation:
IPA: /ˈtɛnɪs/
Stress: On the first syllable (TEN-nis).
Homophone: “Tenness” (though uncommon).

Morphology

Basic Forms:

• Noun: tennis (uncountable for the sport, rare “tennises” for matches)
• Verb: tennises (3rd person singular, e.g., “He tennises every Saturday”), tennising, tennised

Notes: The verb form is now largely obsolte or dialectal. The noun form is invariable (no distinct plural).

Grammar & Usage Notes

• As a noun, it is usually treated as an uncountable mass noun: “They play tennis.” (Referring to the sport).
• Incidentally, “tennises” can be used as the plural noun meaning individual matches.
• As a verb, it is very rare in modern English and often considered archaic or dialectal.

Interesting Facts

• The word originates from the Old French imperative command “Tenez!” meaning “Hold!” or “Take it!”, shouted by the server before hitting the ball.
• Table tennis (also called ping pong) is a distinct indoor sport with different rules and equipment.
• Originally, tennis balls could be hit with the hand (“jeu de paume” or “game of the palm”) before rackets were used.

Learning Tips

• Focus on the double ‘n’ – remember “TEN-nis”, not “te-ness”. Picture two rackets making a “NN” shape.
• Practice the IPA /ˈtɛnɪs/: Start with the “pen” sound in “pen”, then quickly say “is”.
• Associate it strongly with the net and the racket.

Examples

Simple: “They like to play tennis on weekends.”

Medium: “After months of rigorous training, she qualified for the regional tennis championships.”

Complex: “While the invention of the asphalt tennis court revolutionized accessibility, traditional grass courts remain iconic in tournaments like Wimbledon.”

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms:

• lawn tennis (specifically on grass courts)

Common Combinations:

• play tennis
• tennis court
• tennis racket/ball
• professional tennis
• tennis match/game

Mini-Tasks

• Make a Sentence: Write a sentence using “tennis” to describe your weekend plans.
• Find a Synonym: What other term is frequently used for “tennis” on grass courts? (Hint: Starts with ‘l’).
• Pronunciation Check: Listen to the IPA /ˈtɛnɪs/ and say the word three times.
• Difference: Look up “table tennis” or “ping pong” online. How is it different from regular “tennis”?

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