What is grant? Pronunciation and usage in English

grant means . Learn how to pronounce and use grant through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of grant

grantverb/noun

/ɡrɑːnt/
Definition & pronunciation of grant

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "grant" in English. There are a couple of common pronunciations, and both are generally accepted. Here's a breakdown:

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • ɡrɑːnt (rhymes with "chant" or "plant")

    • ɡ: Like the "g" in "go."
    • rɑː: This is the tricky part! It's a diphthong - a combination of two vowel sounds. It sounds like "rah." The 'a' sound is a bit stretched out.
    • nt: Pronounced as you’d expect – like “nt” in “went.”

2. The British English Pronunciation:

  • ɡrɑːnt (very similar to the American pronunciation, but often with a slightly more clipped 'r')

    • It’s nearly identical to the American version. Sometimes it carries a stronger "ah" sound.

Key Tips to Help You:

  • Focus on the "rah" sound: Really try to stretch out that "a" sound a little.
  • Don't over-emphasize the 'r': British English often has a less pronounced "r" than American English. It's a very subtle 'r' sound.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

  • Google Translate: Type "grant" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/grant/ – This website offers pronunciations by native speakers from various regions.

To help me give you the most useful advice, could you tell me:

  • Which accent are you trying to learn (American, British, Australian, etc.)?

Usage and examples with the word grant in English

Let's break down how to use the word "grant" in English. It has several different meanings, so it's important to understand the context. Here's a categorized explanation:

1. As a Verb (To Give Permission or Authorization)

  • Meaning: To officially give someone permission to do something, often something formal or official.
  • Examples:
    • "The judge granted the defendant’s request for a new trial." (Permission to proceed with a different trial)
    • "The council granted planning permission for the new development." (Permission to build)
    • "I granted him access to my account." (Gave him permission to use it)
    • "She granted him an interview." (Allowed him to speak to her)

2. As a Noun (A Sum of Money or Resources)

  • a) Financial Grant: This is the most common meaning.
    • Meaning: A sum of money given by a government, foundation, or other organization to support a specific project, cause, or individual.
    • Examples:
      • "The university received a large grant for research."
      • "She applied for a grant to start her own business."
      • "This project is funded by a government grant."
      • "The foundation offered a grant for educational programs."
  • b) Grant (Letter/Document): The official document that outlines the terms of a grant – what the money is for, how it can be used, reporting requirements, etc.
    • Example: "She signed the grant agreement carefully, ensuring she understood all the conditions.”

3. As a Noun (A Pledge or Promise – Less Common)

  • Meaning: An agreement or promise, often a solemn one. This usage is less frequent today.
  • Examples:
    • "He gave a solemn grant to support her cause." (A firm pledge)
    • "The monarch made a grant to the church." (A donation, often symbolically significant)

4. Grant (in the context of a charitable organization)

  • Meaning: A charitable organization that manages grants.
  • Example: "She volunteered with Grant Associates, helping to distribute funding to local charities.”

Key Phrases and Related Words:

  • Grant application: The document someone submits to request a grant.
  • Grant recipient: The person or organization that receives the grant.
  • Grant funding: The money provided through a grant.
  • Grant proposal: A detailed outline of a project and why it deserves funding - usually submitted with a grant application.
  • Match grant: A grant where the recipient is required to provide a matching amount of funding.

Here’s a table summarizing the main uses:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Verb To give permission/authorization "The school granted the students a day off."
Noun (Money) A sum of money given for a specific purpose "They received a grant for their project."
Noun (Document) The agreement outlining a grant "She signed the grant agreement."
Noun (Promise) A solemn pledge or promise “He gave a solemn grant to help the family.”

Resources for More Information:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking of using "grant" in? (e.g., writing a grant proposal, discussing a news article about funding, etc.)

Synonyms for the word grant

Idioms of the word grant

take somebody/something for granted
to be so used to somebody/something that you do not recognize their true value any more and do not show that you are grateful
  • Her husband was always there and she just took him for granted.
  • We take having an endless supply of clean water for granted.
take it for granted (that…)
to believe something is true without first making sure that it is
  • I just took it for granted that he'd always be around.
  • She seemed to take it for granted that I would go with her to New York.

Practice with vocabulary grant

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The university committee voted to _______ the research team additional funds for their groundbreaking project.
  2. Although he initially disagreed, the CEO had to _______ that the new marketing strategy was proving remarkably effective.
  3. The prestigious literary society will _______ its annual prize to the author of the best debut novel next month.
  4. Employees are not _______ to use personal mobile devices during client meetings, as per company policy.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which of the following words can replace the underlined word in the sentence: "The government decided to give the refugees asylum." a) allocate b) grant c) permit d) provide

  2. Which words describe the act of formally giving someone a right or privilege? a) authorize b) concede c) grant d) permit

  3. If you _______ someone a request, you agree to do what they asked. a) receive b) approve c) grant d) deny

  4. Which word best describes the action of distributing resources or funds among different departments? a) assign b) grant c) allocate d) concede

  5. After careful consideration, the committee decided to _______ the request for a two-week delay in the project submission. a) receive b) agree c) approve d) concede

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite the sentence to use a form of "grant": The management team eventually admitted that the previous projections were overly optimistic.

  2. Rewrite the sentence to use a form of "grant": The foundation provided financial support for several deserving students to pursue their higher education.

  3. Rewrite the sentence without using "grant" or its forms: The company will pay for all travel expenses for employees attending the international conference.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. grant
  2. grant
  3. award
  4. allowed

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) grant
  2. a) authorize, c) grant, d) permit
  3. c) grant
  4. c) allocate
  5. c) approve

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The management team eventually had to grant that the previous projections were overly optimistic.
  2. The foundation chose to grant scholarships to several deserving students for their higher education.
  3. The company will cover all travel expenses for employees attending the international conference.

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