Is it S or Z?
<div>Hi guys,</div><div><br></div><div>I know for sure that you can pronounce the word "close" differently.</div><div>close (verb) = z</div><div>closed (past tense) = z</div><div>closely (adverb) = s</div><div>closing (adj) = z</div><div><br></div><div>However, I'm not sure how to pronounce these forms.</div><div>Can you explain the logic?</div><div><br></div><ul><li>behind the <strong>closed</strong> door = ?</li><li>door <strong>closer</strong> = ?</li><li>The hotel is <strong>close</strong> to the sea. = ?</li><li>A is <strong>closer</strong> to B than C = ?</li><li>The afternoon drew to a <strong>close</strong>. = ?</li></ul><div><br></div><div>Thank you very much for your help.</div><div><br></div>

<ul><li>behind the <strong>closed</strong> door </li></ul><div>It's an adjective formed from past participle of the verb (meaning 'shut'), so it's a /z/.</div><div><br></div><ul><li>door <strong>closer</strong></li></ul><div>It depends what you mean:</div><div><br></div><div>1 - In a sentence such as "I'll use the door closer to the exit", it's an adjective meaning 'nearer', so it's an /s/</div><div><br></div><div>2 - If it's a compound noun ( meaning a gadget or a person that closes doors), it's a derivative of the verb, so it's a /z/.</div><div><br></div><ul><li>The hotel is <strong>close</strong> to the sea.</li></ul><div>As above. This is the adjective (meaning 'near'), so it's an /s/</div><div><br></div><ul><li>A is <strong>closer</strong> to B than C </li></ul><div>Comparative adjective meaning 'nearer', so it's an /s/.</div><div><br></div><ul><li>The afternoon drew to a <strong>close</strong>.</li></ul><div>This is a noun. It has a related meaning to the verb, so it's a /z/.</div><div><br></div><div>As you can see in the examples with 'closer', the addition of a suffix doesn't change the pronunciation of the letter 's'.</div><div><br></div><div>No surprises there, I hope.</div>

<div>Hi @Su.Ki</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks for your answer. Now I understand the pattern.</div><div><br></div><div>This is the special group of Z words, namely, Use, Close, Abuse, House, Diffuse, Excuse.</div><div>House is quite straight foward. So I focus on 2 commonly used - Use and Close.</div><div><br></div><div>If it's derived from the verb such as past tense, past participle (as adjective), gerund (as adjective), Noun</div><div>Close, Closed, Closed Door, Closing, Door Closer, a Close -&gt;Z</div><div><br></div><div>If it's derived from the adjective (close to or closer to)-&gt;S</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks again @Su.Ki for your help.</div>

<div>Please see the edits that I've made to my original answer.</div>

<div>@Su.Ki Thanks for a quick reply.</div><div><br></div><div>Sorry if I confuse you, I mean the "door closer" as below,</div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Door_closer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Door_closer</a></div><div><br></div><div>Will the pronunciation change?</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks.</div>

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