The spelling of "are read" may seem confusing, but it follows the rules of English pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, "are" is /ɑr/ and "read" is /rɛd/. The "a" in "are" is pronounced as the open back unrounded vowel, while "read" has a long "e" sound followed by a short "e" sound. Together, they form a homophone pair, meaning two words with different meanings but the same pronunciation. So, when encountering "are read," it is important to consider the context to understand which word is intended.
"Are read" is a verb phrase that consists of the auxiliary verb "are" and the past participle of the verb "read." It is used to indicate the action of interpreting or comprehending written or printed material, typically using one's eyes.
The phrase "are read" is employed when the subject, which is usually a plural noun or pronoun, performs the action of reading or when referring to multiple individuals or entities engaging in the act of reading. It represents the present tense and present perfect tense, indicating an ongoing or completed action respectively.
The verb "read" itself refers to the process of extracting meaning from written words, symbols, or characters. It requires the ability to decode and understand the information presented on a page or screen. Reading encompasses various activities such as perceiving and recognizing written symbols, processing and comprehending text, and interpreting its meaning.
When used in a sentence, "are read" can convey the notion of someone or something being engaged in the activity of reading written material. For example, "Books are read for pleasure and knowledge," highlights that books are being utilized for both entertainment and gaining knowledge. This phrase can also refer to the state of something having been read or being considered by someone, such as "All the reports are read and analyzed before making a decision," indicating that the reports were thoroughly examined for making informed judgments.
The phrase "are read" is not a standalone word but a combination of two words: "are" and "read". Each word has its own etymology.
1. Are: The word "are" is the present plural form of the verb "be". It comes from the Old English word "earun", which can be traced back to Proto-Germanic. In Old English, "earun" was the second person plural present indicative of the verb "beon". Over time, it transformed into "are" in Middle English.
2. Read: The word "read" is a verb that means to look at and understand written or printed information. It originates from the Old English word "rǣdan", which has its roots in the Proto-Germanic word "raedanan". This term means to advise, interpret, or explain.