The /ʌ/ vowel is spelled with <u>, and <o> in love and come. The /eɪ/ vowel is spelled <aCe>, <ay>, <ai>, or <ê> in the loan word crêche, and is found in the letter name A. Notice how this difference signals the tense change come/came and its derivatives.
This is a contrast between a short vowel and a diphthong with widely separated tongue positions. It is not a problem for any learners.
Taboo word pairs include the set fuck/fake.
Interesting pairs include:
bustle basal
lubber labour
nuzzle nasal
The density figure is 3.36%. The set makes 112 semantic contrasts giving a loading of 47.9%.
abut abate abuts abates abutted abated abutting abating abutment abatement become became blood blade bloods blades bubble babel bubbles babels buck bake bucked baked bucking baking bucks bakes bud bayed bun bane bus base bused based buses basses busing basing bust baste busted basted busting basting busts bastes bustle basal but bait butted baited butting baiting butts baits buzz beys come came crush cr�che crushes cr�ches crux crakes cull kail cunning caning cup cape cups capes cuppa caper cuppas capers cuss case cusses cases cut Kate cutter cater cutters caters does days done Dane done deign dove Dave dull dale dulls dales dumb dame dun Dane duns Danes dun deign dunned deigned dunning deigning duns deigns Dyfed David flood flayed flux flakes fuck fake fucked faked fucking faking fucks fakes fun fain fund feigned fuss face fussed faced fusses faces fussing facing fuzz phase gull Gael gulls Gaels gull gale gulls gales gully gaily gum game gummed gamed gumming gaming gums games gummy gamy gummier gamier gummiest gamiest gun gain gunned gained gunning gaining guns gains gusher geisha gushers geishas gut gait guts gaits gutted gated gutting gating gutter gaiter gutters gaiters hull hail hulled hailed hulling Hayling hulls hails hustings Hastings hut hate hutted hated huts hates love lave loved laved loves laves loving laving lubber labour lubbers labours luck lake lust laced luxe lakes muck make mucking making mucks makes mud made mud maid muds maids mull mail mulled mailed mulling mailing mulls mails mull male mulls males mum maim mums maims mummy Mamie muss mace musses maces mutt mate null nail numb name numbed named numbing naming numbs names numbly namely nuzzle nasal nuzzles nasals one wain ones wains one Wayne overcome overcame phut fate plug plague plugged plagued plugging plaguing plugs plagues plus place pluses places pun pain punned pained punning paining puns pains punt paint punted painted punting painting punts paints punter painter punters painters pus pace putt pate putts pates ruck rake rucked raked rucking raking rucks rakes rudder raider rudders raiders run rain running raining runs rains runny rainy runnier rainier runniest rainiest run reign running reigning runs reigns rut rate ruts rates rutted rated rutting rating scull scale sculled scaled sculling scaling sculls scales scut skate scuts skates shove shave shoved shaved shoves shaves shoving shaving shuck shake shucking shaking shucks shakes slut slate sluts slates son sane sough safe soughs safes spud spade spuds spades spun Spain strut straight struts straights stubble stable stuck stake stud staid Studley staidly stun stain stunned stained stunning staining stuns stains suffer safer sun sane Sutton Satan truss trace trussed traced trusses traces trussing tracing tuck take tucking taking tucks takes tucker taker tuckers takers tup tape tups tapes up ape upped aped upping aping ups apes uppish apish us A's won wain