The pronunciation of -ate suffix changes depending on what word contains it.
- With verbs the pronunciation is /eɪt/
- With adjectives and nouns its pronunciation is /ət/ (UK) or /ɪt/ (US).
If a word can be both, an adjective / noun and a verb its pronunciation will be different depending on whether it is an adjective/noun or a verb.
These are some examples:
Adjectives
Adequate /ˈædɪkwət/ or /ˈædɪkwɪt/, private /ˈpraɪvət/ or /ˈpraɪvɪt/, subordinate /səˈbɔːrdɪnət/ or /səˈbɔrdənɪt/
Nouns
Chocolate /ˈtʃɒklət/ or ˈtʃɔkəlɪt/, template /ˈtɛmpleɪt/ or /ˈtɛmplɪt/,subordinate /səˈbɔːrdɪnət/ or /səˈbɔrdənɪt/
Verbs
Create /kriˈeɪt/, collaborate /kəˈlæbəreɪt/, elevate /ˈɛlɪveɪt/, contemplate /ˈkɒntəmpleɪt/
Adjective and Verb
Associate-> adjective: /əˈsəʊsiət/ verb: /əˈsəʊsieɪt/; moderate-> adjective: /ˈmɒdərət/ or /'mɑdərɪt/, verb: /ˈmɒdəreɪt/
More examples can be found at this link Word ending -ate. Correct pronunciation