Set of exercises in order to improve the students pronunciation in English (página 2)
(7) Write on a piece of paper the number of the
column in which are found the words someone else dictates to
you.
- Practice the following sentences. The underlined parts of
the words contain the sound /i/.
a) He"s reading.
b) The sheep are in the field.
c) She goes on a spree.
d) I feel sleepy.
e) They feel the heat.
f)
Eat the beans.
g) Do you agree to see these
people?
h) Keep your seats.
- Practice the following sentences. The underlined parts of
the words contain the sound /І/.
a) Sit still.
b) His sister is
ill.
c) The ships are
big.
d) He is still
sitting on his seat.
e) We have six
pictures.
f) Don"t hit the
children.
g) He killed the
pig.
h) Take your pills before
dinner.
- Practice the following sentences. The vowel sounds /i/ and
/І/ are both included in this sentences as shown.
a)
Sit on this
seat.
b) She"s still asleep.
c) These shoes don"t fit my
feet. d) It"s
easy to see the ships.
e) The sheep are in the
ship.
f) He"s feeling sick.
g) Keep
still.
h) They need English.
- Practice the following dialog and be sure that you make the
difference on pronouncing the words which have the sounds
studied above.
Bill: Is Tim in?
Lyn: Is he coming to the film?
Mrs. Smith: Tim isn"t feeling well.
Bill: Here he is. Hello, Tim.
Tim: Hello, Bill.
Lyn: Are you ill, Tim?
Tim: Is it an interesting film?
Lyn: It"s big Tim and the Indians.
Bill: And it begins in six minutes.
Mrs. Smith: If you"re ill, Tim…
Tim: Quick! Or we"ll miss the beginning of the film.
- Copy the following conversations and fill in the blanks
with the words given below:
A: _____ you learn _____ new today?
B: Yes, I _____. For _____, the first video _____
reminded me that I have to warn my grandson. _____ has to stop
_____ to loud _____.
A: Oh, yes. I have to advise my neighbour to watch _____
lesson. Don"t you _____?
B: _____! You should.
Words: did, anything, music, think, listening, clip,
example, this, he, certainly.
a) Practice the previous conversation
with your partner.
- Read as fast as possible the following tongue-twister:
Sit on your seat. Don"t sit on my seat.
Sit where you sat, not where you"re sitting.
Limericks: are short, five-line humorous poems,
with a strong rhythmic pattern.
Rapping: is a combination of words and
rhythm.
Exercise 2
/u/ and /υ/
- Listen while the teacher pronounces the following sentences
and select the correct one.
The man said, "Luke."
The man said, "look."
The sound /u/ is a high back vowel, that is, the back of the
tongue is high in the back of the mouth. The muscles of the
tongue and throat are tense. The lips are very rounded. It"s a
long vowel.
The sound /υ/ is also a high back vowel, but it is
pronounced with the tongue in a slightly lower position than for
/u/. The muscles of the tongue and throat are relaxed, and the
lips are less rounded than for /u/.
- Pronounce the words in the columns below. Use as many of
the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1, then,
all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/u/
/υ/
Luke
look
fool
full
suit
soot
pool
pull
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns, for example, Luke, look. Be sure that you
make a difference in the vowel sounds.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a word from
either column. Tell which column each word is from by giving the
number of the column or by holding up either one or two
fingers.
Pronounce the following words that contain the sound /u/:
moon
June
cool
school
spoon
food
Pronounce the following words that contain the sound
/υ/:
put
good
could
book
bull
wood
- Practice the following sentences. The underlined parts of
the words contain the sound /u/.
a) He wore a blue
suit.
b) This is a new spoon.
c) It"s cool in the
pool.
d) The food is cool.
e) There"s no room in the
school.
f) The moon isn"t
blue.
g) The school has a pool.
h) Luke is a fool.
- Practice the following sentences. The underlined parts of
the words contain the sound /υ/.
a) Look at his foot.
b) This is a good book.
c) I took a good
look.
d) Put the sugar here.
e) He was pulling the
bull.
f) They stood and
looked.
g) Look at this book.
h) Where did you put the
book?
- Practice the following sentences. The vowel sound /u/ and
/υ/ are both included in these sentences as shown.
a) Look at the good
food.
b) The suit was full of
soot.
c) She took the
spoons.
d) We pulled him out of the
pool.
e) School is good for
you.
Exercise 3
/L/
and /υ/
- Listen while the teacher pronounces the following sentences
and select the correct one.
I said, "Good look".
I said, "Good luck".
The sound /L/ is a central vowel with mid position where our
lips are unrounded and muscles are relaxed.
The sound /υ/ is a lax vowel with high position where
our lips are rounded and protruded.
- Practice pronouncing the words in the columns below. Use as
many of the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1, then,
all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/L/
/υ/
cud
could
huff
hoof
buck
book
rough
roof
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns, for example, look, luck. Be sure that you
make a difference in the vowel sounds.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a word
from either column. Tell which column each word is from by giving
the number of the column or by holding up either one or two
fingers.
- Practice the following sentences. The underlined parts of
the words contain the sound /L/.
a) He"s going to rough it.
b) It was a buck.
c) His luck is good.
d) They tuck it.
- Practice the following sentences. The underlined parts of
the words contain the sound /υ/.
a) He"s going to roof it.
b) It was a book.
c) His look was
good.
d) They took it.
- Practice the following dialog in which the sound /L/ and
/υ/ are both included.
A: She took a tuck in her dress.
B: How come!
A: He put the ball in with a putt.
B: Don"t tell me!
A: The cow could chew its cud.
B: I shouldn"t wonder!
A: It looks like good luck.
B: That"s it!
A: He"ll plant the root in the rut.
B: I hope so.
Exercise 4
/ε/ and /æ/
1. Listen while the teacher pronounces
the following sentences and select the correct one.
The man bought a house.
The men bought a house.
The sound /ε/ is a mid front vowel, that is, the front
of the tongue is not high nor low in the front of the mouth. The
muscles of the throat and tongue are relaxed.
The sound /æ/ is a low front vowel, that is, the front
of the tongue is low in the front of the mouth and touches the
back of the lower teeth. The lips are spread (as if in a smile),
and the muscles of the tongue and throat are tense. The jaw is
thrust forward slightly.
2. Pronounce the words in the columns
below. Use as many of the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1, then,
all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/ε/
/æ/
men
man
bet
bat
set
sat
ten
tan
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns, for example, men, man. Be sure that you
make a difference in the vowel sounds.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a word
from either column. Tell which column each word is from by giving
the number of the column or by holding up one or two fingers.
3. Practice the following sentences.
The underlined parts of the words contain the sound
/ε/.
a) My friend bought a
pen.
b) There are ten pencils on
the desk.
c) The men are coming at
seven.
d) Where is the letter?
e) I left it on the
desk.
4. Practice the following sentences.
The underlined parts of the words contain the sound
/æ/.
a) The man sat down.
b) What do you have in your
hand?
c) It"s a black hat.
d) His hand was badly cut.
e) I"m going to the bank this
afternoon.
f) The blackboard is in front
of the class.
g) The cat ate a rat
h) The man owns some
land.
5. Practice the following sentences.
The vowel sounds /ε/ and /æ/ are both included in
these sentences as shown.
a) The hat is on the
desk.
b) There were ten men in the
bank.
c) The men kept their
hats on.
d) My glasses are on the
desk.
e) My friend is coming this
afternoon.
f) The class is from
eleven to twelve.
g) May I ask you to write a
letter?
h) I"ll be glad to do it.
Exercise 5
/ε/ and /ə/
1. Listen while the teacher pronounces
the following sentences.
She told me, "Frenchman".
She told me, "Frenchman".
The sound /ε/ is a
short vowel. Lips are unrounded and muscles are
relaxed.
The sound /ə/ is a short
vowel. Lips are slightly parted over almost their
entire length. Muscles are
relaxed.
2. Pronounce the words in the columns
below. Use as many of the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1,
then, all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/ε/
/ə/
again
again
benefit
benefit
breakfast
breakfast
Frenchman
Frenchman
inevitable
inevitable
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns, for example, again. Be sure that you make a
difference in the vowel sounds.
3. Write these words under the right
column for the vowel sound. Say each word out loud.
List: cup, get, about, net, nut, rubber, red, a, again.
/ə/
/ε/
/L/
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
4. Practice the following dialog in
which the sound /ε/ and /ə/ are both included.
A: There"s a bug on the
desk.
B: My goodness!
A: I eat many
nuts.
B: Don"t tell me!
A: Many people like
money.
B: That"s true.
A: The pup is full of
pep.
B: Is
it?
Exercise 6
/æ/
and /a/
1. Listen while the teacher pronounces
the following sentences and select the correct one.
There"s a cat in the corner.
There"s a cot in the corner.
The sound /æ/ is a low
front vowel, that is, the front of the tongue is low in front of
the mouth and touches the back of the lower teeth. The lips are
spread and the muscles of the tongue and thoat are tense. The jaw
is thrust forward slightly.
The sound /a/ is a low central
vowel, that is, the middle of the tongue is low in the center of
the mouth. The jaw is open rather wide, and the muscles of the
tongue and throat are relaxed.
2. Pronounce the words in the columns
below. Use as many of the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1,
then, all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/æ/
/a/
cat
cot
hat
hot
black
block
band
bond
sack
sock
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns, for example, cat, cot. Be sure that you
make a difference in the vowel sounds.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a
word from either column. Tell which column each word is from by
giving the number of the column or by holding up either one or
two fingers.
Pronounce the following words that contain the sound
/æ/:
blackboard
sad
afternoon
bad
hat
glad
Pronounce the following words that contain the sound /a/:
hot
dollar
not
got
lot
stop
3. Practice the sentences in exercise
4. All these sentences contain the sound /æ/.
4. Practice the following sentences.
The underlined parts of the words contain the sound /a/.
a) I walked three blocks.
b) He"s not going to the
party.
c) I want a bottle of
milk.
d) He has a lot of bonds.
e) The car is in the next
block.
f) The socks are on the
cot.
g) He stopped the car.
h) Father was very
calm.
5. Practice the following sentences.
The vowel sound /æ/ and /a/ are both included in these
sentences as shown.
a) Don"t wear a hat when it"s
hot.
b) I got ten dollars at
the bank.
c) Stop laughing.
d) She sat on the cot.
e) There are lots of
banks in the city.
f) The pan is hot.
g) He"s not very happy
today.
h) They want to go this
afternoon.
i) This task is
harder.
Exercise 7
/L/ and /a/
1. Listen while the teacher pronounces
the following sentences and select the correct one.
The word is "cut".
The word is "cot".
The sound /L/ is a mid central
vowel, that is, the middle of the tongue is in the center of the
mouth. The jaw is not open very wide and the muscles of the
tongue and throat are relaxed. The lips are not rounded.
The sound /a/ is pronounced
with the jaw open rather wide and the middle of the tongue is low
in the mouth.
2. Pronounce the words in the columns
below. Use as many of the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1,
then, all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/L/
/a/
cut
cot
luck
lock
come
calm
nut
not
hut
hot
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns, for example, cut, cot. Be sure that you
make a difference in the vowel sounds.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a
word from either column. Tell which column each word is from by
giving the number of the column or by holding up either one or
two fingers.
Pronounce the following words that contain the sound /L/:
come
jump
Sunday
some
much
Monday
young
run
mother
lunch
blood
sun
3. Practice the sentences in exercise
3. All these sentences contain the sound /L/.
4. Practice the sentences in exercise
6. All these sentences contain the sound /a/.
5. Practice the following sentences.
The vowel sounds /L/ and /a/ are both included in this sentences
as shown.
a) The clock is not
running.
b) My brother is a doctor.
c) The lunch was a
dollar.
d) The doctor was at the
hospital.
e) Some like it hot.
f) He cut his finger on the
cot.
g) The little hut was hot.
h) It was very hot on
Sunday.
i) I want to go to the
country.
6. Notice the difference in the
pronunciation of the following words:
1
2
3
/L/
/a/
/æ/
cut
cot
cat
hut
hot
hat
Practice pronouncing these words in
groups. Be sure to make the difference in vowel sounds very
clear, for example, cut, cot, cat.
Listen while the teacher pronounces a
word from each of these columns and tell which column it is
from.
Exercise 8
/o/ and /ɔ/
1. Listen while the teacher pronounces
the following sentences and select the correct one.
They are sewing.
They are sawing.
The sound /o/ is a mid back
vowel, that is, the back of the tongue is midway between high and
low position in the back of the mouth. The muscles of the tongue
and throat are tense and the lips are strongly rounded. During
the pronunciation of /o/ the tongue moves upward to a high back
position. For this reason the vowel sound has the quality of a
diphthong: /oυ/.
The sound /ɔ/ is a low
back vowel, that is, the back of the tongue is low in the back of
the mouth. The jaw is open and the lips are rounded.
2. Pronounce the words in the columns
below. Use as many of the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1,
then, all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/o/
/ɔ/
sewing
sawing
low
law
boat
bought
sew
saw
coat
call
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns, for example, sewing, sawing. Be sure that
you make a difference in the vowel sounds.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a
word from either column. Tell which column each word is from by
giving the number of the column or by holding up either one or
two fingers.
3. Practice the following sentences.
The underlined parts of the words contain the sound /o/.
a) It"s an overcoat.
b) This is a rowboat.
c) We have no coal.
d) I wrote home in
October.
e) There"s no hope.
f) There are roses in the
bowl.
g) Please sew a button on my
coat.
h) We don"t have a
boat.
4. Practice the following sentences.
The underlined parts of the words contain the sound /ɔ/.
a) We saw the dogs.
b) He caught the ball.
c) They were walking and
talking.
d) I saw the ball on the
lawn.
e) The dog is playing with the
ball.
f) Please call my
lawyer.
g) He taught in the law
school.
h) She bought some
coffee.
5. Practice the following sentences.
The vowel sounds /o/ and /ɔ/ are both included in these
sentences as shown.
a) The dog is cold.
b) I lost my comb.
c) Let"s call for more
coal.
d) He"s drawing a picture of a
boat.
e) There"s a law against flying
too low.
f) Is it a ball or a
bowl?
g) This watch is old.
h) He"s walking
home.
Exercise 9
/a/ and /ɔ/
1. Listen while the teacher pronounces
the following sentences and select the correct one.
Don was coming.
Dawn was coming.
The sound /a/ is a lax, long vowel. Low position. Lips
unrounded.
The sound /ɔ/ is a long, tense vowel. Low position. Lips in
oval position.
2. Pronounce the words in the columns
below. Use as many of the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1, then,
all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/a/
/ɔ/
odd
awed
tock
talk
Don
dawn
cot
caught
tot
taught
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns, for example, Don, dawn. Be sure that you
make a difference in the vowel sounds.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a word
from either column. Tell which column each word is from by giving
the number of the column or by holding up either one or two
fingers.
3. Practice the sentences in exercise
8. All these sentences contain the sound /ɔ/.
4. Practice the sentences in exercise
3. All these sentences contain the sound /a/.
5. Practice the following sentences.
The vowel sounds /ɔ/ and /a/ are both included in these
sentences as shown.
a) He was odd.
b) He was awed.
c) Don was getting.
d) Dawn was getting.
e) "Tot" is what I said.
f) "Tought" is what I said.
6. In each of the following sentences
a word that rhymes with another word in the sentence is
missing.
Choose a word from the list to complete the sentence.
List: fought, dawn, talk, door, wall, hall.
a) Let"s walk and _____.
b) It"s on the floor near the _____.
c) It"s all on the _____.
d) His ball is on the _____.
7. Practice contrasting sounds in
pairs. Listen and repeat.
a) I see his paw.
b) I see his pa.
c) That"s the store.
d) That"s the star.
e) That port is big.
f) That part is big.
g) It"s in the court.
h) It"s in the cart.
i) He has a cord.
j) He has a card.
k) The former is from
Texas.
l) The farmer is from
Texas.
Exercise 10
/e/
and /o/
1. Listen while the teacher pronounces
the following sentences and select the correct one.
She"s going to say something.
She"s going to sew something.
The sound /eІ/ is a diphthong. It begins as in
/e/ and ends as in /І/. Lips are unrounded and
muscles tense.
The sound /oυ/ is a diphthong. Lips
are rounded and muscles tense.
2. Pronounce the following words
containing the sound /e/. Notice the upward movement of the
tongue during the pronunciation of this sound.
late
make
take
sugar cane
play
made
main
airplane
lay
say
came
bookcase
Pronounce the following words containing the sound /o/. Notice
the upward movement of the tongue during the pronunciation of
this sound.
boat
bowl
no
won"t
coat
home
know
comb
cold
sew
don"t
sold
3. Practice the following sentences.
The vowel sounds /e/ and /o/ are both included in these
sentences.
a) I want to go
home.
b) The bookcase is gray.
c) Let"s play a
game.
d) I don"t like to sew.
e) They came
late.
f) I don"t know the
answer.
g) They sold the
airplane.
h) Please take my
coat.
Exercise 11
/aІ/ and / ɔІ /
1. Listen while the teacher pronounces
the following sentences and select the correct one.
That"s a good "buy"
That"s
a good "boy"
The sound /aІ/ is a diphthong. It starts in a low central
position and moves to high front. Lips are unrounded.
The sound /ɔІ/ is a diphthong. It starts in a low back
position and moves to high front. Lips start rounded and become
unrounded.
2. Pronounce the words in the columns
below. Use as many of the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1, then,
all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/aІ/
/ɔІ/
buy
boy
tie
toy
pint
point
vice
voice
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns, for example, buy, boy. Be sure that you
make a difference in the vowel sounds.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a word
from either column. Tell which column each word is from by giving
the number of the column or by holding up either one or two
fingers.
3. Practice the following sentences.
The underlined parts of the words contain the sound
/aІ/.
a) That tie is old.
b) He"s a liar.
c) It"s a lot of tile.
4. Practice the following sentences.
The underlined parts of the words contain the sound
/ɔІ/.
a) That toy is old.
b) That"s a good boy.
c) It"s a lot of toil.
5. Practice the following dialog. The
vowel sounds /aІ/ and /ɔІ/are both included in
these sentences as shown.
A: Tie it on the
toy.
B: Yes, it looks
nice.
A: The boy made a
good buy.
B: I"m glad.
A: Tell the lawyer about
the liar.
B: Sure.
A: Vice is not
good in your voice.
B: Sorry, I didn"t mean
it.
6. Read the following conversation and
practice it with a partner if it is possible.
Beth: What are you
going to buy, Roy?
Roy: Two ties and
some toys.
Beth: For your
boys?
Roy: Not
exactly.
Exercise 12
/a/ and /aυ/
1. Listen while the teacher pronounces
the following sentences and select the correct one.
I heard the shot.
I heard the shout.
The sound /a/ is a lax, long
vowel. Low position. Lips unrounded.
The sound /aυ/ is a
diphthong. It begins as in /a/ and ends as in /υ/. Lips
rounded.
2. Pronounce the words in the columns below. Use as many
of the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1, then,
all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/a/
/aυ/
pond
pound
Don
down
Scott
scout
pot
pout
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns, for example, pond, pound.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a word
from either column. Tell which column each word is from by giving
the number of the column or by holding up either one or two
fingers.
3. Practice the sentences in
exercise 9. All these sentences contain
the
sound
/a/.
4. Practice the following sentences.
The underlined parts contain the sound /aυ/.
a) That spout is dirty.
b) I like the Browns.
c) It"s a pound.
d) He"s a scowler.
e) There"s no doubt.
5. Practice the following dialog with
your partner. Pay attention to the pronunciation of the words
which contain the sounds studied above.
Bob: Is Scott a
good scout?
Don: Yes, he
is.
Bob: I heard a shot
and a shout.
Don: You"re
joking!
Bob: Willie fell
down.
Don: Oh, what a
pity!
Bob: There"s a spot
in the spout.
Don: Don"t
worry.
Bob: The dot made
me doubt it.
Don: That"s
curious.
6. Practice the following dialog. Be
sure to pronounce each word carefully.
A: That"s a nice
trout, Don.
B: Thank you, Bob.
It weighs two pounds.
A: Is it bronze?
How did you get it?
B: The Browns gave
it to me.
Exercise
13
/r/
1. The American English /r/ sound is
pronounced like a vowel sound. The tip of the tongue is turned up
toward the tooth ridge, but it does not contact the top of the
mouth. The lips are slightly rounded.
To pronounce this sound easily use the following procedure.
Pronounce /a/. Curl the tip of the tongue up toward the tooth
ridge but do not touch the top of the mouth. You"re pronouncing
the English word are /ar/.
2. Practice the following words. For
the /r/ sound curl the tip of the tongue up toward but not
touching the tooth ridge.
car
airplane
sister
horse
chair
morning
water
church
farm
star
father
girl
barn
party
mother
yard
door
work
paper
birthday
3. Pronounce the phrase a
room. Keep the tip of the tongue curled up and
round the lips during the /r/ sound.
Practice the following words:
ruler
red
radio
raining
room
ring
rice
rabbit
wrote
write
rug
running
rock
read
run
writing
4. Pronounce fruit. Be sure
that you do not touch the roof of the mouth when you"re
pronouncing the /r/ sound. Curl the tongue up before you
pronounce the /f/ sound and round the lips slightly when
pronouncing the /r/. Practice the following words:
fruit
ice
cream
brown
dress
friend
Christmas
pretty
drink
French
green
bread
draw
Friday
grade
April
tree
frequently
grass
present
train
5. Practice the following sentences.
Pay particular attention to the words which contain the sound
/r/.
a) The boy is drawing a picture.
b) It"s a picture of a farm.
c) The barn is red.
d) The trees and grass are green.
e) There is a horse and a rabbit in
the yard.
f) The farmer is working near the
barn.
g) The house is brown.
h) There is a girl standing near the
door.
6. Read the
following paragraph. Pay particular attention to the words which
contain the sound /r/.
Robert went to school early in the morning. He walked up the
street and stopped at the drug store. He ate some ice cream and
some fruit. There were many cars in the street. The traffic was
very heavy. Some boys were selling newspapers. He heard a radio
in one of the stores. Suddenly it started to rain. Robert began
to run. He went straight to school and sat down in his chair. The
bell rang and the teacher entered the room. Robert was happy
because he was not late.
Repeat as much as you can of the preceding paragraph from
memory.
7. Practice the following
tongue-twisters.
a) The rat ran around the room.
b) Around the rugged rock the ragged
rascal ran.
Exercise 14
/L/ and /ər/
- Pronounce the word shut. The vowel sound in this
word is pronounced with the tongue in mid central position in
the mouth. The symbol for this sound is /L/.
Pronounce the word shirt. The vowel sound in this word
begins with the middle of the tongue in the position for the
sound /ə/, but the tip of the tongue is turned upward at the
same time to produce the /r/ sound. This combination sound is
symbolized by /ər/.
- Pronounce the words in the columns below. Use as many of
the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1, then,
all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/L/
/ər/
shut
shirt
bun
burn
ton
turn
fun
fern
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns, for example, shut, shirt. Be sure that you
make a difference in the vowel sounds.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a word
from either column. Tell which column each word is from by giving
the number of the column or by holding up one or two fingers.
- Practice the following words. The underlined parts of the
words contain the sound /ər/. Notice the various spellings
for this same sound.
nurse
girl
brother
her
shirt
mother
water
skirt
paper
work
third
learn
- Practice the following sentences. The underlined parts of
the words contain the sound /ər/.
a) The early bird gets
the worm.
b) The girl learned the new
words.
c) Turn left at the next
corner.
d) The world war forced many people
to work.
e) It"s never too late to
learn.
f) The girl wore a fur
coat.
g) Her sister is a
teacher.
h) She thought she heard a
bird.
Consonant
Contrasts
Exercise 15
/θ/ and /s/
1. Listen while the teacher pronounces
the following sentences and select the correct one.
The
dog seems to be thinking.
The dog seems to be sinking.
The sound /θ/ is a voiceless fricative produced by putting
the tongue between the teeth and letting the air pass over the
top of the tongue.
The sound /s/ is also a voiceless fricative, but it is pronounced
with the teeth placed together and the tongue pulled back behind
them. The air escapes through the teeth with a hissing sound.
2. Pronounce the words in the columns
below. Use as many of the exercises as you think you
need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1, then,
all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/θ/
/s/
think
sink
thank
sank
thought
sought
myth
miss
path
pass
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns. Be sure that you make a difference in the sounds.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a word
from either column. Tell which column it is from by giving the
number of the column or by holding up either one or two
fingers.
3. Practice the following sentences.
The underlined parts of the words contain the sound
/θ/.
a) Don"t throw the ball
through the window.
b) Thank you for the theater
ticket.
c) Thanksgiving Day is always
on Thursday.
d) I thought I heard
thunder.
e) His teeth are very
white.
f) She had a toothache
yesterday.
g) He needs some toothpaste and a
toothbrush.
h) The things in the package
are thick.
4. Practice the following sentences.
The underlined parts of the words contain the sound /s/.
a) Several of the
students are absent.
b) My sister is
sick.
c) Tennis is a fast
game.
d) They saw a lot of snow.
e) He likes to play
baseball.
f) The nurse works at
the hospital.
g) The submarine came to the
surface.
h) Don"t spoil the rice.
5. Practice the following sentences.
The sounds /θ/ and /s/ are both in included in these
sentences as shown.
a) She has some ink on her
thumb.
b) They think the boat is going to
sink.
c) They live in the
South.
d) Thank you for the
cigarettes.
e) The road runs north and
south.
f) They passed through
many cities.
g) There are many interesting
things in the city.
h) They thought the boat was
going to sink.
6. Practice the following
tongue-twister:
Tom Thumb thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of
his thumb.
Exercise
16
/ð/ and /d/
- Listen while the teacher pronounces the following sentences
and select the correct one.
He was happy when day came.
He was happy when they came.
The sound /ð/ is a voiced fricative produced by
putting the tongue between the teeth and letting the air pass
over the top of the tongue. The only difference between this
sound and the /θ/ sound is the addition of the vibration of
the vocal cords.
The sound /d/ is a voiced stop produced by putting the tongue
against the tooth ridge in order to completely shut off the
stream of air. Then the air is released with a slight
explosion.
- Pronounce the words in the columns below. Use as many of
the exercises as you think you need.
(1) Pronounce all of the words in column 1, then,
all of the words in column 2.
1
2
/ð/
/d/
they
day
then
den
there
dare
than
Dan
(2) Pronounce pairs of words from the above
columns. Be sure that you make a difference in the sounds.
(3) Listen while the teacher pronounces a word
from either column and tell which column each word is from by
giving the number of the column or by holding up either one or
two fingers.
- Practice the following sentences. The underlined parts of
the words contain the sound /ð/.
a) This is a picture of my
father and mother.
b) I want this book, not that
one.
c) This boy is taller
than that one.
d) Although it"s late, my
brother is coming.
e) I can either go by car or by
train.
f) The man on the corner
is a friend of mine.
g) I don"t know the other
man.
h) These bananas are good;
those are bad.
- Practice the following sentences. The underlined parts of
the words contain the sound /d/.
a) He"s going to Denver in
December.
b) It was a dark day.
c) The child was looking for a
dog.
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