SOUNDS
Consonant + Vowel + Consonant
In words where there is a vowel between two consonants, the vowel sound is short.
Rat /ɹæt/
Cut /kʌt/
Bed /bed/.
Pet /pet/.
Sit /sɪt/.
Not /nɒt/.
SOUNDS
Consonant + Vowel + Consonant + Silent "E"
In those words where the final letter is an "e", that "e" is silent, that means that you do not pronounce it.
So, in words where there is a vowel between two consonants and the final letter is a "silent e", the vowel sound is long or a diphthong.
Here /hɪə(ɹ)/
Note /nəʊt/
Cute /kjuː t/.
Rate /ɹeɪt/.
Site /saɪt/.
SOUNDS
Consonant + Vowel
In monosyllabic words ending with a vowel, the final sound is generally a diphthong, except those ending with "e".
When the final spelling of a word is "ee", the sound is /iː/.
Bee /biː/
No /nəʊ/
Go /ɡəʊ/.
So /səʊ/.
Me /mɪ/.
After a long sound, the /ɹ/ is almost inaudible (except in American English).
Peer /pɪə(ɹ)/
Car /kɑː(ɹ)/
Over /əʊvə(ɹ)/.
More /mɔː(ɹ)/.
Were /wə(ɹ)/.
It is the most common sound of the English language.The Schwa can substitute any vowel and only appears in syllables which are not stressed.
Pencil /pensəl/
Ago /əɡəʊ/
Cancel /kænsəl/.
Submit /səbmɪt/.
The Schwa can occur more than once in the same word, like in "another" /ənʌðə(ɹ)/. It also can be placed in the first syllable of a word, in the middle or the last one.
In words ending with "-er", the final sound is the "Schwa -ə" (except in American English).
Teacher /tiː tʃə(ɹ)/
Mother /mʌðə(ɹ)/
Father /fɑː ðə(ɹ)/.
Brother /brʌðə(ɹ)/.
In words ending with "a", the final sound is also "Schwa -ə".
Pizza /piː tsə/
Zebra /zebrə/
Media /miː diə/
These two consonants make different sounds depending on the letter that follows them in a word.
SOFT "C"
In words where there is a "c" followed by "e - i or y", the "c" sound is soft and its Phoneme is /s/.
Cycle /saɪkl/
Recite /rɪsaɪt/
Cellphone /selfəʊn/.
City /sɪtɪ/.
Police /pəliː s/.
HARD "C"
In words where there is a "c" followed by the vowels "a - o - u", the "c" sound is hard and its phoneme is /k/.
Candy /kændɪ/
Cake /keɪk/
Colour /kʌlə(ɹ)/.
Occur /əkɜː(ɹ)/.
Current /kʌrənt/.
SOFT "G"
In words where there is a "g" followed by "e - i or y", the "g" is soft and it represents the sound that belongs to the letter "j". Its phoneme is /dʒ/.
Ginger /dʒɪndʒə(ɹ)
Page /peɪdʒ/
Gentle /dʒentl/.
Origin /ɒrɪdʒɪn/.
Gypsy /dʒɪpsɪ/.
Be careful! There are exceptions to this rule (Give, Get, Girl, Gill, Geyser)
HARD "G"
In words where there is a "g" followed by the vowels "a - o - u", the "g" sound is hard and its phoneme is /g/.
Kangaroo /kæŋɡəɹuː /
Good /ɡʊd/
Guy /ɡaɪ/.
Gas /ɡæs/.
Pig /pɪɡ/.
There are some interesting words that include both hard and soft "c – g" sounds.
Gigantic /dʒaɪɡæntɪk/
Bicycle /baɪsɪkl/
Garage /ɡærɑː ʒ/.
Vacancy /veɪkənsɪ/.
Success /səkses/.
1 One syllable words usually have short vowels.
2 What does "Silent e" mean?
3 In words ending with "-er", the final sound is…
4 Which phoneme represents the sound of the "Hard G"?
5 Which of the following words include both "Soft" and "Hard G" sounds?
6 The schwa is not a common sound in English.
7 Which phoneme represents the sound of the "Soft G?"
8 When "C" is followed by "Y", the "C" sound is...
9 Which of the following words includes both "Soft" and "Hard C" sounds?
10 When the final spelling of a word is "ee", the sound is…
11 When "G" is followed by "A", the "G" sound is...
12 If there is a vowel between two consonants, the vowel sound...
13 The schwa is the most common sound in English.
14 /k/ represents the sound of the Hard "C".
15 Some consonants can represent different consonant sounds.
