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Humanities LibreTexts

3.2: Pronunciation

  • Page ID
    179076

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    Focus I: Syllable Stress

     

     

    Note: This recording includes Focus I and Practice I.


    In English every word of more than one syllable has one syllable that is stressed the most. The vowel in the stressed syllable is clearer and longer.

    Directions:  Listen to the following word: Friday. Notice that the “i’ in the first syllable is longer and clearer.  This is the stressed syllable. Now listen and repeat. Notice the length of the stressed syllable.  

    Words:     Monday     Tuesday     Thursday     umbrella     computer     museum     understand     introduce     afternoon

    Practice I

    Directions:  Listen to the words below. Choose the stressed syllable in each word. Then write the words in the correct place.

    Words:     weekend     arrive     volunteer     retreat     afternoon     morning     evening     referee     recommend

    Syllable Stress

    First Syllable:  weekend ________________________________________________________________

    Second Syllable:  ______________________________________________________________________

    Third Syllable:  ________________________________________________________________________

    Focus II: Vowel Rules in Multi-Syllable Words 

     

     

    Note: This recording includes Focus II.


    When there are two vowel letters in the stressed syllable of a word, the first vowel is typically pronounced with its long vowel sound. The second vowel is silent.

    Example: season     remain     priceless   

    When there is one vowel in the stressed syllable of a word, it is typically pronounced with its short vowel sound.

    Example:  Saturday     example     predict

    Practice II

    Partner Activity 1

    Directions:  Work in pairs. Student A says and claps one word from the list of words. Student B says which syllable is stressed (first, second, or third). Then switch roles.

    Example: Student A: Computer     
                    Student B: Second syllable
                    Student A: “That’s correct. Good job!”  OR “Not quite. Try again.”

    1. walking
    2. driving
    3. guitar 
    4. badminton
    5. evening
    6. midnight
    7. understand
    8. vacation
    9. early
    10. Uber

    Partner Activity 2

    Directions:  Find a new partner. Write a list of ten new words you have learned so far.  Say and clap each word and decide which syllable is stressed.

    Example:  Sunday – first syllable    

    1. _______________________________________

    2. _______________________________________

    3. _______________________________________

    4. _______________________________________

    5. _______________________________________

    6. _______________________________________

    7. _______________________________________

    8. _______________________________________

    9. _______________________________________

    10. _______________________________________

     

     

    Note: This recording includes Focus III and Practice III.


    The letter S is added to the end of words for:

    1. Plural nouns: two girls, three pencils
    2. Possessives: my father’s car
    3. Present tense (third person singular): He plays guitar.
    4. Contractions of is or has:  Mark’s late.

    Directions:  Listen and repeat the following words.

    1. skirt           skirts
    2. dress         dresses
    3. watch        watches
    4. Anh           Anh’s
    5. walk          walks
    6. sleep         sleeps
    7. Monday     Mondays
    8. orange      oranges
    9. Jose         Jose’s
    10. drive        drives

    Practice III: Ending S Sound

    Directions:  Listen and choose the word you hear in the sentence.

    Example:  She walks to the store every day.  walk   walks

    Let's begin.

    1. drive                  drives
    2. Ahmed               Ahmed’s
    3. computer           computers
    4. cafe                   cafés
    5. love                   loves
    6. baby                  babies
    7. rose                   roses
    8. run                    runs
    9. wash                 washes
    10. Saturday            Saturdays