3.2: Pronunciation
- Page ID
- 179076
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)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.”
- walking
- driving
- guitar
- badminton
- evening
- midnight
- understand
- vacation
- early
- 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
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Focus III: Ending S Sound
Note: This recording includes Focus III and Practice III.
The letter S is added to the end of words for:
- Plural nouns: two girls, three pencils
- Possessives: my father’s car
- Present tense (third person singular): He plays guitar.
- Contractions of is or has: Mark’s late.
Directions: Listen and repeat the following words.
- skirt skirts
- dress dresses
- watch watches
- Anh Anh’s
- walk walks
- sleep sleeps
- Monday Mondays
- orange oranges
- Jose Jose’s
- 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.
- drive drives
- Ahmed Ahmed’s
- computer computers
- cafe cafés
- love loves
- baby babies
- rose roses
- run runs
- wash washes
- Saturday Saturdays

