Another important element in understanding how to pronounce English words correctly is to learn which letters in words are silent.
- The letter i in the word FRIEND is silent, so FRIEND is pronounced FREND.
Looking then at the way silent letters affect the way words are pronounced, one of the most important silent letters is the silent E at the end of a word.
Athough it is not heard, it controls how other letters sound.
The natural sound of A is A as in cAt, but A can also sound like its name A, as in fAce.
Without the silent E at the end of the word, the sound of the natural A is used.
- So, tAp sounds like CAT without the silent E, but tApE sounds like FACE with the silent E.
Looking at other examples using the silent E, and other silent letters.
(1)
Listen and Repeat Context sentence: ROPE can be useful on a boat.
(2)
Listen and Repeat Context sentence: You need a POT to cook.
(3)
Listen and Repeat Context sentence: You need wind to fly a KITE are used to cut paper.
(4)
Listen and Repeat Context sentence: You need a SHIP to go to sea.
(5)
Listen and Repeat Context sentence: A PEARL comes from an oyster.
(6)
Listen and Repeat Context sentence: I have cut my THUMB .
(7)
Listen and Repeat Context sentence: SCISSORS are used to cut paper.
(8)
Listen and Repeat Context sentence: I only have a SANDWICH for lunch./ 0034 616 39 58 80
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