In many accents in England, the letter R is not pronounced after a vowel. In other places, the R is pronounced, for example in most parts of North America. But in both cases, the letter R makes the vowel before it sound different. If the vowel is A, we usually get the vowel sounds in car/a:/ or care/e∂/. Listen to the sound /a:/. Look at the mouth diagram to see how to make this long vowel sound.
Listen to the target sound /a:/ in the words below and compare it with the words on each side.
target /a:/ fur far four bore bar bear hurt heart hate much march match
Then listen and repeat the examples of the target sound. Examples:
calm card cart star starve start harm halve half
"It's hard to park a car in a dark car park."
Note: Sometimes we get the sound /a:/ before L too.
Important for listening!
Listen to the sound with R pronounced, as in North America:
far bar heart march card star start charm chart
In South East England, the letter A followed by S, F, TH, N is often pronounced /a:/ ask fast after path bath dance aunt
North America, the single letter O is pronounced /a:/: God, strong, lock, top. (See Unit 16.)
Listen to the sound /e∂/. Look at the mouth diagram to see how to make this sound.
Listen to the target sound /e∂/ in the words below and compare it with the words on each side.
target /e∂/ bar bear beer shy share sure dead dared died stars stairs stays
Then listen and repeat the examples of the target sound. square squares where where's fair fairly
"Sarah and Mary share their pears fairly"
Important for listening! Different accents: Listen to the sound with the R pronounced, as in North America: bear share dared stairs square where cared fairly
Complete this conversation using the words in the box. Then listen and check.
cars cares stars stairs
Sid: This is a great life, with no worries or cares ! Joe: It would be nice if we had _______carsthough, Sid. Sid: I didn't say _______cars, I said _______cares! Joe: Oh, I see. Not _______cars, as intraffic, but _______careswith an ES at the end! Sid: That's right. I've always loved sleeping under the _______stars. Joe: But why? There's hardly any space under the _______stairs! Sid: No, not _______stairs,_______stars! You know, little lightsin the sky. Joe: Oh,_______stars! I thought you said_______stairs, that people walk up!
Follow up: Playthe recording again, pausing the recording after each of Sid's lines.You say Joe's lines before listening to him saying them.
Listen to these sentences. Is the accent from North America (they pronounce the R after the vowel) or South East England? Write Am. or Enq.Key.1.am. 2.eng. 3.am. 4.am. 5.am. 6.eng. 7.eng. Example: He asked her to dance Eng. 1 We started in March. 2 It's a fast car. 3 My heart's strong. 4 Where's the bar? 5 It stops and starts. 6 A glass of beer. 7 Was his hair dark or fair?
1 Heart or hat? She put her hand on her heart / hat. 2 Nowhere or no way? There's nowhere / no way to go. 3 Fair or far? Ir isn't fair / far. 4 Part or port? This is the main part / port of Athens. 5 Bear or beer? That's a strong bear / beer. 6 Come or calm? She told roe to come / calm down.