Some one-syllable words are just a single vowel sound (V), for example ah and eye. If we add one or more consonant sounds (C) to the beginnings of these words, they are still only one syllable. Look at these examples.
if the first С is /s/, the second С can be any of these: /f/, /k/, /l/, /m/, /p/, /t/, /w/, /j/.
if the first С is any sound other than /s/, the second С can only be one of these: /l/, /r/, /w/, /j/.
When there are three Cs at the start of a syllable:
the first С is always /s/.
You may find some of these syllables with more than one С at the beginning difficult to say. Listen to these examples. /s/+ C: spell stairs sleep small snack swim С + /l/, /r/, /w/ or /j/: blue fly dress ground quick swim view tune /s/ + CC: spring strange square scream
1 The glass / gas is green. 2 I don't want to play / pay. 3 It was a terrible fight / fright! 4 The tooth / truth is out! 5 The dirt came off in the steam / stream. 6 She didn't want to stay / say. 7 The pain / plane went down. 8 I can't sell / smell anything.
1 that slow bus 2 an ice-cream 3 that spot 4 that street 5 She loves the States. 6 small stream 7 slow speech 8 straight street
That's a low bus. a nicer cream That's a pot. That's a treat. She loves the estates. a smaller stream a slower speech a straighter street
Follow up: Record yourself saying the phrasesand sentences in 4, choosing A or В each time. Make a note of whichsentence or phrase you say. Then listen to your recording in about twoweeks. Is it clear which you said?