Listen to the two sounds /f/ and /v/. Look at the mouth diagram to see how to make these consonant sounds. Notice that in the sound /f/ thereis no voice from the throat, and when you say this sound, you can feelthe air on your hand when you put it in front of your mouth. In /v/, there is voice from the throat.
The vowel is shorter before /f/ than /v/, for example in leaf and leave. If you have difficulty making the difference, exaggerate the length of the vowel in leave.
Complete this conversation using words from the box. Then listen and check.
fan van wife's wives
Sid: My wife's left me. Joe: Your _______wivesleft you? How many _______wives did you have, Sid? Sid: One wife. And now she has left me. Joe: Oh, I see, _______wife's with an F, not_______wives with a V! Sid: That's right! Yes, she took the _______van and drove off. Joe: What did she want the _______fan for? Sid: I said _______van, you know, a kind of vehicle. Joe: Oh, I see: _______van with a V, not _______fan with an F!
Follow up: Play the recording again, pausing after each of Sid's lines. You say Joe's lines before listening to him saying them.
Find 12 words beginning or ending with /f/ or /v/. The words are written horizontally or vertically. Note that the last letter is not always F or V. Use all the letters. Key
1 Thief's or thieves'? These are the thief's / thieves' fingerprints. 2 Few or view? She's painted a few / view. 3 Copy or coffee? Do you want a copy / coffee} 4 Boat or vote? What are you going to do with your boat / vote} 5 Worse or verse? I don't know which is worse / verse. 6 Free or three? We got free / three tickets!
Follow up: Recordyourself saying the sentences in 8.4, choosing one of the two words.Make a note of which words you say. Then listen to your recording inabout two weeks. Is it clear which words you said?