LISTEN
/ɑɪ/.../ɑɪ/.../ɑɪ/.../ɑɪ/...

light...pie...sign...mi​le

WHAT IS IT?
​Pronunciation:
The sound /ɑɪ/ is a diphthong. This means your mouth should move from one position to another.
  • Lower your jaw and tongue and make your lips very open and wide (as for /ɑ/). Your tongue should be low, tight, and pulled backwards.
  • Breathe out and let your vocal cords vibrate.
  • As you breathe out, quickly raise your tongue and spread your lips widely (as for /ɪ/).
​
stressed_-ai-.mp3
File Size: 100 kb
File Type: mp3
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This vowel is usually stressed, as in these words.
lightly, highway, decide
unstressed_-ai-.mp3
File Size: 92 kb
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However, /ɑɪ/ can also be unstressed, as in these words:
flashlight, satisfy, idea
​
Spelling:
  • "i"(e) - line, mile
  • "igh" - light, high
  • "ie" - pie, died
  • "y" - my, type
  • "uy" (not common) - guy, buy
  • "ei" (not common) - feisty, heist
  • "eigh" (not common) - height
grammar_-ai-.mp3
File Size: 289 kb
File Type: mp3
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Grammar Tip:
The sound /ɑɪ/ is part of the common suffixes “-ify/-efy,” and "-ize", which are used to form some verbs. These suffixes are usually unstressed.
  • qualify, satisfy, liquefy
  • realize, criticize, magnetize

COMPARE
Compare /ɑɪ/ with /ɑ/:
compare_ai-a_1.mp3
File Size: 136 kb
File Type: mp3
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/ɑɪ/.../ɑ/.../ɑɪ/.../ɑ/.../ɑɪ/.../ɑ/...

The sound /ɑ/ is a low, central vowel. The sound /ɑɪ/ starts as /ɑ/, but it moves quickly into a high, front vowel.

​Listen to words with /ɑɪ/ and /ɑ/, and identify which word you hear. Choose A or B. You will hear the word twice, followed by the answer.
compare_ai-a_2.mp3
File Size: 674 kb
File Type: mp3
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1. A. light, B. lot​
2. A. ride, B. rod
3. A. like, B. lock
4. A. fire, B. far
​5. A. bind, B. bond

​Now, compare /ɑɪ/ and /iy/:
compare_ai-iy_1.mp3
File Size: 157 kb
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/ɑɪ/.../iy/.../ɑɪ/.../iy/.../ɑɪ/.../iy/...

The sound /ɪ/ is a high, front, tense vowel. The sound /ɑɪ/ starts as a low, central, tense vowel, but it moves quickly to a high, front, lax vowel.

​Listen to words with /ɑɪ/ and /iy/, and identify which word you hear. Choose A or B. You will hear the word twice, followed by the answer.
compare_ai-iy_2.mp3
File Size: 686 kb
File Type: mp3
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​1. A. fight, B. feet
2. A. lice, B. lease
3. A. died, B. deed
4. A. style, B. steal
​5. A. fire, B. fear

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_with_-ai-.mp3
File Size: 596 kb
File Type: mp3
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1. my
2. sight
3. type
4. rice
5. cry
6. ride
7. like
8. kind
9. fire
10. style
11. crisis
12. bicycle
13. timing
14. arrival
15. idea
16. isolation
17. realize
18. finally
19. inspiring
20. environment

Now practice /ɑɪ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
sentences_with_-ai-.mp3
File Size: 1325 kb
File Type: mp3
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1. I - find - ​my - flashlight
I can't find my flashlight.
2. describe - guy - tried
Can you describe the guy who tried to follow you?
3. decide - kind - buy 
I can't decide what kind of food to buy.
4. fire - inside - ice
A fire started inside the ice cream shop.
5. like - drive - ride
Would you like to drive or just ride?
6. idea - why - fighting
​Do you have any idea why they're fighting?

USE IT!
​​Practice the task below. Then, record yourself completing that task. Give your recording to a teacher or an English-speaking friend for feedback.

Prepare:
What do you dislike doing?​​
  • Riding a bicycle
  • Driving a car
  • Crying
  • Arguing about ideas
  • Being outside (or inside)
  • Fighting
  • Flying in an airplane
  • Being in a place with no light
  • Writing a paper for school
  • Being isolated (away from people)
  • Lighting a fire
  • Trying to be stylish​
  • Riding a bicycle
  • Driving a car
  • Crying
  • Arguing about ideas
  • Being outside (or inside)
  • Fighting​
  • Flying in an airplane
  • Being in a place with no light
  • Writing a paper for school
  • Being isolated (away from people)
  • Lighting a fire
  • Trying to be stylish​

​​Record:
Describe 3 things that you dislike doing and explain why you dislike them.

​© 2018, Christine Wingate
​