LISTEN
listen_to_-er-.mp3
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/ɜr/.../ɜr/.../ɜr/.../ɜr/...

church...nurse...learn...bur​den

WHAT IS IT?
Pronunciation:
The sound /ɜr/ is a high, central, lax vowel.
  • Raise your tongue so that the sides of your tongue press against your upper teeth.
  • Curl the tip of your tongue backwards slightly.
  • Spread your lips slightly.
  • Breathe out and let air flow out of your mouth.
​
Spelling:
  • "er" - her, certain
  • "ear" - learn, heard
  • "ur" - burn, surface
  • "ir" - bird, dirty
  • "or" - word, worthy
Note: Most of these spellings may also represent other vowels followed by /r/.

COMPARE
Compare /ɜr/ with /ʌ/:
compare_er-uh_1.mp3
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/ɜr/.../ʌ/.../ɜr/.../ʌ/.../ɜr/.../ʌ/...

These are both central, lax vowels. However, /ɜr/ is a high vowel and /ʌ/ is a mid vowel. The vowel /ɜr/ sounds like a blend of /ʌ/ and /r/.
Listen to words with /ɜr/ and /ʌ/, and identify which word you hear. Choose A or B. You will hear the word twice, followed by the answer.
compare_er-uh_2.mp3
File Size: 502 kb
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1. A. lurk, B. luck​
2. A. search, B. such
3. A. turn, B. ton 
4. A. curdle, B. cuddle
5. A. sermon, B. summon

​Now compare /ɜr/ with /ɑ/:
compare_er-a_1.mp3
File Size: 120 kb
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/ɝ/.../ɑ/.../ɝ/.../ɑ/.../ɝ/.../ɑ/...

These are both central vowels. However, /ɜr/ is a high vowel and /ɑ/ is a low vowel. When you pronounce /ɜr/, the sides of your tongue should lightly touch your upper teeth.

Listen to words with /ɜr/ and /ɑ/, and identify which word you hear. Choose A or B. You will hear the word twice, followed by the answer.
compare_er-a_2.mp3
File Size: 495 kb
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1. A. hurt, B. hot
2. A. curb, B. cob
3. A. clerk, B. clock
4. A. earner, B. honor
5. A. gurgle, B. goggle

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_with_-er-.mp3
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1. stir
2. purse
3. church
4. surf
5. learn
6. curb
7. perk
8. birth
9. purpose
10. resear​ch
11. merge
12. dessert
13. burned
14. furnace
15. hurdle
16. courage
17. personal
18. certain
19. murder
20. furthermore

Now, practice /ɜr/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
sentences_with_-er-.mp3
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1. return - curfew
​You need to return before your curfew.
2. certain - weren't - burned
Are you certain you weren't burned?
3. heard - learned - surf
I heard that you learned to surf.
4. first - serve - dessert
First we'll eat dinner, and then I'll serve dessert.
5. early - work - personal
I got up early to work on a personal project.
6. further - mer​ge
Drive a little further, then merge into the next lane.
​
To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:

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:
Imagine you have to write a research paper for a class. What topic would you like to research?​​
  • Earthquakes
  • Causes of murder 
  • Alternative medicine and herbal treatments
  • Internet security
  • The purpose of immigration laws​
  • Why teenagers need a curfew
  • Online learning
  • Alternative energy solutions
  • World War II​
  • Effects of workplace diversity
  • Why people might attend a church
  • How search engines work
  • The return of old fashions
  • Current problems in global security
  • Earthquakes
  • Causes of murder 
  • Alternative medicine and herbal treatments
  • Internet security
  • The purpose of immigration laws​
  • Why teenagers need a curfew
  • Online learning​
  • Alternative energy solutions
  • World War II​
  • Effects of workplace diversity
  • Why people might attend a church
  • How search engines work
  • The return of old fashions
  • Current problems in global security

Record:
Imagine you need to tell your teacher 2 topics that you might want to research. In your recording, present  the 2 topics you are most interested in, and explain why.

​© 2018, Christine Wingate