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LISTEN |
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/b/…/b/…/b/…/b/…
buy…brain…lab…table... |
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WHAT IS IT? |
Pronunciation:
The sound /b/ is a voiced, bilabial, stop consonant.
The sound /b/ can be in these clusters:
The sound /b/ is a voiced, bilabial, stop consonant.
- Press your lips together.
- Forcefully pull your lips apart while pushing air out in a short burst.
- Your vocal cords should vibrate.
The sound /b/ can be in these clusters:
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Beginning of a Syllable
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End of a Syllable
<
>
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/bl/ ("bl") - blue
/br/ ("br") - break |
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/bz/ (“bs”) - cabs
/bd/ (“bed” / "bbed") - cubed, rubbed /lb/ ("lb") - bulb /lbz/ (“lbs”) - bulbs /rb/ ("rb") - garb /rbz/ (“rbs”) - orbs /rbd/ (“rbed”) - barbed |
Spelling:
- “b” – break, lab
- “be” - robe, tube
- “bb” – bubble, robbing
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COMPARE |
Compare /b/ with /v/:
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/b/…/v/…/b/…/v/…/b/…/v/…
These are both voiced consonants that are pronounced using the lips. However, /b/ is a bilabial stop and /v/ is a labio-dental fricative. When you pronounce /b/, your teeth should not touch your lips and the air in your mouth should be stopped. |
You can hear the difference between /b/ and /v/ in these words.
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1. A. boat, B. vote
2. A. bury, B. very 3. A. dub, B. dove 4. A. curb, B. curve 5. A. lobes, B. loaves 6. A. rebel, B. revel |
Practice recognizing words with /b/ and /v/ by taking the quiz below.
Now, compare /b/ with /m/:
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/b/…/m/…/b/…/m/…/b/…/m/…
These are both voiced bilabial consonants. However, /b/ is a stop and /m/ is a nasal. When you pronounce /b/, air should come through your mouth but not your nose. |
You can hear the difference between /b/ and /m/ in these words.
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1. A. bake, B. make
2. A. bug, B. mug 3. A. sub, B. sum 4. A. robes, B. roams 5. A. chubby, B. chummy 6. A. unbarred, B. unmarred |
Practice recognizing words with /b/ and /m/ by taking the quiz below.
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PRACTICE |
Listen and repeat these words:

words_with_-b-.mp3 | |
File Size: | 675 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
1. best
2. burn 3. busy 4. brain 5. blow 6. broom 7. bless 8. bottle 9. cab 10. rob |
11. curb
12. bulb 13. about 14. mobile 15. stability 16. subtitle 17. bubble 18. abbreviate 19. barbecue 20. substitute |
Now, practice /b/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
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1. bottles – bin - curb
Put your used bottles in the bin on the curb. 2. bring – ribs – barbecue We’ll bring a package of ribs to the barbecue. 3. blow – bubbles – beverage Don’t blow bubbles in your beverage. 4. public – believed – bad The public believed the bad report. 5. brother – burned – bulb My brother replaced the burned-out lightbulb. 6. big – blue – suburbs I live in a big blue house in the suburbs. |
To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:
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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:
Which behaviors should be banned in public places (like restaurants, stores, and movie theaters)?
Prepare:
Which behaviors should be banned in public places (like restaurants, stores, and movie theaters)?
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- Feeding a baby
- Singing “Happy Birthday”
- Starting a debate with a stranger
- Using a business’s bathroom without buying something
- Biting your nails
- Blowing your nose
- Being noisy
- Bringing a pet
- Kissing a boyfriend or girlfriend
Record:
Choose at least 3 of these behaviors. In your recording, explain why they should or should not be banned in public places.
©2018-2021, Christine Wingate

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