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LISTEN |
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/iy/.../iy/.../iy/.../iy/...
see...keep...dream...busy... |
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WHAT IS IT? |
Pronunciation:
The sound /iy/ is a high, front, tense vowel.
The sound /iy/ is a high, front, tense vowel.
- Lift your tongue to the top of your mouth.
- Spread your lips wide, like a smile.
- Tighten your tongue.
- Breathe out to make the vowel.
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This vowel is usually stressed, as in these words:
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However, /iy/ can also be unstressed. In an unstressed syllable, /iy/ is pronounced quickly and softly. This is most common at the end of a word.
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Spelling:
- “ee” – beef, week
- “ea” – each, reason
- “ie” – believe, chief
- “ei” – receive, seize
- “i” – ski, taxi
- “y” (unstressed) – busy, lovely
Grammar Tip:
An unstressed /iy/ is part of some suffixes.
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The suffix "-ly" is common in adverbs.
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The suffix “-y” is common in adjectives.
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COMPARE |
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/iy/.../ɪ/.../iy/.../ɪ/.../iy/.../ɪ/...
These are both high, front vowels. However, /ɪ/ is pronounced with a relaxed tongue and /iy/ is pronounced with a tightened tongue. |
You can hear the difference between /iy/ and /ɪ/ in these words.
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1. A. beat, B. bit
2. A. read, B. rid 3. A. leased, B. list 4. A. teen, B. tin 5. A. leave, B. live 6. A. steal, B. still |
Practice recognizing words with /iy/ and /ɪ/ by taking the quiz below.
Now, compare /iy/ with /ey/:
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/iy/…/ey/…/iy/…/ey/…/iy/…/ey/…
These are both front, tense vowels. However, /iy/ is pronounced with a high tongue and /ey/ is pronounced with a mid tongue. |

compare_iy-ey_1.mp3 | |
File Size: | 112 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
You can hear the difference between /iy/ and /ey/ in these words.
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1. A. see, B. say
2. A. meek, B. make 3. A. veal, B. veil 4. A. peer, B. pair 5. A. leader, B. later 6. A. bees, B. bays |
Practice recognizing words with /iy/ and /ey/ by taking this quiz.
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PRACTICE |
Listen and repeat these words:

words_with_-iy-.mp3 | |
File Size: | 546 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
1. feed
2. leak 3. meat 4. keep 5. peace 6. freeze 7. least 8. seats 9. dream 10. teen |
11. feel
12. dear 13. tiny 14. messy 15. easy 16. peanut 17. Easter 18. heated 19. medium 20. seemingly |
Now, practice /iy/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
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1. see – green – tree
Do you see the green tree? 2. he - seemed – mean – easy He seemed to mean it was too easy 3. very - pleased – meet I’m very pleased to meet you. 4. happy – receive – pretty - tee-shirt I was happy to receive a pretty tee-shirt. 5. eat – meat – Easter They eat special meat for Easter. 6. sleep – dream – easily When you sleep, do you dream easily? |
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:
Think about what you do when you feel…
Prepare:
Think about what you do when you feel…
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- Happy
- Angry
- Peaceful
- Worried
- Envious
- Inferior
- Fearful
- Curious
Record:
Choose 3 of these feelings. In your recording, describe what causes each feeling and how you respond to each feeling.
©2018-2021, Christine Wingate

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