LISTEN
listen_to_-iy-.mp3
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/iy/.../iy/.../iy/.../iy/...

see...kee​p...dream...busy...

WHAT IS IT?
Pronunciation: 
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.
​
stressed_-iy-.mp3
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This vowel is usually stressed, as in these words:
  • freezer
  • eastern
  • reason
  • percei​ve
unstressed_-iy-.mp3
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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.
  • lazy
  • ​very
  • quickly
  • windy

​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.  
grammar_-iy-_1.mp3
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​The suffix "-ly" is common in adverbs.
  • ​quickly
  • nicely​
  • readily
grammar_-iy-_2.mp3
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​The suffix “-y” is common in adjectives.
  • busy
  • pretty
  • ​ready

COMPARE
Compare /iy/ with /ɪ/:
compare_iy-i_1.mp3
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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.
compare_iy-i_words.mp3
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1. A. leased, B. list
2. A. read, B. rid
3. A. beat, B. bit
4. A. leave, B. live
​5. A. teen, B. tin
6. A. steal, B. still

Practice recognizing words with /iy/ and /ɪ/ by taking the quiz below. 

​​Now, compare /iy/ with /ey/:
​/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
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You can hear the difference between /iy/ and /ey/ in these words.
compare_iy-ey_words.mp3
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1. A. see, B. say
2. A. meek, B. make
3. A. bees, B. bays
4. A. veal, B. veil
5. A. peer, B. pair
6. A. leader, B. later

​Practice recognizing words with /iy/ and /ey/ by taking this quiz.

PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
words_with_-iy-.mp3
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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.
sentences_with_-iy-.mp3
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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:

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…​
  • Happy
  • Angry
  • Peaceful
  • Worried
  • Envious
  • Inferior
  • Fearful
  • Curious
  • 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