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LISTEN |
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/m/.../m/.../m/.../m/...
map...time...hammer...number... |
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WHAT IS IT? |
Pronunciation:
The sound /m/ is a voiced, bilabial, nasal consonant.
The sound /m/ can be in these clusters:
The sound /m/ is a voiced, bilabial, nasal consonant.
- Press your lips together and breathe out through your nose.
- Forcefully pull your lips apart and let air out in a short burst.
- Your vocal cords should vibrate.
The sound /m/ 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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/sm/ ("sm") - smell
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/mz/ ("ms" / "mes") - rooms, homes
/md/ ("med" / "mmed" / "mbed") - aimed, hummed, combed /lm/ ("lm") - film /lmz/ ("lms") - helms /lmd/ ("lmed") - filmed /rm/ ("rm") - form /rmz/ ("rms") - harms /rmd/ ("rmed") - armed |
/zm/ ("sm") - realism
/zmz/ ("sms") - prisms /ðm/ ("thm") - rhythm /mp/ ("mp") - lamp /mps/ ("mps") - camps /mpt/ ("mpt" / "mped") - prompt, jumped /mpts/ ("mpts") - attempts /mf/ ("mph") - triumph /mfs/ ("mphs") - nymphs /mpft/ ("mphed") - triumphed |
Spelling:
Grammar Tip:
The sound /m/ is used in the suffix "-ism." This suffix can be pronounced as one syllable (/ɪzm/) or two syllables (/ɪz-əm/). When "ism" is added, the stress of the word does not change.This suffix may be added to certain adjectives, nouns, or verbs.
- "m" - him, film
- "me" - time, home
- "mm" - summer, common
- "mb" - dumb, lamb
- "lm" - calm, palm
- "mn" (not common) - hymn
Grammar Tip:
The sound /m/ is used in the suffix "-ism." This suffix can be pronounced as one syllable (/ɪzm/) or two syllables (/ɪz-əm/). When "ism" is added, the stress of the word does not change.This suffix may be added to certain adjectives, nouns, or verbs.
- Adjective --> Noun: fatal --> fatalism, intellectual --> intellectualism
- Noun --> Noun: tour --> tourism, alcohol --> alcoholism
- Verb --> Noun: plagiarize --> plagiarism, criticize --> criticism
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COMPARE |
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/m/.../n/.../m/.../n/.../m/.../n/...
These are both voiced nasal consonants. However, /m/ is a bilabial consonant while /n/ is an alveolar consonant. When you pronounce /m/, your lips should touch each other. |
You can recognize the difference between /m/ and /n/ in these words.
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1. A. met, B. net
3. A. some, B. sun 2. A. smack, B. snack 4. A. term, B. turn 5. A. limes, B. lines 6. A. gaming, B. gaining |
Practice recognizing words with /m/ and /n/ by taking the quiz below.
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/m/.../b/.../m/.../b/.../m/.../b/...
These are both voiced, bilabial consonants. However, /m/ is a nasal consonant and /b/ is a stop consonant. When you pronounce /m/, air should flow out of your nose. |
You can hear the difference between /m/ and /n/ in these words.
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1. A. mean, B. bean
2. A. mom, B. bomb 3. A. hum, B. hub 5. A. rims, B. ribs 6. A. scamming, B. scabbing 4. A. unmeant, B. unbent |
Practice recognizing words with /m/ and /b/ by taking the quiz below.
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PRACTICE |
Listen and repeat these words.

words_with_-m-.mp3 | |
File Size: | 490 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
1. map
2. meal 3. mother 4. smell 5. time 6. rooms 7. claimed 8. film 9. arm 10. camp |
11. prompt
12. triumph 13. hammer 14. harmful 15. tumble 16. simple 17. remember 18. spasm 19. criticism 20. environment |
Now, practice /m/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
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1. family - moved - farm - His family just moved to a farm.
2. claimed - problem - simple - The teacher claimed that the problem was simple. 3. animals - harmed - making - film - No animals were harmed in the making of this film. 4. smell - smoke - campfire - I smell smoke from a campfire. 5. criticism - harmful - improve - Criticism can be harmful, or it can help you improve. 6. remember - mother's - number - Do you remember your mother's phone number? |
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:
What do you think are the most important problems in your hometown?
Prepare:
What do you think are the most important problems in your hometown?
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- Crime
- Effects of climate change
- Immigration
- Racism
- Unemployment
- Economic development
- Preserving a clean, natural environment
- Homelessness
- Disease epidemics
- Transportation systems
Record:
Choose the 2 problems that you think are most important for your hometown to solve. In your recording, explain why these problems are important and suggest a possible solution for each one.
©2018-2021, Christine Wingate

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