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LISTEN |
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/n/.../n/.../n/.../n/...
nice...man...dinner...send |
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WHAT IS IT? |
The sound /n/ is a voiced, alveolar, nasal consonant.
The sound /n/ can be in these clusters:
- Touch your alveolar ridge (gum ridge) with the tip of your tongue.
- Let air flow out of your nose.
- Your vocal cords should vibrate.
The sound /n/ 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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/sn/ ("sn") - snow
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/ln/ ("ln") - kiln
/lnz/ ("lns") - kilns /rn/ ("rn") - barn /rnz/ ("rns") - horns /rnd/ ("rned") - mourned /nt/ ("nt") - point /nts/ ("nts") - rents /ntʃ/ ("nch") - lunch /ntʃt/ ("nched") - launched |
/ndʒ/ ("nge") - strange
/nz/ ("ns" / "nse", / "nes") - fans, cleanse, bones /ns/ ("nce" / "nse") - chance, sense /nθ/ ("nth") - seventh /nθs/ ("nths") - tenths /nd/ ("nd" / "ned" / "nned")- send, loaned, planned /ndz/ ("nds") - minds |
Spelling:
*Note: Occasionally the spelling "gn" is pronounced /ny/, as in the words "vignette" and "poignant"
Grammar Tip:
The sound /n/ is part of the suffix "-en." This suffix is used to mark some past participles in English. Past participles are used in perfect verbs or passive verbs.
- "n" - nice, pen
- "nn" - planned, dinner
- "kn" - know, knife
- "gn" - sign, gnaw*
- "gne" (not common) - champagne, cologne
*Note: Occasionally the spelling "gn" is pronounced /ny/, as in the words "vignette" and "poignant"
Grammar Tip:
The sound /n/ is part of the suffix "-en." This suffix is used to mark some past participles in English. Past participles are used in perfect verbs or passive verbs.
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The sound /n/ is also part of several contractions. A contraction is formed by combining two words. The contractions below end in the consonant cluster /nt/.
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COMPARE |
Compare /n/ with /ŋ/:
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/n/.../ŋ/.../n/.../ŋ/.../n/.../ŋ/...
These are both nasal consonants. However, /n/ is an alveolar nasal while /ŋ/ is a velar nasal. When you pronounce /n/, the tip of your tongue should touch the roof of your mouth and the back of your tongue should be low in your mouth. |
You can hear the difference between /n/ and /ŋ/ in these words.
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1. A. sun, B. sung
2. A. win, B. wing 3. A. tons, B. tongues 4. A. taken, B. taking 5. A. banned, B. banged 6. A. sinning, B. singing |
Practice recognizing words with /n/ and /ŋ/ by taking the quiz below.
Now compare /n/ and /l/:
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/n/.../l/.../n/.../l/.../n/.../l/...
These are both voiced alveolar consonants. However, /n/ is a nasal consonant while /l/ is a liquid consonant. To pronounce /n/, air should stop in your mouth but flow out of your nose. |
You can hear the difference between /n/ and /l/ in these words.
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1. A. news, B. lose
2. A. night, B. light 3. A. nine, B. line 4. A. win, B. will 5. A. tenor, B. teller 6. A. spinning, B. spilling |
Practice recognizing words with /n/ and /l/ by taking the quiz below.
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PRACTICE |
Listen and repeat these words:

words_with_-n-.mp3 | |
File Size: | 608 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
1. nice
2. number 3. snow 4. sneeze 5. snack 6. dinner 7. tunnel 8. evening 9. center 10. mention |
11. man
12. happen 13. mint 14. chance 15. strange 16. lunch 17. bones 18. launched 19. invention 20. nonsense |
Now practice /n/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
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1. complained - neighbors - noisy
He complained that his neighbors were too noisy. 2. inside - when - snowing We should stay inside when it's snowing. 3. couldn't - find - journal I couldn't find the right journal. 4. haven't - chance - finish I haven't had a chance to finish. 5. lunch - fancy - restaurant We had lunch at a fancy restaurant. 6. learned - anything - new - recently Have you learned anything new recently? |
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 items do you have in your kitchen? (If you don't have a kitchen, what items do you use most for food preparation or eating?)
Prepare:
What items do you have in your kitchen? (If you don't have a kitchen, what items do you use most for food preparation or eating?)
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- Sharp knives
- Dinner plates
- Sauce pans
- Wooden spoons
- Colander
- Rolling pin
- Apron
- Counter
- Gas range
- Toaster oven
- Napkins
- Measuring spoons
- Oven mitt
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic containers
- Cabinets
(If you don't know some of these words, look at the pictures at https://7esl.com/kitchen-vocabulary/ . )
Record:
In your recording, describe the 5 items that are most important to have in your kitchen. Explain how you use each item.
©2018-2021, Christine Wingate
Record:
In your recording, describe the 5 items that are most important to have in your kitchen. Explain how you use each item.
©2018-2021, Christine Wingate

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