|
|
LISTEN |
|
/p/…/p/…/p/…/p/…
peace…price…top...apple... | ||
|
|
WHAT IS IT? |
Pronunciation:
The sound /p/ is a voiceless, bilabial, stop consonant.
Note: A /p/ at the beginning of a word or syllable should be pronounced with a stronger burst of air than a /p/ at the end of a word or syllable (or in a consonant cluster). This is called aspiration.
The sound /p/ can be in these consonant clusters:
The sound /p/ is a voiceless, bilabial, stop consonant.
- Press your lips together
- Move your lips outward while pushing air out in a short burst.
- Your vocal cords should not vibrate.
Note: A /p/ at the beginning of a word or syllable should be pronounced with a stronger burst of air than a /p/ at the end of a word or syllable (or in a consonant cluster). This is called aspiration.
The sound /p/ can be in these consonant clusters:
|
/pl/ ("pl)" - please
/pr/ ("pr") - pray /sp/ ("sp") - spell /spl/ ("spl") - split /spr/ ("spr") - spring | ||
|
/ps/ ("ps" / "pes" / "pes"/ "pps" / "ppes") - lips, hopes, apps, steppes
/pt/ ("pt" / “ped” / "pped") - slept, hoped, ripped /mp/ ("mp") - lamp /mps/ ("mps") - pumps /mpt/ ('mpt" / “mped”) - prompt, pumped /lp/ ("lp") - gulp |
/lps/ ("lps") - yelps
/lpt/ (“lped”) - helped /rp/ ("rp") - sharp /rps/ ("rps") - harps /rpt/ (“rped”) - warped /sp/ ("sp") - rasp /sps/ ("sps") - wasps /spt/ (“sped”) - lisped | ||
Spelling:
- “p” – pie, tap
- ”pe” - grape, rope
- “pp” – apple, ripped
|
Grammar Tip:
The sound /p/ is in the common prefix "pre-". This prefix usually means "before" and can be part of a noun or verb. The prefix is usually unstressed, but it can be stressed.
| ||
|
The sound /p/ is also in the prefix "pro." This prefix can mean "for," "advance/forth," "forward/in front of" or "in place of."
| ||
|
|
COMPARE |
Compare /p/ and /b/:
|
/p/…/b/…/p/…/b/…/p/…/b/…
These are both bilabial stop consonants. However, /p/ is voiceless and /b/ is voiced. There is no aspiration after /b/ at the beginning of a word. At the end of a word, the vowel before /b/ will be longer than the vowel before /p/. | ||
You can hear the difference between /p/ and /b/ in these words.
|
1. A. pie, B. buy
2. A. planned, B. bland 3. A. pride, B. bride 4. A. cup, B. cub 5. A. mops, B. mobs 6. A, staple, B. stable | ||
Practice recognizing words with /p/ and /b/ by taking the quiz below.
Now compare /p/ and /f/:
|
/p/…/f/…/p/…/f/…/p/…/f/…
These are both voiceless consonants that are pronounced using the lips. However, /p/ is a bilabial stop and /f/ is a labio-dental fricative. When you pronounce /p/, your teeth should not touch your lips and the air in your mouth should be stopped. | ||
You can hear the difference between /p/ and /f/ in these words.
|
1. A. pat, B. fat
2. A. plush, B. flush 3. A. praise, B. phrase 4. A. lap, B. laugh 5. A. gulps, B. gulfs 6. A. coffee, B. copy | ||
Practice recognizing words with /p/ and /f/ by taking the quiz below.
|
|
PRACTICE |
Listen and repeat these words:
| words_with_-p-.mp3 |
|
1. past
2. pill 3. pray 4. please 5. spin 6. spring 7. wrap 8. lip 9. harp 10. grasp |
11. lamp
12. happy 13. apply 14. printer 15. complain 16. aspire 17. pedestrian 18. impossible 19. purpose 20. proportion |
Now, practice /p/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
|
1. please – sweep – mop
Please sweep and mop the floor. 2. spring – plant – grapevines In spring we will plant some grapevines. 3. employment – apply – position Contact the employment agency to apply for a position. 4. purpose – project – provide The purpose of this project is to provide new community resources. 5. public – harp – performance We attended a public harp performance last night. 6. explain – company – procedures Can you explain the company’s hiring procedures? | ||
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:
Which of these items do you have at your desk or workspace?
Prepare:
Which of these items do you have at your desk or workspace?
Record:
In your recording, describe what your workspace looks like. Give enough details that the listener will be able to picture the workspace.
©2018-2021, Christine Wingate
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
