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LISTEN |
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/t/.../t/.../t/.../t/...
take…stand…put…after… |
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WHAT IS IT? |
Pronunciation
The sound /t/ is a voiceless, alveolar, stop consonant.
The sound /t/ can be in these clusters:
The sound /t/ is a voiceless, alveolar, stop consonant.
- Touch your alveolar ridge (the hard space behind your upper teeth) with the tip of your tongue.
- Move your tongue sharply downward and let air out in a short burst.
- Your vocal cords should not vibrate.
The sound /t/ 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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/st/ ("st") - store
/tr/ ("tr") - try /tw/ ("tw") - twin /str/ ("str") - street |
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/ts/ ("ts"/ “tes’) - hits, rates
/pt/ ("pt" / “ped” / "pped") - apt, hoped, ripped /spt/ (“sped”) - rasped /rpt/ (“rped”) - warped /mpt/ ("mpt" / “mped”) - prompt, pumped /lpt/ (“lped”) - helped /kt/ (“ct” / “ked,” / “cked”) - act, baked, locked /kts/ ("cts") - acts /kst/ (“xed”) - faxed /lkt/ (“lked”) - milked /rkt/ (“rked”) - parked /ft/ ("ft" / “fed” / "ghed") - raft, goofed, coughed /fts/ ("fts") - rafts /mft/ (“mphed”) - triumphed /st/ ("st" / “ssed”) - lost, tossed |
/rst/ ("rst" / “rsed” / "rced") - worst, parsed, forced
/ʃt/ (“shed”) - finished /θt/ (“thed”) - badmouthed /tʃt/ (“ched”) - fetched /ntʃt/ (“nched”) - punched /ltʃt/ (“lched”) - filched /rtʃt/ (“rched”) - marched /rt/ ("rt") - sort /rts/ ("rts") - arts /lt/ ("lt") - felt /lts/ ("lts") - faults /nt/ ("nt") - hint /nts/ ("nts") - pants |
Spelling
- “t” – time, try
- "te" - late, write
- “tt” – mitt, better
- “th” (not common) – thyme, Thai
- “ed” – rushed, missed
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Grammar Tip
The “-ed” ending is used to mark most past tense verbs, some past participles, and some participial adjectives. The “-ed” ending is pronounced /t/ after a voiceless consonant that is not /t/ (/p/, /k/, /f/, /s/ /ʃ/, /tʃ/).
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COMPARE |
Compare /t/ with /d/:
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/t/…/d/…/t/…/d/…/t/…/d/…
These are both alveolar stop consonants. However, /t/ is a voiceless consonant and /d/ is a voiced consonant. When you pronounce /t/, your vocal cords should not vibrate. |
You can hear the difference between /t/ and /d/ in the words below.
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1. A. time, B. dime
2. A. try, B. dry 3. A. mate, B. made 4. A. built, B. build 5. A. hurts, B. herds 6. A. center, B. sender |
Practice recognizing words with /t/ and /d/ by taking the quiz below.
Now, compare /t/ and /θ/:
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/t/…/θ/…/t/…/θ/…/t/…/θ/…
These are both voiceless, alveolar consonants. However, /t/ is a stop and /θ/ is a fricative. When you pronounce /t/, the air in your mouth should be stopped, then released. |
You can hear the difference between /t/ and /θ/ in the words below.
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1. A. tank, B. thank
2. A. tree, B. three 3. A. torn, B. thorn 4. A. bat, B. bath 5. A. heart, B. hearth 6. A. tent, B. tenth |
Practice recognizing words with /t/ and /θ/ by taking the quiz below.
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PRACTICE |
Listen and repeat these words:

words_with_-t-.mp3 | |
File Size: | 580 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
1. take
2. try 3. truth 4. store 5. street 6. late 7. pots 8. best 9. melt 10. helped |
11. worst
12. barked 13. fixed 14. theater 15. mentor 16. restroom 17. afternoon 18. entrance 19. strategic 20. entertainment |
Now, practice /t/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
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1. ate - leftover - breakfast
I ate leftover food for breakfast. 2. worked - night - project I worked all night to finish the project. 3. technician - fixed - tablet The technician fixed my tablet for me. 4. sister - worst - part - city My sister lives in the worst part of the city. 5. missed - football - yesterday I missed seeing the football game yesterday. 6. teacher - starts - taking - attendance The teacher starts class by taking attendance. |
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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:
Which of these activities did you do when you were a teenager? Did you enjoy them, or do you regret them?
Prepare:
Which of these activities did you do when you were a teenager? Did you enjoy them, or do you regret them?
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- Stayed out late
- Wrote poetry
- Went on a “blind date”
- Worked at a part-time job
- Took a road trip
- Watched too much television
- Wrote college essays
- Graduated high school
- Learned to play an instrument
- Dressed up for a school dance
- Went to parties
- Started a savings account
- Got a tattoo
- Saw your favorite band in concert
- Got perfect grades
- Took extra classes after school
Record:
In your recording, explain which activities you did as a teenager and how you feel about them now.
(Pay attention to past tense “-ed” endings that are pronounced as either /d/, /t/, or /əd/.)
©2018-2021, Christine Wingate
Record:
In your recording, explain which activities you did as a teenager and how you feel about them now.
(Pay attention to past tense “-ed” endings that are pronounced as either /d/, /t/, or /əd/.)
©2018-2021, Christine Wingate

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