Unit 9: The zero article - in 90 seconds
Sound like a bee to improve your pronunciation!
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- 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
- 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
- 3 If or whether?
- 4 5 ways to use 'would'
- 5 Let and allow
- 6 Passive voice
- 7 Unless
- 8 Mixed conditionals
- 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
- 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
- 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
- 12 The continuous passive
- 13 Future perfect
- 14 Need + verb-ing
- 15 Have something done
- 16 Wish
- 17 Word stress
- 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
- 19 Passive reporting structures
- 20 The subjunctive
- 21 When and if
- 22 Inversion
- 23 Phrasal verbs
- 24 The future
- 25 Modals in the past
- 26 Narrative tenses
- 27 Phrasal verb myths
- 28 Conditionals review
- 29 Used to - review
- 30 Linking words of contrast
Session 4
The 'th' sound in English can be a difficult one to pronounce, particularly when you know that there is a voiced and unvoiced version. Helen shows you how it's done, with the help of a bee.
Activity 1
Stop saying ...
Pronouncing the 'th' sound
Consonant sounds in English can be 'voiced' or 'unvoiced'. How can you tell the difference? Helen advises on this topic with the assistance of a bee and the 'th' sound.
Watch the video and complete the activity
Summary
When you pronounce a voiced consonant correctly, there is a vibration of the vocal cords. You can feel this by putting your fingers lightly on your throat when you speak.
Obviously we don't hold conversations with our hands on our throats, but it is a good way to practise the sounds of English.
Another good piece of advice is to learn the symbols that represent the sounds of English. These can help you look up the pronunciation of words in a dictionary.
This is the symbol for the unvoiced 'th' sound.
This is the symbol for the voiced 'th' sound.
To do
Use your fingers on the throat (or a dictionary) in the quiz to identify voiced and unvoiced 'th' sounds
Voiced or unvoiced
5 Questions
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Help
Activity
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Hint
Can you feel a vibration when you say the 'th' part of this word?Help
Activity
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Hint
Can you feel a vibration when you say the 'th' part of this word?Help
Activity
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Hint
Can you feel a vibration when you say the 'th' part of this word?Help
Activity
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Hint
Can you feel a vibration when you say the 'th' part of this word?Help
Activity
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Hint
Can you feel a vibration when you say the 'th' part of this word?Question 1 of 5
Voiced
Unvoiced
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
Voiced or unvoiced
5 Questions
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Help
Activity
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Hint
Can you feel a vibration when you say the 'th' part of this word?Question 1 of 5
Help
Activity
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Hint
Can you feel a vibration when you say the 'th' part of this word?Question 2 of 5
Help
Activity
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Hint
Can you feel a vibration when you say the 'th' part of this word?Question 3 of 5
Help
Activity
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Hint
Can you feel a vibration when you say the 'th' part of this word?Question 4 of 5
Help
Activity
In each question decide whether the 'th' sound is voiced or unvoiced then drag the word to the correct column.
Hint
Can you feel a vibration when you say the 'th' part of this word?Question 5 of 5
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
End of Session 4
That's all from this session.
Many thanks to the staff and students of the Central School of English for their help with this programme.
Next
Coming up next, we visit the White Elephant restaurant where Ceilia has a secret she can't keep to herself but what happens when she tells someone in confidence?
Session Vocabulary
Pronunciation Tips
Lightly place your fingers on your throat so you can feel when you pronounce a voiced sound.
Learn the symbols that represent the sounds of English.