English Pronunciation Power (Part 1: Episodes 1-4)

Accuracy in pronunciation is an essential part of making yourself understood when communicating with native English speakers. But it is one aspect of English language learning that is often neglected by learners studying independently. These video quizzes are here to help!

• /e/ vs. /æ/ Episode 1
• /p/ vs. /f/ Episode 2
• /b/ vs. /v/ Episode 3
• /θ/ vs. /s/ Episode 4

This post contains Episodes 1-4 of English Pronunciation Power. Don’t forget to scroll down to watch all four videos, or use the links above. When you’re finished trying the exercises here, why not check out our next post with Part 2 (Episodes 5-7)?

Episode 1: Pronunciation /e/ vs. /æ/

Watch the video and see if you can hear the difference between these sounds /e/ and /æ/.

Transcript (With Answers)

Today: /e/ vs. /æ/

Try to choose which word we say.

1. Bet. That’s bet, not bat.
2. Ten. That’s ten, not tan.
3. Land. That’s land, not lend.
4. Rap. That’s rap, not rep.
5. Said. That’s said, not sad.
6. Jam. That’s jam, not gem.
7. Lass. That’s lass, not less.
8. Wreck. That’s wreck, not rack.
9. Beth. That’s Beth, not bath.
10. Bend. Did you get it? That’s bend, not band.

OK, how did you do? Let us know in the comments below!

Episode 2: /p/ vs. /f/

Can you hear the difference in how the sounds /p/ and /f/ are pronounced? Watch the video and try the next set of exercises.

Transcript (With Answers)

Today: /p/ vs. /f/

Try to work out which words we say.

1. Pine. That’s pine, not fine.
2. Fin. I said fin, not pin.
3. Fly. I said fly, not ply.
4. Copy. That’s copy, not coffee.
5. Suffer. That was suffer, not supper.
6. Cuff. That’s cuff, not cup.
7. Cheap. I said cheap, not chief.
8. Wipe. That was wipe, not wife.
9. Leapt. That was leapt, not left.
10. Refs. That’s refs, not reps.

Have you been keeping score? Tell us how you did in the comments below!

Episode 3: /b/ vs. /v/

Here’s another pronunciation quiz for you to try! This time we’re comparing /b/ and /v/ sounds in English.

Transcript (With Answers)

Today: /b/ vs. /v/

Try to work out which words we say.

1. Bet. I said bet, not vet.
2. Veil. That was veil, not Bale.
3. Very. I said very, not berry.
4. Revel. That’s revel, not rebel.
5. Fibre. That’s fibre, not fiver.
6. Beaver. That’s beaver, not Bieber.
7. Serbs. That’s Serbs, not serves.
8. Lobes. That’s lobes, not loaves.
9. Lab. I said lab, not lav.
10. Dove. I said dove, not dub.

So, have you been keeping score? Let us know how you did in the comments below!

Episode 4: /θ/ vs. /s/.

The sounds /θ/ and /s/ can be quite difficult to pronounce. Try the video quiz and then practice saying the words for yourself!

Transcript (With Answers)

Transcript:

Today: /θ/ vs. /s/

Try to work out which words we say.

1. Sink. That’s sink, not think.
2. Soar. I said soar, not Thor.
3. Thing. That was thing, not sing.
4. Thumb. I said thumb, not sum.
5. Thimble. That was thimble, not symbol.
6. Path. I said path, not pass.
7. Mouse. That was mouse, not mouth.
8. Norse. I said Norse, not north.
9. Fourth. I said fourth, not force.
10. Tenth. I said tenth, not tense.

So, have you been keeping score? Let us know how you did in the comments below!

Keep practicing your English pronunciation. Click here to watch the next set of videos in our English Pronunciation Power series (Part 2: Episodes 5-7).

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