The sounds in English

There are actually two different "th" sounds in English, but they are very similar. Both "th" sounds are made putting your tongue between your teeth so that the tip of your tongue is touching the tips of your top teeth. Now you can make a "th" sound by blowing are through your teeth. You can check to see if you are doing it correctly by using a mirror. You should be able to see your tongue when you say words such as "this", "the", and "that". If cannot see your tongue, yo u may be putting your tongue behind your top teeth instead of touching the tips of your top teeth.

If you put your tongue behind your top teeth, you will make a /d/ or /t/sound instead of a "th" sound. If it sounds like you are making an /s/ or /z/ sound, it is also because your tongue is behind your teeth. Make sure you are touching your teeth with your tongue!

Watch where the tongue is in these video clips. Can you see it between the teeth? (These videos will launch a separate video viewer to play them. Make sure you have a plug-in for video clips.)

• 'think' close up video (400 k MPEG file)
• 'that' close up video (500 k MPEG file)

  There is a difference, however, in the "th" sound in "the" and "breathe" and the sound in "thigh" and "breath". What is the difference?

  In "the" and "breathe", we use our voice when we make the "th" sound. Try to make a "th" sound using your voice. If you put your hand on your throat, you should feel the vibration.

  The sound in "thigh" and "breath" is made without using our voice. If you put your hand on your throat when you are making this sound, you will not feel anything moving.

  Now let's listen to some sounds!

  "thy" sounds: thy this breathe

  "thigh" sounds: thigh thought breath

  ---

  To practice voiced and voiceless sounds at the end of words, click here.

Nasal sounds

/m/ /n/ and "ng"

The beginning sounds in "mitt" and "knit", as well as the sound at the end of "bring", are called "nasals". That is because when we makes these sounds, the air goes out of our nose instead of our mouths.

The first sound, /m/, is made by closing your mouth. Now use your voice to make a sound. That is the sound /m/. Try holding your nose and making this sound. You can't do it. You need for the air to go out your nose in order to make this sound.

Here is a video clip with the /m/ sound. Compare this clip of someone saying 'mom' to the 'pop' clip on the b/p page. Notice how both sounds are made with the lips. BUT when the speaker says 'mom' she doesn't open her mouth again afterwards, but she does when she says 'pop.' Why? For /m/, you only need to close your mouth. For /p/, you need to close your mouth and then open it again to release that puff of air that makes the /p/. (These videos will launch a separate video viewer to play them. Make sure you have a plug-in for video clips.)

• 'mom' video clip (200 K MPEG file)
  

The second sound, /n/, is made by putting the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth, right behind your teeth, like you do when you make /d/ or /t/. Now use your voice to make a sound (don't move your tongue!). Be careful that you do not say /l/ instead of /n/. You can check by holding your nose. If you can make the sound and hold your nose, you are saying /l/, if you can't then you are saying /n/.

The sound at the end of "bring", the "ng" sound is actually one sound even though it is written with two letters. To make this sound, put your tongue up against the roof of the back of your mouth, as if you are going to say /k/ or /g/. Now, make a sound using your voice. This is "ng".
In English, the "ng" sound is only found at the end of syllables. It cannot start a word.

Now let's listen to some sounds!

"mitt" sounds:

• mitt
• meat
• mat
• rum

"knit" sounds:

• knit
• neat
• gnat
• run

"bring" sounds:

• bring
• sang
• gong
• rung

The sounds in "bat" and "pat"

/b/ & /p/

The consonant sounds in "bat" and "pat" are both made by putting our two lips together and then opening them to release a small puff of air.

In these two video clips, you can see the woman saying the words "Pop" and "Bob." Notice

If we make these sounds the same way, then what is the difference between them? The difference is not what we do with our mouths, but what we do with our voice. When we make a /p/ sound, we do not use our voice; the sound is quiet. Put your hand on your throat and make the sound /p/. You should not feel any movement in your throat.

However, when we make a /b/ sound, we do use our voice. Put your hand on your throat and make the /b/ sound. Can you feel the vibrations? Another way to help you learn the difference between these two sounds is that /p/(the voiceless sound) makes a bigger puff of air. Put your hand in front of your mouth and make the /p/ sound. Feel the big puff of air. Now put your hand in front of your mouth again and make the /b/ sound (the voiced sound). Feel only a little puff of air? Good!

Watch videos of these sounds! In these video clips, notice how the speaker puts her lips together at the beginning and end of the words. In fact, notice that her lips move in a very similar way for both 'Pop' and 'Bob' -- the difference in how she says them is with her voice. (These videos will launch a separate video viewer to play them. Make sure you have a plug-in for video clips.)

• Bob video clip (200K MPEG file)
• Pop video clip (200K MPEG file)

  Now let's listen to some sounds!

  "bat" sounds: bat bull but

  "pat" sounds: pat pull putt

  ---

  To practice voiced and voiceless sounds at the end of words, click here.

Reduced Vowel Sounds

In English, we give some syllables more stress than others. That means that some syllables are louder, longer, and clearer than others. Syllables that are unstressed are shorter, softer, and less clear. In fact, there are o nly TWO reduced vowel sounds in English. These are the "Schwa" sound and the "barred i" sound.

The "barred i" is like a really short /I/ sound.
The "schwa" is like a really short vowel made in the center of your mouth.

Now let's listen to some sounds!

schwa sounds:
• writer
• explanation
• emphasis

barred i sounds:
• recitation
• monitor
• implication

The sounds in "oy!", "how" and "height"

These three vowel sounds are all diphthongs. This means they are actually two vowel sounds that slur together. Notice your mouth move when you say these sounds. Now compare that to "he". When you said "he", you can say the vowel sounds for a long time without moving your mouth!

Now let's listen to some sounds!

"oy!" sounds:

• Reuters
  
• boy
  

"how" sounds:

• route
  
• bout
  

"height" sounds:

• right
  
• bite

Here are some video clips!

Notice how the jaw moves, showing the movement from one vowel sounds to the second. (These videos will launch a separate video viewer to play them. Make sure you have a plug-in for video clips.)

• coy (200 k MPEG file)
• how (200 kMPEG file)
• hi (200 K MPEG file)

Trinh do C - Bai 45

Trình độ C - Bài 45

1. Susan had had a special ________ with her aunt ever since her mother died.
(A) affection
(B) sense
(C) relationship
(D) feeling
2. The child was so noisy that his mother told him not to be such a ________.
(A) nuisance
(B) trouble
(C) bother
(D) worry
3. I took ________ tennis again at the beginning of this year.
(A) on
(B) with
(C) by
(D) up
4. Would you ________ the stamps on to the envelope for me, please?
(A) lick
(B) suck
(C) stick
(D) spit
5. The robber ________ everyone in the bank lie on the floor before he escaped with the money.
(A) made
(B) demanded
(C) obliged
(D) forced
6. There are ________ people who always cause trouble.
(A) these
(B) some
(C) any
(D) that
7. I am late because my alarm clock never ________ this morning.
(A) came on
(B) rang out
(C) went off
(D) turned on
8. In spite of her protests, her father ________ her train for the race three hours a day.
(A) let
(B) made
(C) insisted
(D) caused
9. Eustace was standing ________ of the diving board, showing off his physique.
(A) on the end
(B) by the end
(C) to the end
(D) in the end
10. - Stewart: Let's go and have lunch. - Herbert: I mustn't stop ________ on this for another ten minutes.
(A) to be working
(B) to work
(C) to have work
(D) working
11. Would you mind if I ________ the window?
(A) were opening
(B) was open
(C) opened
(D) did open
12. It was wrong of you to talk to her like that - the next time you see her, you ________ apologize.
(A) need
(B) ought to
(C) dare to
(D) may
13. If he's not back ________ midnight, I'm going to phone the police.
(A) until
(B) by
(C) on
(D) till
14. He ________ his wife and children and left them to take care of themselves.
(A) abandoned
(B) let
(C) missed
(D) spoilt
15. Henry ________ on complaining to the manager in person.
(A) demanded
(B) commanded
(C) insisted
(D) argued
16. Trevor has a great ________ for Capri because he spent his honeymoon there.
(A) connection
(B) feeling
(C) affection
(D) relationship
17. Like Micawber, I hope ________ something better.
(A) in
(B) to
(C) at
(D) for
18. I would go to Cracow if I ________ time to do it.
(A) have
(B) had
(C) would have
(D) will have
19. Of course I'll play the piano at the party but I'm a little ________.
(A) out of use
(B) out of reach
(C) out of turn
(D) out of practice
20. The coal is mined day ________ night by a system of shift work.
(A) through
(B) into
(C) after
(D) and

Trinh do C - Bai 44

Trình độ C - Bài 44

1. We felt sorry ________ Sarah when she lost her job at the chemist's.
(A) with
(B) about
(C) for
(D) to
2. It was very difficult for the inspector to ________ what the recommendations he should make.
(A) realize
(B) settle
(C) solve
(D) decide
3. She walked to the ________ of the swimming pool and jumped in.
(A) start
(B) side
(C) extent
(D) border
4. I thought I'd buy her a ________ brown bag.
(A) shopping
(B) black
(C) new
(D) French
5. The policeman ________ me the way.
(A) told
(B) said
(C) explained
(D) directed
6. He was sent to prison for ________ a bank.
(A) borrowing
(B) lending
(C) robbing
(D) stealing
7. I'm going to stay here ________ he phones and then I'll come and join you.
(A) until
(B) for
(C) by
(D) when
8. You can trust what he says. He's a very ________ person.
(A) reliable
(B) trustful
(C) profitable
(D) depending
9. They haven't beaten me yet. I still have one or two ________ up my sleeve.
(A) traps
(B) tricks
(C) jokes
(D) defences
10. After dinner, the President got up to ________ a short speech.
(A) make
(B) provide
(C) hold
(D) tell
11. She was an ________ writer because she persuaded many people to see the truth of her ideas.
(A) accurate
(B) ordinary
(C) influential
(D) unlimited
12. - Lucian: I'm most grateful to you for getting the doctor in time. - Miriam: If I hadn't, I think you ________.
(A) might have died
(B) could die
(C) would die
(D) may have died
13. People who live in the cities ________ to suffer from stress more than people in the countryside.
(A) lean
(B) develop
(C) tend
(D) use
14. He has provided ________ every emergency.
(A) to
(B) for
(C) with
(D) by
15. There was a note attached ________ the parcel.
(A) at
(B) with
(C) on
(D) to
16. Italian is a splendid language ________.
(A) for singing in
(B) to singing in
(C) to sing in
(D) for sing in
17. I saw her ________ the street.
(A) crosses
(B) crossed
(C) to cross
(D) cross
18. Although we have a large number of students, each one receives ________ attention.
(A) individual
(B) only
(C) alone
(D) single
19. We negotiated with the unions for several hours but weren't able to ________ at an agreement.
(A) agree
(B) abide
(C) angle
(D) arrive
20. The missing climber, who had not been seen or heard of for two days, appeared at the mountain hut ________ and kicking.
(A) hale
(B) safe
(C) alive
(D) strong

Trinh do C - Bai 43

Trình độ C - Bài 43

1. She likes to sit on the balcony and ________ what goes on below.
(A) look
(B) gaze
(C) glare
(D) watch
2. "Keep ________ the good work," the teacher told the students, "and you'll all pass the exam".
(A) on
(B) up
(C) with
(D) to
3. ________ he joined the army my brother had never been abroad.
(A) Since
(B) While
(C) During
(D) Until
4. If you want to join the History Society, you must first ________ this application form.
(A) make up
(B) write down
(C) fill in
(D) do up
5. We haven't got ________ furniture like theirs in our home.
(A) a
(B) some
(C) the
(D) any
6. The librarian went to look in the cupboard ________ rare books were kept.
(A) which
(B) where
(C) that
(D) there
7. Good teachers ________ children to be kind to each other.
(A) let
(B) encourage
(C) prevent
(D) force
8. You'll ________ yourself a lot of time if you take the car.
(A) spend
(B) make
(C) save
(D) spare
9. He took out a(n) ________ to the "Guardian".
(A) subscription
(B) inscription
(C) prescription
(D) conscription
10. The government ________ increase taxes soon.
(A) may
(B) need
(C) ought
(D) dare
11. He hit the vase with his elbow and it ________ to the floor.
(A) crashed
(B) smashed
(C) broke
(D) knocked
12. I absolutely ________ with everything that has been said.
(A) agree
(B) accept
(C) admit
(D) approve
13. Poor Jack - he lost his homework, and he ________ do it again.
(A) has got to
(B) needs
(C) shall
(D) ought
14. Students are not ________ to smoke in any of the classrooms.
(A) let
(B) allowed
(C) accepted
(D) approved
15. I believe ________ this town needs is a really super disco.
(A) that
(B) what
(C) how
(D) as
16. It's still not ________ that John is going to Ravenna tomorrow.
(A) right
(B) exact
(C) certain
(D) sure
17. Even though he was often cruel to his dog, it remained faithful ________ him.
(A) for
(B) to
(C) at
(D) in
18. She is so keen on learning, you should encourage her ________ her efforts.
(A) to
(B) for
(C) in
(D) on
19. The Bolshoi Ballet Company ________ London ________.
(A) has taken....by surprise
(B) has taken....by storm
(C) has brought....down
(D) has taken.....by art
20. There is an increasing ________ nowadays to make films portraying violence.
(A) trend
(B) surge
(C) direction
(D) tradition

Trinh do C - Bai 42

Trình độ C - Bài 42

1. Our house isn't difficult to find: it's ________ St.Mary's Church.
(A) against
(B) across
(C) between
(D) beside
2. A lot of my friends have ________ smoking in the last few years.
(A) put off
(B) held back
(C) cut off
(D) given up
3. Tell me ________ there is anything special that you would like to do.
(A) that
(B) which
(C) so
(D) if
4. I'm making you responsible for this project. Please see ________ it that it is finished on time.
(A) to
(B) into
(C) for
(D) on
5. He suggested ________ to the cinema together.
(A) us to go
(B) we are going
(C) that we should go
(D) for us to go
6. According to the forecast it will be mostly cloudy, with ________ of rain in the north.
(A) outbreaks
(B) elements
(C) bursts
(D) times
7. My parents ________ very strongly of people who smoke.
(A) disappoint
(B) dislike
(C) distrust
(D) disapprove
8. She bought a new ________ for the party.
(A) clothes
(B) clothing
(C) dress
(D) vest
9. When our company got a new computer, I had to ________ a course in programming.
(A) study
(B) work
(C) make
(D) do
10. This morning's history lesson seemed to go ________.
(A) through and through
(B) on and on
(C) over and over
(D) off and on
11. I know him by ________, but I have no idea what his name is.
(A) sight
(B) myself
(C) heart
(D) chance
12. The car burst into ________ but the driver managed to escape.
(A) fire
(B) burning
(C) heat
(D) flames
13. I know he is slow ________ understanding, but you have to be patient with him.
(A) to
(B) on
(C) at
(D) from
14. I'll be absent ________ class tomorrow.
(A) from
(B) at
(C) to
(D) in
15. It gives me ________ to introduce our today's speaker, Professor Smith.
(A) a great pleasure
(B) great pleasure
(C) great pleasures
(D) much pleasures
16. They ________ in Poland for more than three weeks now.
(A) have been staying
(B) are staying
(C) stay
(D) were staying
17. Look, Officer, I am not drunk. I am as ________ as a judge.
(A) calm
(B) steady
(C) clear
(D) sober
18. The working atmosphere has gone downhill since you joined. You have a lot to ________ for.
(A) agree
(B) abide
(C) attribute
(D) answer
19. The fact that the office was totally disorganized was more indication of the ________ of the new manager and of the ________ of the person who had admired him.
(A) indifference...consciousness
(B) ignorance...diligence
(C) incompetence...negligence
(D) tolerance...infallible
20. a sore point = ________.
(A) a blister on a foot
(B) a matter that irritates or hurts when it is brought up
(C) an unpleasant situation that one has to deal with
(D) a very dangerous crossroads, where many accidents

Trinh do C - Bai 41

Trình độ C - Bài 41

1. He was an ________ writer because he persuaded many people to see the trust of his idea.
(A) ordinary
(B) influential
(C) unlimited
(D) accurate
2. I ________ seeing John tomorrow so I will give him your message.
(A) shall be
(B) may be
(C) would be
(D) could be
3. The temperature yesterday was about ________ for the time of year.
(A) moderate
(B) average
(C) middle
(D) level
4. John swims very well and ________ does his brother.
(A) also
(B) even
(C) so
(D) too
5. The old lady was very ________ for our help.
(A) pleased
(B) appreciated
(C) delighted
(D) grateful
6. ________ it was raining heavily he went out without a raincoat.
(A) In spite
(B) In spite of
(C) However
(D) Although
7. Your progress will be ________ in six months' time.
(A) counted
(B) evaluated
(C) valued
(D) enumerated
8. I don't know why he complains about his low salary all the time. He doesn't earn as ________ as I do.
(A) less
(B) few
(C) more
(D) little
9. The company has had a bad year, and will therefore not be ________ any new workers.
(A) taking up
(B) taking off
(C) taking on
(D) taking after
10. He's a wonderful cook: he can make a delicious ________ out of almost anything.
(A) flavour
(B) food
(C) meal
(D) plate
11. From now on everything will be ________ sailing, I hope. No more problems.
(A) simple
(B) straight
(C) plain
(D) pretty
12. He could hardly ________ such a generous offer.
(A) turn down
(B) turn for
(C) turn off
(D) turn round
13. He had made his money by developing a profitable travel ________.
(A) commerce
(B) shop
(C) affair
(D) business
14. Do you believe ________ all that nonsense?
(A) on
(B) in
(C) to
(D) at
15. I'm not sure ________ the exact date, but I think he arrived here in 1959.
(A) with
(B) about
(C) for
(D) of
16. She may pride herself on her abilities, but she's not capable ________ bringing up children.
(A) of
(B) for
(C) on
(D) in
17. He was born ________.
(A) without wedlock
(B) out of wedlock
(C) out of a wedlock
(D) out of the wedlock
18. Although they have travelled extensively, they have never been ________.
(A) to the antipodes
(B) to antipodes
(C) to Antipodes
(D) at antipodes
19. At this hour the street was ________ as everyone was fast asleep in bed.
(A) wretched
(B) deserted
(C) devastated
(D) denuded
20. All ________ artists must struggle with the conflict between ________ their own talent and knowledge that very few are great enough to succeed.
(A) great... neglect of
(B) aspiring... faith in
(C) ambitious... indifference to
(D) prophetic...dissolution of