Pronunciation

[jlinger]

Yes, indeed. But not a plural.

[Waawe]

Originally Posted by jlinger

Gads but do I ever hate "rules"! But, you asked!


1. If the noun ends in an unvoiced consonant sound: /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, /th/-(thin), pronounce "s" as /s/.

2. When it ends in a voiced consonant sound, /b/, /d/, /g/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /ng/, /r/ or with a vowel sound, /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/, pronounce "s" as /z/.

3. If it ends with /s/, /z/, /sh/, /ch/-chair, /zh/-the second "g" in garage, /dz/-(j), pronounce "s" or "-es" as /iz/.

In other words, if the noun ends with a sound other than the 5 unvoiced consonants, pronounce "s" with a /z/ (or with an /iz/ as the case may be).

Dear jlinger,

I know you hate rules, yet, those you have provided have been such great help to me. I have practised a lot and got much better in the pronunciation of plurals. Consequently, Im asking for more.

The issue is similar. Could you kindly instruct me how to pronounce the past form of regular verbs? When do we say /-t/ and /-d/ at the end of the verbs? Are the rules similar to the above about plurals?

I promise this will be the last one about pronunciation for long. Looking forward to some more tricks from you.

Good day to you and all good people.

Waawe

[jlinger]

Rules of pronunciation for regular verbs:

1. Use a T sound to pronounce the past tense when a word ends in one of these (unvoiced) sounds: P, F, K, S, SH, TH, CH. Examples: talk--talked(T), wish--wished(T), watch--watched(T), kiss--kissed(T); push--pushed(T)

2. Use the D sound to pronounce the past tense when a word ends in one of these (voiced) sounds: B, M, N, J, L, NG, G, R, V, THH, Z and all vowel sounds. Examples: rob--robbed(D), fill--filled(D), agree--agreed(D), mow -- mowed(D), hedge--hedged(D), dim--dimmed(D).

3. Use the syllable I D sound to pronounce the past tense of a word that ends with a T or D sound. Examples: need--needed(ID), want--wanted(ID)