The and The What is the real different

Status
Not open for further replies.

EducadorZero

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
Good afternoon, people!

Please, what is the better way to teaching the different of the pronunciation
of "the".

Thanks!!!:roll:
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
Good afternoon, people!

Please, what is the better way to teach the difference of the pronunciation
of "the".

Thanks!!!:roll:
What do you mean by "the difference of the pronunciation"?
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
stressed thee; unstressed before a consonant thuh; unstressed before a vowel thee

Thuh book.

Thee apple.

Let's go to thuh club vs. This is thee club to be seen at.
 

EducadorZero

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
Thank you for your correction.
About my question... well, I know that I should say "thu", when word "the" is before consonat sound, and say "thee", when word "the" is bofore vowel sound. Then I think that the most important is the letter's pronunciation.
So, please, look at these Exemple: 1) the umbrella 2) the ink 3) the hour 4) the apple 5) the end 6) the above-mentioned document. Are all these exemple pronunced as "thee"? I think so! because however some of these exemple are wrote with consonant, their sound are vowel.
Now, please, look at these exemple: 1) The fire 2) The power of love 3)The United State of America. Are all these exemple pronunced as "thu"? I think so! because all these exemple are wrote with consonant and their sound are consonant too.

Am I right?
 

EducadorZero

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
What do you mean by "the difference of the pronunciation"?

Thank you for your correction.
About my question... well, I know that I should say "thu", when word "the" is before CONSONANT sound, and say "thee", when word "the" is bofore VOWEL sound. Then I think that the most important is the letter's pronunciation.
So, please, look at these Exemple: 1) the umbrella 2) the ink 3) the hour 4) the apple 5) the end 6) the above-mentioned document. Are all these exemple pronunced as "thee"? I think so! because however some of these exemple are wrote with consonant, their sound are vowel.
Now, please, look at these exemple: 1) The fire 2) The power of love 3)The United State of America. Are all these exemple pronunced as "thu"? I think so! because all these exemple are wrote with consonant and their sound are consonant too.:?:
 
Last edited:

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Your examples are correct, but I think you stated the rule wrong.

Keep in mind that the "thee" pronunciation can be used for emphasis before any word.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
And note that some native speakers from parts of southern Africa use "thuh" (/ðə/) even before vowels.
 
Last edited:

EducadorZero

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
Ok, people! Thank you for your help

It was great heapful for me.:-o
 

EducadorZero

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Brazilian Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
Hey, people! I correted my litle mistake in that last example that I had done.
Thanks again!
I feel that soon I'll get my improvement:up:
 

probus

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
And note that some native speakers from parts of southern Africa use "thuh" (/ðə/) even before vowels.

And among younger people in North America, say those under 35, there is a trend to use "thuh" before vowels. It grates on my ear, but as usual when language evolves it is useless to grumble.
 
Last edited:

MrPedantic

Key Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2005
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Are all these exemple pronunced as "thee"? I think so! because however some of these exemple are wrote with consonant, their sound are vowel.

Be careful not to over-extend the "ee" sound, before a vowel or silent h. It is only a little longer than the i in "bit", and is followed by a very slight y-sound.

Where "the" is stressed, on the other hand, the "ee" sound may be as long as in "see".

Best wishes,

MrP
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top