UK INFOS (Grammar Level 1)
Th sound:
1. Voiced “TH” Sound (ð):
This sound is like the ‘th’ in “this” or “father”. To produce it, place your tongue between your teeth and vibrate your vocal cords.
2. Voiceless “TH” Sound (θ):
This sound is like the ‘th’ in “thing” or “thought”. To produce it, place your tongue against your top front teeth without vibrating your vocal cords.
3. Spelling:
The “TH” sound can be spelled with “th” as in “this” or “thing”. Sometimes it’s spelled with “th” as in “breathe” (voiced) or “teeth” (voiceless).
4. Pronunciation:
Non-native speakers often confuse the voiced and voiceless “TH” sounds. Practice is key to mastering these distinctions.
5. Word Stress:
In multisyllabic words, stress often falls on the syllable following the “TH” sound, such as in “author” (AU-ther) or “method” (ME-thod).
If you have specific questions or need more details on a particular aspect of the “TH” sound, feel free to ask!
Voiced “TH” Sound (ð):
1. Sound Description:
The voiced “TH” sound is represented by the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbol [ð]. It is produced with the vocal cords vibrating.
2. Articulation:
- Place your tongue tip lightly between your upper and lower front teeth.
- Air flows out around the sides of the tongue.
- Simultaneously, engage your vocal cords to produce a buzzing or humming sound.
3. Examples:
- Initial Position: this, that, they
- Medial Position: bother, father, mother
- Final Position: smooth, breathe, clothe
4. Common Issues:
- Non-native speakers may substitute this sound with a /d/ sound, as in saying “dis” instead of “this”.
- Some languages do not have a voiced “TH” sound, so it can be challenging to learn and produce accurately.
Voiceless “TH” Sound (θ):
1. Sound Description:
The voiceless “TH” sound is represented by the IPA symbol [θ]. It is produced without vibration of the vocal cords.
2. Articulation:
- Place your tongue tip lightly between your upper and lower front teeth, similar to the voiced “TH”.
- Air flows out around the sides of the tongue, but without engaging the vocal cords.
- The sound is more of a hissing or whispering quality.
3. Examples:
- Initial Position: think, thought, thing
- Medial Position: author, math, method
- Final Position: bath, path, tenth
4. Common Issues:
- Non-native speakers might substitute this sound with a /t/ or /s/ sound, such as saying “tin” instead of “thin”.
- Like the voiced “TH”, the voiceless “TH” sound can be challenging due to its absence in many languages.
Tips for Practicing “TH” Sounds:
1. Mirror Practice:
Watch yourself in a mirror to ensure your tongue is correctly positioned.
2. Minimal Pairs:
Practice words that differ only in the “TH” sound, such as “thin” and “sin”, to improve accuracy.
3. Tongue Twisters:
Use tongue twisters containing “TH” sounds to build fluency and accuracy.
4. Listening and Mimicking:
Listen to native speakers and mimic their pronunciation to improve your own.
5. Patience and Persistence:
Mastering the “TH” sounds takes time and practice, especially for non-native speakers.
By understanding and practicing these details, you can improve your pronunciation and confidence in using the “TH” sounds correctly in English.
Download Worksheets Below:
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| (Worksheet 1) |
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| (Worksheet 2) |
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| (Worksheet 3) |
Complete Quiz Here
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