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3A Pronunciation 3rd Person - S

This document discusses pronunciation rules for verbs ending in -s or -es in the third person singular present tense. It explains that the -s or -es is pronounced as /s/, /z/, or /ɪz/ depending on whether the verb ends in a voiceless, voiced, or sibilant sound. Voiceless sounds like /p/, /t/, /k/ cause /s/ pronunciation, while voiced sounds like /b/, /d/, /g/ cause /z/. Verbs ending in sibilants like /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /s/, /z/ cause /ɪz/ pronunciation. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to determine the correct pronunciation in each case.

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Marta Wasik
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701 views10 pages

3A Pronunciation 3rd Person - S

This document discusses pronunciation rules for verbs ending in -s or -es in the third person singular present tense. It explains that the -s or -es is pronounced as /s/, /z/, or /ɪz/ depending on whether the verb ends in a voiceless, voiced, or sibilant sound. Voiceless sounds like /p/, /t/, /k/ cause /s/ pronunciation, while voiced sounds like /b/, /d/, /g/ cause /z/. Verbs ending in sibilants like /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /s/, /z/ cause /ɪz/ pronunciation. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to determine the correct pronunciation in each case.

Uploaded by

Marta Wasik
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PRONUNCIATION:

3rd person -s

1
PRONUNCIATION: 3rd person -s
In the simple present tense we add an -s to the infinitive
to make the 3rd person singular.

We pronounce the -s as /s/, /z/, or /ız/.

2
/s/ or /z/ ?

In order to know if to pronounce /s/ or /z/ we need to


know the distinction between voiced (sonidos sonoros)
and unvoiced/voiceless (sonidos sordos).

When we make voiced sounds our vocal cords vibrate.


When we make unvoiced sounds, there is no vibration.

3
voiced and unvoiced sounds

All the vowels are voiced.

When it comes to consonants, it depends: some


are voiced and others are unvoiced / voiceless.

4
voiced consonants unvoiced consonants
/b/ boy /k/ cat or kite
/d/ duck /f/ fox
/g/ go /h/ hat
/dʒ/ jam /p/ pot
/l/ lamp /s/ sun
/m/ map /t/ top
/n/ nut /ʃ/ ship
/r/ rat /θ/ thumb
/v/ vase /tʃ/ chin
/j/ yoyo
/z/ zebra
/ð/ there

5
/s/
When the verb ends in unvoiced (voiceless) sounds,
we pronounce the -s as /s/

/p/ stop
/t/ put
/k/ make
/f/ surf

6
/z/
When the verb ends in voiced sounds, we pronounce the -s
as /z/, e.g.

/d/ read /v/ live


/m/ come /n/ listen
/l/ call
including after vowels, e.g.
go - goes /ɡəʊ -ɡəʊz/ do - does /duː - dʌz/
study - studies /ˈstʌdiz/
7
/ɪz/
When the verb ends in /tʃ/, /dʒ/, /s/, /z/, /ʃ/ sounds,
we pronounce the -s as /ɪz/

/tʃ/ teach
/dʒ/ judge
/s/ miss
/z/ lose
/ʃ/ finish

8
Work with a partner. Say out loud the following verbs and
decide if the final -s/-es is pronounced as /s/, /z/ or /ɪz/

teach, like, pass, go, wear, lose, have,


leave, brush, sail, close, make, manage
/s/ /z/ /ɪz/
drink dream pass
eat leave manage
like go close
put play brush
make sail teach
have lose
listen
do
wear

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