English Pronunciation Lesson: /s/ vs. /ʃ/ (s vs sh)

1) The basic sounds:

  • It’s a ssssssssssnake!
  • When you talk in the library, the librarian will say, “Shhhhhhhhhh”

2) Look at the diagrams (click to enlarge)

  • For the [ /s/   (ess) ] sound, your tongue should be just behind the point where your top teeth meet the roof of your mouth.
  • For the [/ʃ/  (sh)] sound, your tongue should point up towards the roof of your mouth

Happy-English-Pronunciation-S-SH

 

3) Look at these pairs of words:

  • see – she
  • sue - shoe
  • save - shave
  • sit - shit

4) Sentence practice #1

                     [ /s/   (ess) ]                                                       

  • I see seven swans.
  • Sue said Sam was sick.
  • Steve saves stamps and coins.
  • Can I sit here? Can someone sit here?

                   [ /ʃ/  (sh) ]

  •  She should shake it.
  •  We shop for shoes and shirts
  •  Should Tosh shave his mustache?
  •  Shelly should clean the shed.

5) Sentence practice #2

  1. Sue shops for Sam’s shoes.
  2. Steve should see the shimmering scene.
  3. Steve shall sell his stamps to buy shoes.
  4. She sells sea shells by the sea shore.

Remember, the key to pronunciation is listening, so listen to the video here and listen to English every day!



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One-Point English Grammar Lesson: 6 Basic Time Expressions with Prepositions

Today I am going to show you six basic time expressions using the prepositions in, on, & at. These are set expressions in English, so you’ll need to memorize them. The best way to do that, is to use each expression in a sentence, and make sure that sentence is true for you.

happy-english-basic-time-expressions-prepositions

Now it’s your turn to practice your English. How about trying to write an original sentence using some of the above patterns. Use the comment box below!



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English Pronunciation of Money Lesson: How to Pronounce Dollar Amounts

When you go shopping, it is important to be able to say and listen to the amounts of money correctly. Here are some basic examples:

  • $1 – a dollar or one dollar.
  • $3 – three dollars. *not three dollar
  • $50 – fifty dollars. *not fifty dollar

The nickname for the US Dollar is buck. We use buck when we speak in a casual situation:

  • $1 – a buck. *one buck is less common
  • $3 – three bucks.
  • $50 – fifty bucks.

When the amount has dollars and cents, we pronounce the amount in two ways. Remember, the [.] is pronounced [and] when we pronounce money:

#1 – the long way

  • $1.33 – one dollar and thirty-three cents.
  • $13.79 – thirteen dollars and seventy-nine cents.
  • $110. 99 – one hundred ten dollars and ninety-nine cents.

 #2 – the short way

  • $1.33 – one thirty-three.
  • $13.79 – thirteen seventy-nine.
  • $110. 99 – one ten ninety-nine.


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One-Point English Grammar Lesson: Because vs. Because of

A few days ago a reader wrote to me asking for help with because and because of. Today’s one-point English grammar lesson shows the basic difference between because and because of. I hope you find this helpful!

happy-english-because-vs-because-of



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