The sound /iy/ is a high, front, tense vowel
This vowel is usually stressed, as in these words:
- freezer
- eastern
- reason
- perceive
LISTEN
/iy/.../iy/.../iy/.../iy/...
see...keep...dream...busy...
see...keep...dream...busy...
However, /iy/ can also be unstressed.
In an unstressed syllable, /iy/ is pronounced quickly
and softly.
This is most common at the end of a word.
- lazy
- very
- quickly
- windy
Spelling:
- “ee” – beef, week
- “ea” – each, reason
- “ie” – believe, chief
- “ei” – receive, seize
- “i” – ski, taxi
- “y” (unstressed) – busy, lovely
Grammar Tip:
An unstressed /iy/ is part of some suffixes.
The suffix "-ly" is common in adverbs.
- quickly
- nicely
- readily
The suffix “-y” is common in adjectives.
- busy
- pretty
- ready
COMPARE
Compare /iy/ with /ɪ/:
/iy/.../ɪ/.../iy/.../ɪ/.../iy/.../ɪ/...
These are both high, front vowels. However, /ɪ/ is
These are both high, front vowels. However, /ɪ/ is
pronounced with a relaxed tongue and /iy/ is pronounced
with a tightened tongue.
You can hear the difference between /iy/ and /ɪ/ in these words.
1. A. leased, B. list
2. A. read, B. rid
3. A. beat, B. bit
4. A. leave, B. live
5. A. teen, B. tin
6. A. steal, B. still
2. A. read, B. rid
3. A. beat, B. bit
4. A. leave, B. live
5. A. teen, B. tin
6. A. steal, B. still
Now, compare /iy/ with /ey/:
/iy/…/ey/…/iy/…/ey/…/iy/…/ey/…
These are both front, tense vowels. However, /iy/ is
These are both front, tense vowels. However, /iy/ is
pronounced with a high tongue and /ey/ is pronounced
with a mid tongue.
You can hear the difference between /iy/ and /ey/ in
these words.
1. A. see, B. say
2. A. meek, B. make
3. A. bees, B. bays
4. A. veal, B. veil
5. A. peer, B. pair
6. A. leader, B. later
2. A. meek, B. make
3. A. bees, B. bays
4. A. veal, B. veil
5. A. peer, B. pair
6. A. leader, B. later
PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
1. feed
2. leak
3. meat
4. keep
5. peace
6. freeze
7. least
8. seats
9. dream
10. teen
2. leak
3. meat
4. keep
5. peace
6. freeze
7. least
8. seats
9. dream
10. teen
11. feel
12. dear
13. tiny
14. messy
15. easy
16. peanut
17. Easter
18. heated
19. medium
20. seemingly
12. dear
13. tiny
14. messy
15. easy
16. peanut
17. Easter
18. heated
19. medium
20. seemingly
Now, practice /iy/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
1. see – green – tree
Do you see the green tree?
2. he - seemed – mean – easy
He seemed to mean it was too easy
3. very - pleased – meet
I’m very pleased to meet you.
4. happy – receive – pretty - tee-shirt
I was happy to receive a pretty tee-shirt.
5. eat – meat – Easter
They eat special meat for Easter.
6. sleep – dream – easily
When you sleep, do you dream easily?
Do you see the green tree?
2. he - seemed – mean – easy
He seemed to mean it was too easy
3. very - pleased – meet
I’m very pleased to meet you.
4. happy – receive – pretty - tee-shirt
I was happy to receive a pretty tee-shirt.
5. eat – meat – Easter
They eat special meat for Easter.
6. sleep – dream – easily
When you sleep, do you dream easily?
To practice with different varieties of English,
choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the
links below:
Consonants /d/ and /g/
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a PALAVRA DEVERIA ESTAR AQUI
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