The sound /æ/ low, front, tense vowel
Spelling:
- "a" - cat, fan
- "au" - laugh, aunt
- "ai" - plaid
LISTEN
/æ/…/æ/…/æ/…/æ/…
sat...past...fan...camera...
sat...past...fan...camera...
COMPARE
Compare /æ/ with /ɛ/:
/æ/…/ɛ/…/æ/…/ɛ/…/æ/…/ɛ/…
These are both front vowels. However, /æ/ is a low, tense vowel and /ɛ/ is a mid, lax vowel. When you pronounce /æ/, your tongue should be lower than when you pronounce /ɛ/.
These are both front vowels. However, /æ/ is a low, tense vowel and /ɛ/ is a mid, lax vowel. When you pronounce /æ/, your tongue should be lower than when you pronounce /ɛ/.
You can hear the difference between /æ/ and /ɛ/ in these words.
1. A. bag, B. beg
2. A. fad, B. fed
3. A. past, B. pest
4. A. jam, B. gem
5. A. batter, B. better
6. A. expand, B. expend
2. A. fad, B. fed
3. A. past, B. pest
4. A. jam, B. gem
5. A. batter, B. better
6. A. expand, B. expend
Now, compare /æ/ with /ɑ/:
/æ/…/ɑ/…/æ/…/ɑ/…/æ/…/ɑ/…
These are both low, tense vowels. However, /æ/ is a front vowel, and /ɑ/ is a central vowel. When you pronounce /æ/, your tongue should be near the front of your mouth and your lips should be spread wide.
These are both low, tense vowels. However, /æ/ is a front vowel, and /ɑ/ is a central vowel. When you pronounce /æ/, your tongue should be near the front of your mouth and your lips should be spread wide.
You can hear the difference between /æ/ and /ɑ/ in these words.
1. A. sack, B. sock
2. A. cap, B. cop
3. A. math, B. moth
4. A. band, B. bond
5. A. jab, B. job
6. A. lagged, B. logged
2. A. cap, B. cop
3. A. math, B. moth
4. A. band, B. bond
5. A. jab, B. job
6. A. lagged, B. logged
PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
1. sat
2. cap
3. bag
4. pack
5. crash
6. path
7. have
8. match
9. pal
10. strand
2. cap
3. bag
4. pack
5. crash
6. path
7. have
8. match
9. pal
10. strand
11. grasp
12. passion
13. nasty
14. translate
15. challenge
16. capital
17. example
18. attitude
19. attachment
20. collaborate
12. passion
13. nasty
14. translate
15. challenge
16. capital
17. example
18. attitude
19. attachment
20. collaborate
Now, practice /æ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
1. had - bad - accident - Saturday
She had a bad accident on Saturday
2. saxophone - jazz - band
He plays saxophone for a jazz band
3. family - travel - California
My family is travelling to California.
4. absent - class - last
You were absent from class last week.
5. example - bad - habit
Can you give me an example of a bad habit?
6. haven't - had - chance - answer
I haven't had a chance to answer your e-mail.
She had a bad accident on Saturday
2. saxophone - jazz - band
He plays saxophone for a jazz band
3. family - travel - California
My family is travelling to California.
4. absent - class - last
You were absent from class last week.
5. example - bad - habit
Can you give me an example of a bad habit?
6. haven't - had - chance - answer
I haven't had a chance to answer your e-mail.
To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:
Consonants /d/ and /g/
What we understand will appear here!
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a PALAVRA DEVERIA ESTAR AQUI
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