Voiced and Voiceless Consonants
Syllables and Word Endings

Voiced and Voiceless Consonants

It is important to make a distinction when discussing consonant sounds. Consonant sounds can be either voiced or voiceless.

Put your hand to your throat and say the word "pick". Now saw the word "big". Did you notice anything different? When you said the word "big" your vocal cords should have vibrated. This is because /b/ is a voiced consonant. /p/ is a voiceless consonant.

Consonant Pairs

These pairs of sounds are formed the same way. The only difference is whether or not the vocal cords vibrate. For example, the /b/ and /p/ sounds are both made with the lips. However, when we say /b/, we use the vocal cords to make that sound. The /b/ sound is a little longer and stronger.

Voiced and Voiceless Consonants

Final Consonant Sounds

Listen to the final voiceless and voiced consonant sounds. Can you hear a difference?

It may be difficult to hear the final sound, but listen again. Do you hear a difference in how the vowel sound is pronounced? The vowel sound is longer before a voiced consonant.

Which word do you hear?

Listening Practice

Play the recording. Role your mouse over to choices to see the correct answer.

1. set____________said

2. pick___________pig

3. hit____________hid

4. light___________lied

5. seat____________seed

6. rip_____________rib

7. town___________down

8. card____________guard

9. tear____________dare

10. path___________bath

Now listen to both words in each set. Do you hear a difference?

Nouns/Adjectives and Verbs

The following word pairs are spelling the same, but pronounced differently. What is the difference in pronunciation?

The Rule: In the pairs above, final consonants arevoiceless in nouns and adjectives, and voiced in verbs.

Final -s/-ed in words

The pronunciation of -s and -ed endings in English are important. English speakers use these endings often, and they have different grammatical meanings.

Examples: final -s

Trucks are bigger than cars. (plural)

This is the instructor's office. (possessive)

John works hard every day. (third person singular)

She's going to the beach. (contraction for "is")

It's been a cold winter. (contraction for "has")

Examples: final -ed

They visited New York. (past tense verb)

Here is the revised report. (adjective)

I've lived here a year. (past participle)

The meeting had started early. (past participle)

The light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison. (past participle)

Final -s

Which sound do you hear?

Which sound do you hear: /s/, /z/ or /iz/ ? Roll your mouse over the choices to see the correct answer.

waits___________ /s//z/ /iz/

grades__________ /s/ /z/ /iz/

dresses_________ /s/ /z/ /iz/

laughs___________/s/ /z/ /iz/

wishes___________/s/ /z/ /iz/

gives____________/s/ /z/ /iz/

In English, the pronunciation of -s endings can sound like /s/, /z/, or /iz/

/s/

In words that end in a voiceless sound, pronounce the final -s like /s/.

/z/

In words that end in a voiced sound, pronounce the final -s like /z/.

/iz/

In words that end in -sh, -ch, -x, -ss, -ge, and the /z/ sound, add the extra syllable /iz/.

More Final -s Practice: Proverbs

Listen and say the following proverbs with the speaker. Pay attention to the final -s sounds. Roll your mouse over the words to check that you have said the correct endings.

1. All that glitters is not gold.

2. The early bird catches the worm.

3. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

4. Practice makes perfect.

5. One good turn deserves another.

6. The devil dances in an empty pocket.

7. The last straw breaks the camels back.

Final -ed

Which sound do you hear?

Which sound do you hear: /t/, /d/, or /id/ ? Roll your mouse over the choices to see the correct answer.

washed____________/t/ /d/ /id/

cleaned____________/t/ /d/ /id/

waited_____________/t/ /d/ /id/

rented_____________/t/ /d/ /id/

yelled_____________/t/ /d/ /id/

fixed______________/t/ /d/ /id/

danced____________/t/ /d/ /id/

/t/

In words that end in a voiceless sound, the final -ed is pronounced /t/.

/d/

In words that end in a voiced sound, the final -ed is pronounced /d/.

/id/

In words that end in a /t/ or /d/ sound, add the syllable /id/.

Linking Final Endings

In natural speech, sometimes we change, move, or drop the ending of the word because we link, or connect, it to the following word.

Let's practice linking the final -s and -ed endings to the following words.

Linking to words that begin with a vowel sound.

When one word ends in a consonant sound, and the next word begins with a vowel sound, we often link the two words. It sounds like we take the final consonant sound and place it at the beginning of the next word.

called up__________sounds like call dup

stressed out_______ stress dout

walked in_________ walk din

cookedit_________ cook dit

pass on_____________sounds like pass son

Mark's arm__________Mark sarm

John's in____________ John zin

catches up___________catchi zup

Linking to words that have the same or similar sound.

turned down__________ sounds like turn down

planned to go____________plan to go

walked to_____________walk to

Listen and Repeat

Listen and repeat the following sentences paying attention to linking.

1. I have checked in at the hotel.

2. I have already checked out.

3. I majored in English.

4. Have you handed in your paper?

5. The teacher has handed out the assignment.

6. I turned down the volume.

7. We called off our trip because of the bad weather.