Practice the stop consonants, p, b, t, d, k, and g
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| In this lesson, we'll learn the following sounds used in English: p, b, t, d, k, and g. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to tell them apart, PLUS you'll be practicing them and on your way to perfect pronunciation! |
| I'm Alisha, and this is English Pronunciation Through Minimal Pairs. |
| First is p. This is the p sound in "pass," "sport," "cap," and other words. |
| Next is b. This is the b sound in "be," "number," job," and other words. |
| Next is t. This is the t sound in "today," "still," "get," and other words. |
| Next is d. This is the d sound in "dad," "indeed," "need," and other words. |
| Next is k. This is the k sound in "cut," "next," "like," and other words. |
| The last is g. This is the g sound in "go," "together," "big," and other words. |
| All the sounds are plosives or, in other words, stop consonants. This means consonants that are produced by first stopping the airflow with the mouth, followed by a sudden release of air. |
| To make the p sound: the lips press firmly together and curl in slightly. The teeth are apart. Release the lips forward and blow air quickly through the lips. |
| p |
| (3 sec pause) |
| p (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| p |
| p |
| (3 sec pause) |
| p (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| p |
| To make the b sound: press your lips firmly together and curl them slightly. The teeth are apart. Release the lips forward and release the sound from the throat. |
| b |
| (3 sec pause) |
| b (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| b |
| b |
| (3 sec pause) |
| b (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| b |
| To make the t sound: move the front teeth together and part the lips slightly. Place the tip of the tongue against the back of the upper teeth. Release the position as you release a burst of air. |
| t |
| (3 sec pause) |
| t (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| t |
| t |
| (3 sec pause) |
| t (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| t |
| To make the d sound: the front teeth come together, and the tongue touches the back of the upper teeth. The lips are slightly apart. We release the sound and release the tongue from this position as we part our teeth. d. d (enunciated). d. |
| d |
| (3 sec pause) |
| d (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| d |
| d |
| (3 sec pause) |
| d (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| d |
| To make the k sound: start with the tongue in a relaxed position. The lips part slightly, and the teeth are apart. The back of the tongue moves up, and the tip of the tongue stays relaxed. Air is released at the top position. |
| k |
| (3 sec pause) |
| k (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| k |
| k |
| (3 sec pause) |
| k (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| k |
| To make the g sound: the lips and teeth move apart slightly. The back of the tongue raises to the rear of the mouth. We make the sound as we release the tongue from this position. |
| g |
| (3 sec pause) |
| g (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| g |
| g |
| (3 sec pause) |
| g (enunciated) |
| (3 sec pause) |
| g |
| P-b, t-d, k-g form pairs, where p, t, k are voiceless sounds and b, d, g are voiced sounds. |
| Listen to the difference and repeat after me. |
| p, b, t, d, k, g |
| [3 sec pause] |
| p, b, t, d, k, g (enunciated) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| p, b, t, d, k, g |
| i p, b, t, d, k, g |
| [3 sec pause] |
| p, b, t, d, k, g (enunciated) |
| [3 sec pause] |
| p, b, t, d, k, g |
| Listen and repeat or speak along with me. |
| Ready? |
| pack/back |
| (space for repetition) |
| pack/back |
| rapid/rabid |
| (space for repetition) |
| rapid/rabid |
| cap/cab |
| (space for repetition) |
| cap/cab |
| tear/dear |
| (space for repetition) |
| tear/dear |
| cart/card |
| (space for repetition) |
| cart/card |
| class/glass |
| (space for repetition) |
| class/glass |
| coat/goat |
| (space for repetition) |
| coat/goat |
| pick/pig |
| (space for repetition) |
| pick/pig |
| Let's review. Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then, repeat after me, focusing on pronunciation. |
| (Do you remember the voiceless sounds? |
| (3) |
| (2) |
| (1) |
| p, t, k |
| (1) |
| p, t, k |
| And the voiced sounds? |
| (3) |
| (2) |
| (1) |
| b, d, g |
| (1) |
| b, d, g |
| Let's practice. |
| Compare the sounds in these two words. Which word has the voiced sound, and which has the unvoiced sound? |
| pack/back |
| (1) |
| pack/back |
| (1) |
| "Back" has the voiced b sound, and "pack" has the unvoiced p sound. |
| Let's try one more. |
| (1 sec pause) |
| rapid/rabid |
| "Rabid" has the voiced b sound, and "rapid" has the unvoiced p sound. |
| Let's try another |
| (1 sec pause) |
| cap/cab |
| "Cab" has the voiced b sound, and "cap" has the unvoiced p sound. |
| Let's try one more. Which word has the voiced sound, and which has the unvoiced sound? |
| (1 sec pause) |
| tear/dear |
| "Dear" has the voiced d sound, and "tear" has the unvoiced t sound. |
| Let's try another. |
| (1 sec pause) |
| cart/card |
| "Card" has the voiced d sound, and "cart" has the unvoiced t sound. |
| Let's try one more. Which word has the voiced sound, and which has the unvoiced sound? |
| (1 sec pause) |
| class/glass |
| "Glass" has the voiced g sound, and "class" has the unvoiced k sound. |
| Let's try another. |
| (1 sec pause) |
| coat/goat |
| "Goat" has the voiced g sound, and "coat" has the unvoiced k sound. |
| Let's try one more. Which word has the voiced sound, and which has the unvoiced sound? |
| (1 sec pause) |
| pick/pig |
| "Pig" has the voiced g sound, and "pick" has the unvoiced k sound. |
| Now, listen to this sentence. Which words have the voiced b sound, and which have the unvoiced p sound? |
| (1 sec pause) |
| Pete, could you beat the eggs? |
| Now, try to read the sentence out loud, focusing on the different sounds. |
| Pete, could you beat the eggs? |
| (3 sec pause) |
| Let's try one more. |
| (1 sec pause) |
| She packed her bag and headed back home. |
| Now, try to read the sentence out loud, focusing on the different sounds. |
| She packed her bag and headed back home. |
| (3 sec pause) |
| Let's try another. Which words have the voiced d sound, and which have the unvoiced t sound? |
| (1 sec pause) |
| She left her credit card in the shopping cart. |
| Now, try to read the sentence out loud, focusing on the different sounds. |
| She left her credit card in the shopping cart. |
| (3 sec pause) |
| Let's try one more. |
| (1 sec pause) |
| The deer's tear revealed her sadness. |
| Now, try to read the sentence out loud, focusing on the different sounds. |
| The deer's tear revealed her sadness. |
| (3 sec pause) |
| Let's try another. Which words have the voiced g sound, and which have the unvoiced k sound? |
| (1 sec pause) |
| The goat chewed on the coat. |
| Now, try to read the sentence out loud, focusing on the different sounds. |
| The goat chewed on the coat. |
| (3 sec pause) |
| Let's try one more. |
| (1 sec pause) |
| The dog ran excitedly to the dock. |
| Now, try to read the sentence out loud, focusing on the different sounds. |
| The dog ran excitedly to the dock. |
| Here's a special resource just for you… |
| If you want to master these minimal pairs even faster… |
| Download our English Minimal Pairs Explained Companion eBook for FREE |
| This bonus eBook contains even more examples that are not in this video. |
| Just click the link in the comments section. |
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