PRONUNCIATION RULES

PRONUNCIATION RULES

Plural Marker(-s) Rule

There are three ways of pronouncing the plural suffix ‘s’.

If the word ends in one of the voiceless sounds – (/p/, /t/, /k/, /θ/, /f/) then the plural marker ‘s’ attached to it is pronounced /s/.

caps   - /kæps/                      books- /bʊks/ bats  - /bæts/                        maths- /mæθs/ laughs- /lɑ:fs/                        tips - /tɪps/

If the word ends in one of the voiced sounds (/b/, /d/, /ɡ/, /ð/, /v/, /n/, /m/, /l/, /r/) or any vowel sounds (which are also voiced) then the plural marker ‘s’ attached to it is pronounced /z/.

tubs                 / tʌbz/ rooms              / ru:mz / bags                 / bæɡz/ wells                /welz/ swords             / sɔ:dz/

If the word ends with sibilants, (voiceless /s/, /ʃ/,/tʃ/ and their voiced counterparts /z/, /ʒ/, /dʒ/) then the plural marker ‘s’ attached to it is pronounced /Iz/.

badges             / bædʒIz/ boxes               / bɒksIz/ wishes             / wɪʃIz/ faces                / feɪsIz/

Past Tense Marker (-ed) Rule

If a verb ends in a voiceless sound except /t/  i.e, if it ends in (p, t, k, f, s, θ, ʃ or tʃ) then –ed is  pronounced /t/. 

picked             / pɪkt/ coughed          / kɒft/ washed          / wɒʃt/ latched           / lætʃt/ briefed             / bri:ft/

If a verb ends in a voiced sound except /d/ i.e., if it ends in /b/, /ɡ/,/ð/, /v/, /n/, /m/, /l/, /r/, /z/, /ʒ/, /dʒ/) or a vowel, then the past tense (-ed) is pronounced /d/.

dined               / daɪnd/ boiled              / bɔɪld/ mobbed           / mɒbd/ bathed             / beɪðd/

If a verb ends in either /t/ or /d/ then –‘ed’ is pronounced /Id/.

funded              / fʌndɪd/ fitted               / fɪtɪd/ repeated          / rɪ:pi:tɪd/ guarded           /ɡɑ:dɪd/