Note: In many American dialects, /ɑ/ and /ɔ/ are treated as the same sound.
Spelling:
- “o” – stop, pot
- “a” – father, garage
LISTEN
| grammar_-a-_1.mp3 |
Grammar Tip:
The sound /ɑ/ is present in the suffix –ology. This suffix indicates a field of study.
The sound /ɑ/ is present in the suffix –ology. This suffix indicates a field of study.
- Biology – the study of life
- Hydrology – the study of water
- Sociology – the study of human society
- Dermatology - the study of the skin and its diseases
| grammar_-a-_2.mp3 |
The sound /ɑ/ is also present in the
suffix -ography. This suffix indicates a field of
study or something related to writing.
- Ethnography - the study of cultures
- Oceanography - the study of the ocean
- Orthography - rules of correct writing
- Biography - the written account of a person's life
COMPARE
Compare /ɑ/ with /ow/:
| compare_a-ow_1.mp3 |
/ɑ/…/ow/…/ɑ/…/ow/…/ɑ/…/ow/…
The sound /ɑ/ is a low, central, lax vowel, but /ow/ is a mid, back, tense vowel. When you pronounce /ɑ/, your lips should not be rounded.
The sound /ɑ/ is a low, central, lax vowel, but /ow/ is a mid, back, tense vowel. When you pronounce /ɑ/, your lips should not be rounded.
You can hear the difference between /ɑ/ and /ow/ in these words.
| compare_a-ow_words.mp3 |
1. A. knot, B. note
2. A. sock, B. soak
3. A. tossed, B. toast
4. A. rob, B. robe
5. A. honor, B. owner
6. A. model, B. model
2. A. sock, B. soak
3. A. tossed, B. toast
4. A. rob, B. robe
5. A. honor, B. owner
6. A. model, B. model
Now compare /ɑ/ and /æ/:
| compare_a-ae_1.mp3 |
/ɑ/…/æ/.../ɑ/…/æ/…/ɑ/…/æ/…
These are both low vowels. However, /æ/ is a front, tense vowel and /ɑ/ is a central, lax vowel. Your lips should be wider for /æ/ than for /a/.
These are both low vowels. However, /æ/ is a front, tense vowel and /ɑ/ is a central, lax vowel. Your lips should be wider for /æ/ than for /a/.
You can hear the difference between /ɑ/ and /æ/ in these words.
| compare_a-ae_words.mp3 |
1. A. block, B. black
2. A. pod, B. pad
3. A. hot, B. hat
4. A. bond, B. band
5. A. adopt, B. adapt
6. A. bottle, B. battle
2. A. pod, B. pad
3. A. hot, B. hat
4. A. bond, B. band
5. A. adopt, B. adapt
6. A. bottle, B. battle
PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
| words_with_a.mp3 |
|
1. stop
2. got 3. spa 4. job 5. father 6. lock 7. far 8. harm 9. doctor 10. proper |
11. common
12. contact 13. garden 14. article 15. obvious 16. possible 17. college 18. follow 19. opportunity 20. positive |
Now practice /ɑ/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentence.
| sentences_with_a.mp3 |
1. party - starts - clock
The party starts at eight o'clock.
2. shopping - stop – latte
Before we go shopping, let's stop for a latte.
3. large - pots - garden
I bought some large pots for my balcony garden.
4. forgot - lock - car
I think I forgot to lock my car.
5. common - problem - college
Stress is a common problem among college students.
6. not - possible - opportunity
It's not possible to say yes to every opportunity.
The party starts at eight o'clock.
2. shopping - stop – latte
Before we go shopping, let's stop for a latte.
3. large - pots - garden
I bought some large pots for my balcony garden.
4. forgot - lock - car
I think I forgot to lock my car.
5. common - problem - college
Stress is a common problem among college students.
6. not - possible - opportunity
It's not possible to say yes to every opportunity.
To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:
