Spelling:
- "m" - him, film
- "me" - time, home
- "mm" - summer, common
- "mb" - dumb, lamb
- "lm" - calm, palm
- "mn" (not common) - hymn
LISTEN
The sound /m/ can be in these clusters:
-
Beginning of a Syllable
-
End of a Syllable
| m_final_clusters.mp3 |
/mz/ ("ms"
/ "mes") -
rooms,
homes
/md/ ("med" / "mmed" / "mbed") - aimed, hummed, combed
/lm/ ("lm") - film
/lmz/ ("lms") - helms
/lmd/ ("lmed") - filmed
/rm/ ("rm") - form
/rmz/ ("rms") - harms
/rmd/ ("rmed") - armed
/md/ ("med" / "mmed" / "mbed") - aimed, hummed, combed
/lm/ ("lm") - film
/lmz/ ("lms") - helms
/lmd/ ("lmed") - filmed
/rm/ ("rm") - form
/rmz/ ("rms") - harms
/rmd/ ("rmed") - armed
/zm/ ("sm")
-
realism
/zmz/ ("sms") - prisms
/ðm/ ("thm") - rhythm
/mp/ ("mp") - lamp
/mps/ ("mps") - camps
/mpt/ ("mpt" / "mped") - prompt, jumped
/mpts/ ("mpts") - attempts
/mf/ ("mph") - triumph
/mfs/ ("mphs") - nymphs
/mpft/ ("mphed") - triumphed
/zmz/ ("sms") - prisms
/ðm/ ("thm") - rhythm
/mp/ ("mp") - lamp
/mps/ ("mps") - camps
/mpt/ ("mpt" / "mped") - prompt, jumped
/mpts/ ("mpts") - attempts
/mf/ ("mph") - triumph
/mfs/ ("mphs") - nymphs
/mpft/ ("mphed") - triumphed
Grammar Tip:
The sound /m/ is used in the suffix "-ism." This suffix can be pronounced as one syllable (/ɪzm/) or two syllables (/ɪz-əm/). When "ism" is added, the stress of the word does not change.This suffix may be added to certain adjectives, nouns, or verbs.
- Adjective --> Noun: fatal --> fatalism, intellectual --> intellectualism
- Noun --> Noun: tour --> tourism, alcohol --> alcoholism
- Verb --> Noun: plagiarize --> plagiarism, criticize --> criticism
COMPARE
Compare
/m/
with /n/:
| compare_m-n_1.mp3 |
/m/.../n/.../m/.../n/.../m/.../n/...
These are both voiced nasal consonants. However, /m/ is a bilabial consonant while /n/ is an alveolar consonant. When you pronounce /m/, your lips should touch each other.
These are both voiced nasal consonants. However, /m/ is a bilabial consonant while /n/ is an alveolar consonant. When you pronounce /m/, your lips should touch each other.
You
can
recognize
the
difference
between
/m/
and
/n/
in
these
words.
| compare_m-n_words.mp3 |
1. A.
met,
B.
net
2. A. smack, B. snack
3. A. some, B. sun
4. A. term, B. turn
5. A. limes, B. lines
6. A. gaming, B. gaining
2. A. smack, B. snack
3. A. some, B. sun
4. A. term, B. turn
5. A. limes, B. lines
6. A. gaming, B. gaining
Now, compare /m/ and /b/:
| compare_m-b_1.mp3 |
/m/.../b/.../m/.../b/.../m/.../b/...
These are both voiced, bilabial consonants. However, /m/ is a nasal consonant and /b/ is a stop consonant. When you pronounce /m/, air should flow out of your nose.
These are both voiced, bilabial consonants. However, /m/ is a nasal consonant and /b/ is a stop consonant. When you pronounce /m/, air should flow out of your nose.
You can hear the difference between /m/ and /n/ in these words.
| compare_m-b_words.mp3 |
1. A.
mean,
B. bean
2. A. mom, B. bomb
3. A. hub, B. hum
5. A. rims, B. ribs
6. A. scammed, B. scabbed
4. A. unmeant, B. unbent
2. A. mom, B. bomb
3. A. hub, B. hum
5. A. rims, B. ribs
6. A. scammed, B. scabbed
4. A. unmeant, B. unbent
PRACTICE
Listen
and
repeat
these
words.
| words_with_-m-.mp3 |
|
1. map
2. meal 3. mother 4. smell 5. time 6. rooms 7. claimed 8. film 9. arm 10. camp |
11. prompt
12. triumph 13. hammer 14. harmful 15. tumble 16. simple 17. remember 18. spasm 19. criticism 20. environment |
Now, practice /m/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
| sentences_with_-m-.mp3 |
1. family
- moved
-
farm
-
His
family
just moved
to
a farm.
2. claimed - problem - simple - The teacher claimed that the problem was simple.
3. animals - harmed - making - film - No animals were harmed in the making of this film.
4. smell - smoke - campfire - I smell smoke from a campfire.
5. criticism - harmful - improve - Criticism can be harmful, or it can help you improve.
6. remember - mother's - number - Do you remember your mother's phone number?
2. claimed - problem - simple - The teacher claimed that the problem was simple.
3. animals - harmed - making - film - No animals were harmed in the making of this film.
4. smell - smoke - campfire - I smell smoke from a campfire.
5. criticism - harmful - improve - Criticism can be harmful, or it can help you improve.
6. remember - mother's - number - Do you remember your mother's phone number?
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