Spelling:
- "n" - nice, pen
- "nn" - planned, dinner
- "kn" - know, knife
- "gn" - sign, gnaw*
- "gne" (not common) - champagne, cologne
LISTEN
The sound /n/ can be in these clusters:
-
Beginning of a Syllable
-
End of a Syllable
| n_final_clusters.mp3 |
/ln/ ("ln") - kiln
/lnz/ ("lns") - kilns
/rn/ ("rn") - barn
/rnz/ ("rns") - horns
/rnd/ ("rned") - mourned
/nt/ ("nt") - point
/nts/ ("nts") - rents
/ntʃ/ ("nch") - lunch
/ntʃt/ ("nched") - launched
/lnz/ ("lns") - kilns
/rn/ ("rn") - barn
/rnz/ ("rns") - horns
/rnd/ ("rned") - mourned
/nt/ ("nt") - point
/nts/ ("nts") - rents
/ntʃ/ ("nch") - lunch
/ntʃt/ ("nched") - launched
/ndʒ/ ("nge") - strange
/nz/ ("ns" / "nse", / "nes") - fans, cleanse, bones
/ns/ ("nce" / "nse") - chance, sense
/nθ/ ("nth") - seventh
/nθs/ ("nths") - tenths
/nd/ ("nd" / "ned" / "nned")- send, loaned, planned
/ndz/ ("nds") - minds
/nz/ ("ns" / "nse", / "nes") - fans, cleanse, bones
/ns/ ("nce" / "nse") - chance, sense
/nθ/ ("nth") - seventh
/nθs/ ("nths") - tenths
/nd/ ("nd" / "ned" / "nned")- send, loaned, planned
/ndz/ ("nds") - minds
*Note: Occasionally the spelling "gn" is pronounced /ny/, as in the words "vignette" and "poignant"
Grammar Tip:
The sound /n/ is part of the suffix "-en." This suffix is used to mark some past participles in
English. Past participles are used in perfect verbs or passive verbs.
| grammar_-n-.mp3 |
- In perfect verbs:
- He has eaten.
- We had spoken.
- In passive verbs:
- The article was written.
- The window was broken.
The sound /n/ is also part of several contractions. A contraction is formed by
combining two words. The contractions below end in the consonant cluster /nt/.
COMPARE
Compare /n/ with /ŋ/:
| compare_n-ng_1.mp3 |
/n/.../ŋ/.../n/.../ŋ/.../n/.../ŋ/...
These are both nasal consonants. However, /n/ is an alveolar nasal while /ŋ/ is a velar nasal. When you pronounce /n/, the tip of your tongue should touch the roof of your mouth and the back of your tongue should be low in your mouth.
These are both nasal consonants. However, /n/ is an alveolar nasal while /ŋ/ is a velar nasal. When you pronounce /n/, the tip of your tongue should touch the roof of your mouth and the back of your tongue should be low in your mouth.
You can hear the difference between /n/ and /ŋ/ in these words.
| compare_n-ng_words.mp3 |
1. A. win, B. wing
2. A. sun, B. sung
3. A. tons, B. tongues
4. A. banned, B. banged
5. A. taken, B. taking
6. A. sinning, B. singing
2. A. sun, B. sung
3. A. tons, B. tongues
4. A. banned, B. banged
5. A. taken, B. taking
6. A. sinning, B. singing
Now compare /n/ and /l/:
| compare_n-l_1.mp3 |
/n/.../l/.../n/.../l/.../n/.../l/...
These are both voiced alveolar consonants. However, /n/ is a nasal consonant while /l/ is a liquid consonant. To pronounce /n/, air should stop in your mouth but flow out of your nose.
These are both voiced alveolar consonants. However, /n/ is a nasal consonant while /l/ is a liquid consonant. To pronounce /n/, air should stop in your mouth but flow out of your nose.
You can hear the difference between /n/ and /l/ in these words.
| compare_n-l_words.mp3 |
1. A. night, B. light
2. A. news, B. lose
3. A. nine, B. line
4. A. win, B. will
5. A. tenor, B. teller
6. A. spinning, B. spilling
2. A. news, B. lose
3. A. nine, B. line
4. A. win, B. will
5. A. tenor, B. teller
6. A. spinning, B. spilling
PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
| words_with_-n-.mp3 |
|
1. nice
2. number 3. snow 4. sneeze 5. snack 6. dinner 7. tunnel 8. evening 9. center 10. mention |
11. man
12. happen 13. mint 14. chance 15. strange 16. lunch 17. bones 18. launched 19. invention 20. nonsense |
Now practice /n/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
| sentences_with_-n-.mp3 |
1. complained - neighbors - noisy
He complained that his neighbors were too noisy.
2. inside - when - snowing
We should stay inside when it's snowing.
3. couldn't - find - journal
I couldn't find the right journal.
4. haven't - chance - finish
I haven't had a chance to finish.
5. lunch - fancy - restaurant
We had lunch at a fancy restaurant.
6. learned - anything - new - recently
Have you learned anything new recently?
He complained that his neighbors were too noisy.
2. inside - when - snowing
We should stay inside when it's snowing.
3. couldn't - find - journal
I couldn't find the right journal.
4. haven't - chance - finish
I haven't had a chance to finish.
5. lunch - fancy - restaurant
We had lunch at a fancy restaurant.
6. learned - anything - new - recently
Have you learned anything new recently?
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