Spelling
- “t” – time, try
- "te" - late, write
- “tt” – mitt, better
- “th” (not common) – thyme, Thai
- “ed” – rushed, missed
LISTEN
The sound /t/ can be in these clusters:
-
Beginning of a Syllable
| t_initial_clusters.mp3 |
/st/ ("st")
- store
/tr/ ("tr") - try
/tw/ ("tw") - twin
/str/ ("str") - street
/tr/ ("tr") - try
/tw/ ("tw") - twin
/str/ ("str") - street
-
End of a Syllable
| t_final_clusters.mp3 |
/ts/ ("ts"/ “tes’) - hits,
rates
/pt/ ("pt" / “ped” / "pped") - apt, hoped, ripped
/spt/ (“sped”) - rasped
/rpt/ (“rped”) - warped
/mpt/ ("mpt" / “mped”) - prompt, pumped
/lpt/ (“lped”) - helped
/kt/ (“ct” / “ked,” / “cked”) - act, baked, locked
/kts/ ("cts") - acts
/kst/ (“xed”) - faxed
/lkt/ (“lked”) - milked
/rkt/ (“rked”) - parked
/ft/ ("ft" / “fed” / "ghed") - raft, goofed, coughed
/fts/ ("fts") - rafts
/mft/ (“mphed”) - triumphed
/st/ ("st" / “ssed”) - lost, tossed
/pt/ ("pt" / “ped” / "pped") - apt, hoped, ripped
/spt/ (“sped”) - rasped
/rpt/ (“rped”) - warped
/mpt/ ("mpt" / “mped”) - prompt, pumped
/lpt/ (“lped”) - helped
/kt/ (“ct” / “ked,” / “cked”) - act, baked, locked
/kts/ ("cts") - acts
/kst/ (“xed”) - faxed
/lkt/ (“lked”) - milked
/rkt/ (“rked”) - parked
/ft/ ("ft" / “fed” / "ghed") - raft, goofed, coughed
/fts/ ("fts") - rafts
/mft/ (“mphed”) - triumphed
/st/ ("st" / “ssed”) - lost, tossed
/rst/ ("rst" / “rsed” /
"rced") - worst, parsed,
forced
/ʃt/ (“shed”) - finished
/θt/ (“thed”) - badmouthed
/tʃt/ (“ched”) - fetched
/ntʃt/ (“nched”) - punched
/ltʃt/ (“lched”) - filched
/rtʃt/ (“rched”) - marched
/rt/ ("rt") - sort
/rts/ ("rts") - arts
/lt/ ("lt") - felt
/lts/ ("lts") - faults
/nt/ ("nt") - hint
/nts/ ("nts") - pants
/ʃt/ (“shed”) - finished
/θt/ (“thed”) - badmouthed
/tʃt/ (“ched”) - fetched
/ntʃt/ (“nched”) - punched
/ltʃt/ (“lched”) - filched
/rtʃt/ (“rched”) - marched
/rt/ ("rt") - sort
/rts/ ("rts") - arts
/lt/ ("lt") - felt
/lts/ ("lts") - faults
/nt/ ("nt") - hint
/nts/ ("nts") - pants
| grammar_-t-.mp3 |
Grammar Tip
The “-ed” ending is used to mark most past tense verbs, some past participles, and some participial adjectives. The “-ed” ending is pronounced /t/ after a voiceless consonant that is not /t/ (/p/, /k/, /f/, /s/ /ʃ/, /tʃ/).
The “-ed” ending is used to mark most past tense verbs, some past participles, and some participial adjectives. The “-ed” ending is pronounced /t/ after a voiceless consonant that is not /t/ (/p/, /k/, /f/, /s/ /ʃ/, /tʃ/).
- helped,
- laughed
- missed
- rushed
- watched
COMPARE
Compare /t/ with /d/:
| compare_t-d_1.mp3 |
/t/…/d/…/t/…/d/…/t/…/d/…
These are both alveolar stop consonants. However, /t/ is a voiceless consonant and /d/ is a voiced consonant. When you pronounce /t/, your vocal cords should not vibrate.
These are both alveolar stop consonants. However, /t/ is a voiceless consonant and /d/ is a voiced consonant. When you pronounce /t/, your vocal cords should not vibrate.
You can hear the difference between /t/ and /d/ in the words below.
| compare_t-d_words.mp3 |
1. A. time, B. dime
2. A. try, B. dry
3. A. mate, B. made
4. A. built, B. build
5. A. hurts, B. herds
6. A. center, B. sender
2. A. try, B. dry
3. A. mate, B. made
4. A. built, B. build
5. A. hurts, B. herds
6. A. center, B. sender
Now, compare /t/ and /θ/:
| compare_t-th_1.mp3 |
/t/…/θ/…/t/…/θ/…/t/…/θ/…
These are both voiceless, alveolar consonants. However, /t/ is a stop and /θ/ is a fricative. When you pronounce /t/, the air in your mouth should be stopped, then released.
These are both voiceless, alveolar consonants. However, /t/ is a stop and /θ/ is a fricative. When you pronounce /t/, the air in your mouth should be stopped, then released.
You can hear the difference between /t/ and /θ/ in the words below.
| compare_t-th_words.mp3 |
1. A. tank, B. thank
2. A. torn, B. thorn
3. A. tree, B. three
4. A. bat, B. bath
5. A. tent, B. tenth
6. A. heart, B. hearth
2. A. torn, B. thorn
3. A. tree, B. three
4. A. bat, B. bath
5. A. tent, B. tenth
6. A. heart, B. hearth
PRACTICE
Listen and repeat these words:
| words_with_-t-.mp3 |
|
1. take
2. try 3. truth 4. store 5. street 6. late 7. pots 8. best 9. melt 10. helped |
11. worst
12. barked 13. fixed 14. theater 15. mentor 16. restroom 17. afternoon 18. entrance 19. strategic 20. entertainment |
Now, practice /t/ in sentences. Say the words first, then the sentences.
| sentences_with_-t-.mp3 |
1. ate - leftover - breakfast
I ate leftover food for breakfast.
2. worked - night - project
I worked all night to finish the project.
3. technician - fixed - tablet
The technician fixed my tablet for me.
4. sister - worst - part - city
My sister lives in the worst part of the city.
5. missed - football - yesterday
I missed seeing the football game yesterday.
6. teacher - starts - taking - attendance
The teacher starts class by taking attendance.
I ate leftover food for breakfast.
2. worked - night - project
I worked all night to finish the project.
3. technician - fixed - tablet
The technician fixed my tablet for me.
4. sister - worst - part - city
My sister lives in the worst part of the city.
5. missed - football - yesterday
I missed seeing the football game yesterday.
6. teacher - starts - taking - attendance
The teacher starts class by taking attendance.
To practice with different varieties of English, choose another native English speaker by clicking one of the links below:
