0
Reme Posted 22 years ago
Speech & Pronunciation
Plural of nouns: Pronunciation.
Hi there!
I need to clasify plural words (ending in -s) into three categories, depending on the way the final -s is pronounced:
/s/
/z/
/iz/
I can make the difference (very clearly) when it is pronounced /iz/ as in "chances", but I´m completely unable to identify the difference between /s/ and /z/ so... is there any rule?? How can I differenciate them without hearing them?
Thanks for your help in advance.
Reme
I need to clasify plural words (ending in -s) into three categories, depending on the way the final -s is pronounced:
/s/
/z/
/iz/
I can make the difference (very clearly) when it is pronounced /iz/ as in "chances", but I´m completely unable to identify the difference between /s/ and /z/ so... is there any rule?? How can I differenciate them without hearing them?
Thanks for your help in advance.
Reme
Top answer
In American English, the sound of "s" depends on which sound comes before it. 1. If the noun ends in an unvoiced consonant sound: /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, /th/-(thin), pronounce "s" as /s/.
- In American English, the sound of "s" depends on which sound comes before it.
- 1.
- If the noun ends in an unvoiced consonant sound: /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, /th/-(thin), pronounce "s" as /s/.
- 2.
- When it ends in a voiced consonant sound, /b/, /d/, /g/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /ng/, /r/ or with a vowel sound, /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/, pronounce "s" as /z/.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
26 Answers
0
In American English, the sound of "s" depends on which sound comes before it.
1. If the noun ends in an unvoiced consonant sound: /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, /th/-(thin), pronounce "s" as /s/.
2. When it ends in a voiced consonant sound, /b/, /d/, /g/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /ng/, /r/ or with a vowel sound, /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/, pronounce "s" as /z/.
3. If it ends with /s/, /z/,
1. If the noun ends in an unvoiced consonant sound: /f/, /k/, /p/, /t/, /th/-(thin), pronounce "s" as /s/.
2. When it ends in a voiced consonant sound, /b/, /d/, /g/, /l/, /m/, /n/, /ng/, /r/ or with a vowel sound, /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/, pronounce "s" as /z/.
3. If it ends with /s/, /z/,
00
Hi Teacher Eric,
Thanks for your precious help! I think that´s what I was looking for... Just one thing: when you say in American English, do you mean that in RP English may be different?
Thanks for your precious help! I think that´s what I was looking for... Just one thing: when you say in American English, do you mean that in RP English may be different?
00
In the Philippines where English is widely spoken and understood and where I've been teaching for the past 7 years, most pronounce the "s" in plural nouns as /s/. My hands are quite full trying to do something about this.
I'm not really sure if that's the case with the English spoken in other English-speaking countries like the UK, Australia, and South Africa. Perhaps someone else can
I'm not really sure if that's the case with the English spoken in other English-speaking countries like the UK, Australia, and South Africa. Perhaps someone else can
00
0
One cafe, two cafes
One safe, two safes
One giraffe, two giraffes
One gaffe, two gaffes
One knife, two knives
One wife, two wives
One fife, two fifes
One life, two lives
Are there any more you can think of?
One safe, two safes
One giraffe, two giraffes
One gaffe, two gaffes
One knife, two knives
One wife, two wives
One fife, two fifes
One life, two lives
Are there any more you can think of?
00
For nouns that end in f:
leaf - leaves
loaf - loaves
elf - elves
dwarf - dwarves (I could've sworn this was spelled "dwarfs" when Disney first came out with "Snow White and the seven...")
reef - reefs
oaf - oafs
leaf - leaves
loaf - loaves
elf - elves
dwarf - dwarves (I could've sworn this was spelled "dwarfs" when Disney first came out with "Snow White and the seven...")
reef - reefs
oaf - oafs
00
Here are some rule breakers:
cactus - cacti (kaktai)
focus - foci (fokai)
(That last one is a math term)
I can't think of any others at the moment, but usually if it ends in "us", you get rid of that and make it "i" (pronounced like I as in me.)
cactus - cacti (kaktai)
focus - foci (fokai)
(That last one is a math term)
I can't think of any others at the moment, but usually if it ends in "us", you get rid of that and make it "i" (pronounced like I as in me.)
00
0
What I meant is, many nouns are pluralized by adding "s" or "es". Very few words, in comparison, are pluralized (love that word) with "i".
00
I kind of like the term 'rule breakers' for exceptions to the rule. SMILE
By the way, those rule breaking words were borrowed into English from Latin and Greek.
By the way, those rule breaking words were borrowed into English from Latin and Greek.
0
Related Questions