Unit 14: November the first /f/ and /v/

A. How to make the sound /f/

Look at the diagram. Listen and say the sound. There is no voicing (vibration from the throat), and you can feel the air on your hand in front of your mouth. Target sound: /fffff/

B. Sound and spelling

/f/ is usually spelled f or ff, and sometimes ph or gh. Listen and say these words.

• feel: /fiːl/
• first: /fɜːrst/
• cafe: /kæˈfeɪ/
• after: /ˈæf.tər/
• leaf: /liːf/
• off: /ɔːf/ (Giọng Mỹ) hoặc /ɒf/ (Giọng Anh)
• coffee: /ˈkɔː.fi/

/f/ is sometimes spelled in different ways. Listen and say these words.

• phone: /foʊn/
• autograph: /ˈɔː.t̬ə.ɡræf/
• laugh: /læf/

Listen and say these sentences:

1. forty-five /ˌfɔːr.ti ˈfaɪv/
2. a family photo /ə ˈfæm.ə.li ˈfoʊ.toʊ/
3. I’m feeling fine. /aɪm ˈfiː.lɪŋ faɪn/
4. the fourteenth of February /ðə ˌfɔːrˈtiːnθ əv ˈfeb.ru.er.i/
5. When I asked for her autograph she just laughed. /wen aɪ æskt fər hər ˈɔː.t̬ə.ɡræf ʃi dʒʌst læft/

C. How to make the sound /v/

Look at the diagram. Listen and say the sound. There is voicing (vibration from the throat), and you can fel less air on your hand in front of your mouth then when you. Target sound: /vvvvv/

D. Sound and spelling

/v/ is usually spelled v. Listen and say these words.

• very: /ˈver.i/
• travel: /ˈtræv.əl/
• every: /ˈev.ri/
• have: /hæv/
• leave: /liːv/

Listen and say these phrases and sentences:

1. We’re leaving at five past seven. /wɪr ˈliː.vɪŋ ət faɪv pæst ˈsev.ən/
2. a visa for a seven-day visit /ə ˈviː.zə fər ə ˈsev.ən deɪ ˈvɪz.ɪt/
3. Stephen lives in a village. /ˈstiː.vən lɪvz ɪn ə ˈvɪl.ɪdʒ/