Reading the vowel e in English. English Reading Rules - Best Guides & Free Resources

The combination of letters in English is a phenomenon that is closely related to phonetics, since often the reading of consonants or vowels changes if another letter appears next to them. It is important not only to navigate the various variants of such combinations, but also to understand how certain ways of connecting individual letters differ and what pronunciation features will arise in this case. Therefore, it is required to consider the main letter combinations in the English language and give a special classification of such a phenomenon in order to understand the entire algorithm of actions a little easier.

Basic principles of combinations of English letters

The norms of the English language allow the combination of letters of the alphabet in such a way that new variants of sounds are subsequently formed. It must be remembered that sometimes such combinations are pronounced differently than they seem at first glance, and the phonetics of both letters used in one combination or another may be lost.

Ways of letter combinations in English allow the formation of new sounds by combining two consonants, two vowels, as well as a combined version of vowels and consonants. In this case, a certain combination can also be formed by combining three letters; they are called triphthongs and differ from diphthongs in that they consist of exactly three, and not two elements. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the basic rules for reading English letter combinations, and you can start with the vowel + vowel options.

Letter combinations vowels + vowels

When reading English letter combinations that include consonants, it is necessary to take into account both letters that are part of a particular construction. The options may be:

ai-- pain, rain;
ay-– game, pay;
ei-– deceive, weight, height;
ea-[e]– head, read, break;
ey-– key, grey, eye;
ee-– tree, screen;
ew-– new, few;
eu-– neutral, feudalism;
oo - [u] [ɔ:] [ʌ]- wool, pool, door, blood;
oa–[əu]- road, soap;
ou-– house, mouse;
ie-[e]– friend, field, diet.

All these variants with vowels are quite common and are read in English only in accordance with the indicated reading rules. Their sound conveys only vowel sounds, however, it is important not to confuse the options for connecting letters, otherwise there is a risk of incorrect spelling of words and structures.

Letter combinations consonants + consonants

The way one or another combination of consonant letters is read must be remembered very well, since there are significantly more such types of combinations than with vowels. The following are the most common ways English consonants are pronounced in combination with each other:

ch - [k] [ʃ]– chair, character, machine;
ck-[k]– stock, shock;
tch- consonant with the sound ch is the combination tch - – match, catch; for the sound h in English, two variants of consonant combinations are characteristic;
bt at the end of a word [t]– doubt, debt;
gh- after combinations ou, au [f], [–]- cough, slight;
dg-– hedgehog, edge;
th- interdental sound th is read in two ways. In service parts of speech and between vowels, the sound th in English gives [ð] - brother, the, and at the beginning or end of words, as well as before consonants, it sounds like [θ] – throw, bath;
sh- the sh sound can be read as [ʃ] – shrimp, shell;
gn-[n] sign, reign;
mb- in the middle of a word – remember, at the end of a word [m]– thumb;
mn- in the middle of a word – insomnia, at the end of a word [m]– column;
kn- in the middle of a word - sickness, at the beginning of a word [n]– knock;
wh - [w]– what, wheel;
ng- in the middle of a word [ŋg]– singer, at the end of a word [ŋ] – ring;
ph-[f]– philosopher, photo;
wr - [r]– write, wrong.

It is important to pay attention to how th, kn and other combinations are read, which have two pronunciations and sound special depending on the position in the word. The rule of reading all the combinations described above must always be observed, otherwise errors in the reading process and, accordingly, pronunciation will be inevitable.

Letter combinations vowels + consonants

Another option for combinations is vowels and consonants. Some letters in the alphabet can form certain ways of pronunciation, and this phonetic variant is also quite common. Here are some of the ways:

er- in unstressed position [ə] – worker, looker;
or- in an unstressed position [ə] - doctor, traitor;
an- before consonants – swan, plant;
al – [ɔ:] – chalk, talk. Another reading option is - half, calf;
wa-- was, water;
wor-– word, work;
war-– war, war;
igh-– right, night;
qu-– quiet, sequence;
ild-– wild, mild;
ind- find, bind.

All these options, presented with transcription, must be taken into account when pronouncing and reading the corresponding combinations. To display a combination of letters in English, a table can become an element that can group all the main options and present information in the most concise way. Here's what it might look like:

All these ways of combining letters of the English alphabet are very actively used in the language and are taken into account when studying phonetics and reading rules. All possible options should be remembered gradually, but it is necessary to know them, since, judging by the examples, some of them can be read differently. Being guided in all ways of reading, it will be possible to avoid many mistakes, and the interlocutor will be able to assess the level of preparation of the speaker, who, in turn, will correctly use the rules of letter combinations and avoid liberties in pronunciation.

The first thing a person who starts learning English faces is the difficulty in reading most words. On this score, there are many jokes even among the native speakers of this language, to say nothing of those for whom it is not native. One Dutch linguist even wrote a poem containing the most difficult and controversial cases of English phonetics - it is difficult to read it without errors even for someone who knows the language well.

But jokes are jokes, but you need to learn how to pronounce words correctly. The rules for reading in English help with this. For beginners, they will be a little difficult, but this is only out of habit. Having understood them and well fixed the theory with examples, you will see how much they will make your life easier.

What are these rules for?

Without knowing them, it will be difficult to learn to read. Of course, you can memorize the transcription of those words that you come across. But in this case, your ability to read will be very limited. And if there is a word with a familiar root, but a suffix or prefix that is incomprehensible for reading? Or In such cases, mistakes are inevitable if you do not know the rules for reading in English. For beginners, they are especially important, because they allow you to feel and understand the logic of building a language at all levels, starting with phonetics.

Reading consonants

• always firmly pronounced;
• voiced sounds are not deafened at the ends of words;
• after the sounds there is aspiration, because the lips open faster than in pronunciation in Russian;
• the sound [w] is pronounced with two lips;
• when pronouncing the sound [v], on the contrary, only the lower lip is involved;
• many sounds are pronounced with the tip of the tongue touching the alveoli, and not the teeth (as in Russian pronunciation).

Reading vowels: 4 types of syllable

We continue to analyze the rules of reading in English. For beginners with examples, it is better to submit material. Then it will be clearer how to pronounce this or that sound.

There are only six in the English alphabet, but the difficulty in reading them is due to the presence of four different types of syllables:

• open;
• closed;
• vowel + r;
• vowel + r + vowel.

Let's consider them all in order, not forgetting about the examples.

In an open syllable, the vowel is read as it is called in the alphabet: O is read as “ou (eu)”, U is read as a long “yu”, etc. The only exception is the letter Y, which is pronounced as “ay”. How can you tell if a syllable is open? It must end in a vowel, which can be:

• at the end of a monosyllabic word (me, go);
• at the beginning or middle (game, time, music);
• next to another vowel (suit).

In a closed syllable that ends in a consonant (sometimes doubled), the vowels are truncated:

• Aa [æ] turns into a cross between Russian sounds [a] and [e], for example: cat, apple.
• Uu [ʌ] is similar to the Russian sound [a], for example: rubber, jump.
• Ii is read as a short Russian sound [and], for example: sit, finger.
• Ee [e] is read with the sound [e], for example: pen, egg.
• Oo [ɔ] is read with a short sound [o], for example: shop, fox.
• Yy [i] under stress must be read as a short sound [and], for example: mystery, myth.

This is the minimum that the rules for reading in English for beginners include. With exercises for all 4 types, it is better not to rush, but first, it is good to learn the differences between closed and open syllables. Then you can move on to more complex cases.

The type of syllable "vowel + r" reads as follows:

• -ar pronounce with a long sound [aaa];
• -or reads like a long [ooh];
• -ur, -ir, -er are similar to the sound [o], but only pronounced by the throat.

The type of syllable "vowel + r + vowel" turns the sound into a special two-part phenomenon of English phonetics - a diphthong:

• Aa reads [ɛə], example: dare.
• Ee is read, example: mere.
• Ii is read, example: fire.
• Uu is read, example: cure.
• Yy is read, example: tire.

The exception is the letter Oo, which in the fourth type of syllable is not read as a diphthong, but simply as a long [ɔ:]. For example: more.

Reading letter combinations

Reading rules in English (for beginners and continuing students) cannot do without an explanation of the various combinations of consonants and vowels. Let's start with the first.

The combination of wr at the beginning of a word: the sound [w] is not pronounced. Examples: write, wrist, wrong.

The combination of wh at the beginning of a word: the sound [h] is not pronounced. Examples: why, what, white. But there is an exception here: if -wh is followed by the letter -o, then the sound [w] “falls out” when reading. This is how the words sound: who, whole, whose and others.

In letter combinations kn and gn at the beginning of a word: only the sound [n] is read. Examples: knot, gnat.

The combination ng at the end of the word sounds like the sound [ŋ] pronounced through the nose (going), and in the middle of the word - just [ŋg], for example: hungry, singer.

The combination ch reads like a Russian sound [h ’], soft. For example: cheese, coach.

The combination of sh gives the sound [ʃ], similar to Russian [sh] in a soft pronunciation. For example: she, push.

The combination of letters qu is read, for example: queen, quite.

The unstressed combination -our reads [ə]: colour, favourite.

The combination of letters -sion after a consonant is pronounced [ʃn], for example: mission. And then there is a voicing to [ʒn], example: decision.

Before the letters e, i, y: the consonant C is pronounced with the sound [s], G is pronounced. In other cases, it reads like this: C - [k], G - [g]. Compare: cell - cat, gym - game.

Vowel combinations: -ee, as well as -ea give a long sound, the combination -ai is read, the combination -oo conveys a long sound. For example: bee, seal, moon.

True, there are sometimes exceptions. For example, blood: in this word, the double O is read as the sound [ʌ]. But there are few such cases. They are easy to remember and do not over complicate the rules of reading in English.

For beginners

For children and adults, the explanation of the rules will be different. Young "English" will learn knowledge well if they are presented with elements of a game and a fairy tale. For example, one can explain reading types 1 and 2 as “open” and “closed” doors, where in the first case the letters feel free and shout their name (from the alphabet) loudly, and in the second they are almost inaudible. In a similar way, you can compose a kind of grammatical fairy tale and tell it to your child. An interactive element can be a task: to “disenchant” the words by reading them correctly. It is much easier and more interesting to memorize the rules of reading in English.

For elementary school

The little table below includes the rules for reading vowels in two types of syllables. For the convenience of a child who is not familiar with transcription, next to the sound is placed approximately his reading, written in Russian letters. In any case, the table must be read aloud together with an adult who knows the language: you need to pay attention to how the same letter behaves in different types of syllables, and understand the suggested word examples.

Students are often asked to learn transcription icons at home. You can make a set of cards and work out like this: you read a short word where there is a certain sound, and the child shows a card with its designation. In group work, everyone should have their own set.

Read without hesitation

How can I quickly and better remember the rules of reading in English? For beginners, exercises will be the best option. It is great if you can combine 2 types of activities: listening to samples and reading on your own. However, this approach can soon get boring, so it would be nice to include elements of the game and competition. For example, take two different lists of words for different rules - one for you, the other for a friend - and check who will read faster and with fewer errors. The game option can be as follows: using mixed cards with individual words and transcription icons, find and lay out matches.

Who needs reading rules in English? For beginners to study it (it goes without saying), for those who continue - to test themselves, and for those who have forgotten - to remember knowledge that has not been used for a long time.

Transcription is a recording of the sound of a letter or word as a sequence of special phonetic characters.

Transcription may not be interesting to everyone, but, no doubt, useful. Knowing the transcription, you will correctly read an unfamiliar word without outside help. In the classroom, you yourself can read the transcription of a word (for example, from the blackboard) without asking others around, thereby facilitating the process of mastering lexical material, etc.

At first there will be errors in the correct reading, tk. there are always some subtleties in pronunciation. But this is just a matter of practice. A little later, if necessary, you can transcribe the words yourself.

Transcription is directly related to reading rules. In English, not everything that is seen (letter combinations) is read (as in Russian and Spanish, for example).

When textbooks (mostly domestic) talk about reading rules, much attention is paid to the type of syllable. About five such types are usually described. But such a detailed theoretical presentation of the rules of reading does not make the lot of a beginner much easier, and can even mislead him. It must be remembered that a good knowledge of the rules of reading is a great merit of practice, not theory.

Your attention will be presented the basic rules for reading individual letters and letter combinations. "Behind the scenes" there will be some phonetic moments that are difficult to convey in writing.

A little patience! Both transcription and reading rules are easily acquired in a short time. Then you will be surprised: "How easy it became to read and write!"

However, do not forget that, despite its widest distribution, English does not cease to be a LANGUAGE full of exceptions, stylistic and other delights. And at any stage of language learning, and especially at the beginning, look into the dictionary more often.

Transcription icons and their pronunciation

Notes:

o]. But, in modern English dictionaries, this sound is usually denoted as shown in the table.

Diphthong is a complex sound, which consists of two sounds. In most cases, the diphthong can be "broken" into two sounds, but not in writing. Since in many cases one of the constituent sounds of a diphthong, if used separately, will have a different designation. For example, a diphthong [ au]: a separate transcription icon such as [ a] - Does not exist. Therefore, most diphthongs are indicated not by a combination of different transcription signs, but by their own sign.

In many school textbooks and in some domestic dictionaries, this sound is designated as [ ou], which is more clear. But, in modern English dictionaries, this sound is usually denoted as shown in the table.

This sign often denotes unstressed vowel sounds in transcription, regardless of the letters (combinations) that give this sound.

Reading Rules

English words have several types of syllables. However, to understand the whole system, it is necessary to remember and distinguish between the following two types: open and closed.

open syllable ends in a vowel: game, like, stone- the vowel in the word is read in the same way as in the alphabet.

Closed syllable ends in a consonant: pen, cat, bus- a vowel in a syllable gives a different sound.

Stress in transcription and words is indicated by a vertical bar before stressed syllable.

single vowel sounds

Vowel diphthongs

Consonants

Now go through an interactive lesson and reinforce this topic

There are 26 letters in English. In different combinations and positions, they represent 44 sounds.
In English, 24 consonants are distinguished, and they are transmitted in writing by 20 letters: Bb; cc; Dd; ff; Gg ; hh; Jj; kk; LI; mm; Nn; pp; Qq; Rr; Ss; Tt; vv; ww; xx; Zz.
In English, 12 vowels and 8 diphthongs are distinguished, and they are transmitted in writing by 6 letters: Aa; ee; li; Oh; Uu; Yy.

Video:

[English language. Initial course. Maria Rarenko. First educational channel.]

Transcription and stress

Phonetic transcription is an international system of signs used to show exactly how words should be pronounced. Each sound is displayed with a separate icon. These icons are always written in square brackets.
In transcription, verbal stress is indicated (which syllable in the word is stressed). accent mark [‘] placed before the stressed syllable.

English consonants

Features of English consonants
1. English consonants transmitted by letters b, f, g, m, s, v, z, are close in pronunciation to the corresponding Russian consonants, but should sound more energetic and tense.
2. English consonants are not softened.
3. Voiced consonants are never stunned - neither before voiceless consonants, nor at the end of a word.
4. Double consonants, that is, two identical consonants side by side, are always pronounced as one sound.
5. Some English consonants are pronounced with a breath: the tip of the tongue must be pressed firmly against the alveoli (the bumps where the teeth attach to the gum). Then the air between the tongue and teeth will pass with effort, and you will get a noise (explosion), that is, aspiration.

Rules for reading consonants in English:,

English vowel sounds

The reading of each vowel depends on:
1. from other letters standing next to it, in front of it or behind it;
2. from being in a shock or unstressed position.

Rules for reading vowels in English:,