Beginner Pronunciation & Mistakes (A1 · 23 lessons)
Beginner pronunciation & mistakes covers first steps: basic sentences, everyday words and simple present tenses. Open any lesson below for the explanation, examples and practice points.
Alphabet and Letter Sounds
26 letters, 44 sounds.
Short Vowel Sounds
a, e, i, o, u in short words.
Long Vowel Sounds
Vowels that say their name.
Common Confusing Pair: Its vs It's
its = belonging; it's = it is.
Common Confusing Pair: Your vs You're
your = belonging; you're = you are.
Common Confusing Pair: There, Their, They're
place; belonging; they are.
Mistake: Missing Verb To Be
English needs a verb in every sentence.
Mistake: Plural Forms
Don't add -s after numbers with adjectives incorrectly.
Sound: Short and Long I
ship vs sheep: length changes meaning.
Sound: B and P
b is voiced, p is not.
Sound: L and R
Tongue tip touches the roof for l, curls back for r.
Sound: V and W
v: teeth on lip; w: rounded lips.
Sound: Ch and Sh
ch starts with a stop; sh is a smooth hiss.
Syllables
Count the vowel beats in a word.
Rhyming Words
Words with the same ending sound.
Mistake: A vs An
Use an before vowel sounds.
Mistake: Is vs Are
Match the verb to a singular or plural subject.
Mistake: Do vs Does
Use does with he/she/it.
Mistake: Me vs I
Use I as subject and me as object.
Mistake: Good vs Well
good = adjective; well = adverb.
Mistake: Wrong Word Order in Questions
Auxiliary comes before the subject.
Mistake: Double Negatives
Don't use two negatives in one clause.
Mistake: Missing -s on Third Person
Add -s to he/she/it verbs.
Other levels for Pronunciation & Mistakes: Elementary · Intermediate · Upper-Intermediate · Advanced