1 · Pronunciation
Hear it, see it, say it
IELTS tip. In the Speaking test, wrong voicing can turn a word into another, such as bag into back or leave into leaf. The -s and -ed endings also show voice. Choose five verbs in the past tense from your own topics, such as worked, played, wanted, helped and lived, and read them aloud to check the ending each time.
How to make it
- Put two fingers on your throat. Say 'sss': no buzz. Say 'zzz': buzz.
- For /p/ and /b/, close your lips. For /p/ release a puff of air; for /b/ keep your voice on and open the lips softly.
- Say the pairs in a row: p-b, t-d, k-g, f-v, s-z. Feel the buzz come and go.
- Check the vowel before a final consonant: make it longer before the voiced one.
pan, ban, tie, die, cap, gap, fan, van, sip, zip, back, bag