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Archive Language Point 59
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Pronouncing 's'

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Regular plural nouns (e.g. names, parents) and 3rd person present simple verbs (e.g. she sings, he learns, it runs) all end in 's' but there are three different ways of pronouncing this letter.
 

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verbs nouns
wishesbuses
judgeswatches
closesexperiences
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verbsnouns
jumpsparents
bitescuffs
drinksmaths

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verbsnouns
singsclothes
needsmums
lovesnames

Voiced and unvoiced sounds

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If a sound is voiced it means that there is a vibration in your throat when you say the sound. If place your hand over your throat and say the sound /z/ or /m/, for example, you can feel your throat vibrate or buzz.

When you say an unvoiced sound, on the other hand, like /s/ or /t/, you can't feel any buzz or vibration in your throat.

 

Rules for pronouncing 's'

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Here are some rules about how you pronounce the final 's':

If the word ends with the sounds
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the final s is pronounced
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If the word ends with any other voicless consonant, for example:
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the final s is pronounced
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If the word ends with any other voiced consonant, for example:
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the final s is pronounced
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Vocabulary:

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folks (plural only, informal):
family or parents

place (informal):
house or flat

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