P Sound - AHD Symbol /p/
B Sound - AHD Symbol /b/
B Sound - AHD Symbol /b/
AUDIO: Click on the play icon below to listen to the audio
The Sounds /p/ and /b/
The Sound /p/
To make the sound /p/, put your lips together firmly, stop the air completely, when pop the lips open. Do not make a vocal sound.
At the beginning of the words, release /p/ with a puff of air. To be sure the puff of air is strong enough, place a small piece of paper in front of your mouth when pronouncing the following words. The paper sould move considerably.
pay
pat
peck
pit
pot
play
praise
Make th same puff of air when a word wnds in another consonant plus /p/.
lamp
limp
harp
sharp
grasp
wasp
scalp
help
Do NOT make the puff of air when /p/ occurs in the midle of a word before a vowel sound.
apple
happy
simple
people
purple
Do NOT make the puff of air when /p/ directly follows the /s/ at the beginning or in the middle of a word.
span
spend
spill
spoil
whisper
hospital
aspirin
expect
When /p/ is the last sound in a word and is followed by another word, do NOT pop your lips open. Bring the lips together firmly, making no vocal sound, then say the next word.
Put the top down.
Keep trying.
I hope to stop them.
It's up there.
The map you gave me is helpful.
When /p/ is the last sound, make it either with or without the puff of air. There is no difference in meaning.
With the puff
Stop!
Read the map.
Let's so on a trip.
I need some sleep.
Never give up.
Without the puff
Stop!
Read the map.
Let's so on a trip.
I need some sleep.
Never give up.
Practice
Please prepare the pizza for the party.
Pat helped me pick up the papers.
Put the stamps on the package.
Mr. Bishop paid for the lamp in April.
Phillip didn't give me a map.
Penny has the hiccoughs.
Note:
* The letter p followed by the letter h is usually pronounced /f/.
** The letter p is silent (not pronounced) in the following words.
receipt
psychology
pneumonia
corps
raspberry
cupboard
sapphire
-----------------------------------------------------------
The Sound /b/
To pronounce /b/, place your lips together firmly; stop the air completely, and make a voiced sound.
bag
bread
bulb
observe
cabs
rubber
sobbed
Practice
1. Billy grabbed the sobbing baby.
2. The bushes and bulbs are about to bloom.
3. Bob was bleeding, and his bones were broken.
4. Maybe Elizabeth brags a bit.
* The letter b is silent in the following words.
debt
doubt
lamb
comb
tomb
womb
subtle
subpoena
Contrasting Sound Practice
Comparing the sound /p/ with the sound /b/
pin - bin
pet - bet
pack - back
pole - bowl
push - bush
pour (pore) - bore (boar)
punch - bunch
prayed - braid
repel - rebel
rapid - rabid
roped - robed
ripped - ribbed
pare (pair, pear) - bare (bear)
Listening Exercise: Which one do you hear?
1
A: I can't pare it.
B: I can't bear it.
2.
A: Paul needs a push in front of his house.
B: Paul needs a bush in front of his house.
3.
A: We bought a big pole.
B. We bought a big bowl.
4.
A: Patty has some new cups.
B: Patty has some new cubs.
Answers:
1. B
2. A
3. A
4. B
