The word 'the' is the fourth most frequent word in spoken English. In addition to the troubles many languages have with the voiced th sound at the beginning of the word, the vowel at the end of the word the has three different pronunciations depending on the first sound of the word that follows it:
Linking the to a word that begins with a consonant sound requires saying the vowel as a very quick schwa (an unstressed vowel sound which sounds like a short u sound) and linking it with the next word. Say the word the with almost no vowel sound at all.
Listen to the following examples:
the_dog the_biscuit The_dog ate the_biscuit.
Linking the to a word that begins with a vowel sound (except long e) requires pronouncing the final sound of the word the as a long e (the vowel sound in the word keep), then linking it with a y sound to the following word.
the_y_afternoon The_y_optometrist took the_y_afternoon off.
Linking the to a word that begins with a long e requires pronouncing the final sound in the word the as a schwa, then linking it smoothly to the following word. This is very similar to linking the + consonant.
the_emotions The_emotions of the_enormous catastrophe were strong. Rate this material: Share this page at your favorite social networking site! Discuss this topic in our Forums! Exercises Linking the + consonant Linking the+vowel Linking the + long e
the_emotions The_emotions of the_enormous catastrophe were strong.
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Linking the + consonant
Linking the+vowel
Linking the + long e
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