Pronunciation of “A”

 

·      As a long vowel “a’ is pronounced as /eɪ/.

 

Examples:

 

1.     Gate         /geɪt/

2.     Table       /ˈteɪbəl/

3.     Date         /deɪt/

4.     Able         /ˈeɪbəl/

·      As a short vowel “a” is pronounced in the following ways:

 

·      /æ/

 

Examples:

 

1.     Apple       /ˈæpəl/

2.     Exact        /ɪgˈzækt/

3.     Bat            /bæt/

4.     Actual      /ˈæktʃʊəl/

 

·    /a:/

Examples:

1.     Father     /ˈfa:ðə/

2.     Car            /ka:(r)/

3.     Fast          /fa:st/

4.     Barn         /ba:n/

 

 

 

·    /ɒ/

Examples:

1.     Was          /wɒz/

2.     Want       /wɒnt/

3.     Wash       /wɒʃ/

4.     Warrant  /ˈwɒrənt/

 

 

·    /ɪ/

Examples:

1.       Private    /ˈpraɪvɪt, ˈpraɪvət /

2.       Village     /ˈvɪlɪdʒ/

3.       Climate   /ˈklaɪmɪt/

 

·    /ə/

Examples:

1.     About      /əˈbaʊt/

2.     Adjust      /əˈdʒʌst/

3.     Zebra       /ˈzebrə, ˈzi:brə/

4.     Pizza        /ˈpi:tsə/

 

 

 

·    /eə/

Examples:

1.    Care         /keə(r)/

2.    Square     /skweə(r)/

3.    parent     /ˈpeərənt/

 

 

 

·    / ɔː/

 

a. Before final “ll”

Examples:

          1.    Ball        /bɔːl/

2.     Tall        /tɔːl/

3.     Call        /kɔːl/

          4.      Small    /smɔːl/

 

 

 

 

b. Before “l”

Examples:

1.     Already /ɔːlˈredi/

2.     Almost  /ˈɔːlməʊst/

3.     Always  /ˈɔːlweɪz/

4.     Alter      /ˈɔːltə/

 

·      After “w”

Examples:

1.     Walk     /wɔːk/

2.     Water   /ˈwɔːtə/

3.     War       /wɔː(r)/

4.     Ward    /wɔːd/

5.     Wall      /wɔːl/

 

·      Other words :

 

1. Chalk         /tʃɔːk/

2. Talk            /tɔːk/

 

·      Silent “a”

Examples:

1.   Automatically    /ɔːtəˈmætɪkli/

2.   Basically               /ˈbeɪsɪkli/

3.   Logically               /ˈlɒdʒɪkli/

4.   Typically               /ˈtɪpɪkli/

5.   Romantically      /rəʊˈmæntɪkli/

6.   Specifically          /spəˈcɪfɪkli/

 

 

 

 

Importance of Grammar

 

If people are immersed in (totally surrounded by) the language they are intending to learn, especially (but not limited to) being at a younger age, then acquiring the language without any formal learning is possible and quite common.

Grammar is the building blocks of any language and necessary for us to convey what we want to say properly.

Imagine trying to build a house with wood but no nails, screws or glue.

Will the structure hold together?

That’s what it’s like to speak in English without proper grammar.

Each sentence is just a jumbled pile of words.

English grammar is one of the most important elements of your language study.

In Spite of, Despite, Instead of

 

In spite of, despite and instead of are prepositional expressions.

Let’s learn how to use them in sentences.

 

In spite of/despite:

After in spite of and despite, we use a noun, gerund (-ing form of a verb) or a pronoun.

Examples:

1. Despite the fact that he worked very hard, he didn’t pass the exam.

2. Despite having a headache, I had a great birthday.

3. In spite of the pain in his leg, he completed the race.

4. The fight was cancelled. In spite of that, we arrived on time.

 

Instead of + noun:

Examples: I’ll have tea instead of coffee. I’ll go instead of Jim.

 

Instead of + pronoun:

Example: I’ll go instead of him.

 

Instead of + verb:

Example: I walk everyday instead of driving.