Notes

Unit-1
1.1 Phonetics :Vowels(12)
Vowels which have a single vowel sound when pronounced are
called pure vowels. The twelve vowel sounds we have mentioned
earlier are pure vowels. Words such as announce(ə), fret(e), sun(ʌ),
tick(ɪ), please(iː), dot(ɒ), foot(ʊ), food(uː), word(ɜː), warm(ɔː),
arm(aː) and pant(æ) come under this category.

1.1 Phonetics : Consonants (24)

English has 24 consonant sounds. Some consonants have voice

from the voice box and some don't. These consonants are voiced
and voiceless pairs /p/ /b/, /t/ /d/, /k/ /g/, /f/ /v/, /s/ /z/, /θ/ /ð/, /ʃ/ /ʒ/,
/ʈʃ/ /dʒ/. These consonants are voiced /h/, /w/, /n/, /m/, /r/, /j/, /ŋ/, /l/.

The 24 Consonant Sounds in English

Consonant Sounds Place of Manner of Articulation Examples

Articulation
/p/ Bilabial Plosive pet, top
/b/ Bilabial Plosive bat, tub
/m/ Bilabial Nasal mat, palm
/w/ Bilabial Approximant wind, always
/f/ Labio-dental Fricative front, leaf
/v/ Labio-dental Fricative vase, advise
/θ/ Dental Fricative think, teeth
/ð/ Dental Fricative this, with
/t/ Alveolar Fricative trunk, what
/d/ Alveolar Fricative dose, ward
/s/ Alveolar Fricative save, case
/z/ Alveolar Fricative zest, doze
/n/ Alveolar Nasal neat, win
 /l/ Alveolar Lateral like, will
/r/ Alveolar Approximant rest, torch
/ʃ/ Palato-alveolar Fricative shoes, cushion
/ʒ/ Palato-alveolar Fricative beige, measure
/tʃ/ Palato-alveolar Affricate catch, patch
/dʒ/ Palato-alveolar Affricate badge, judge
/j/ Palatal Approximant yoke, yonder
/k/ Velar Plosive keep, poke
/g/ Velar Plosive game, bag
/ŋ/ Velar Plosive sing, wing
/h/ Glottal Fricative heap, cohort

1.1 Phonetics: Diphthongs (8)

1. /aʊ/ as in “town”

The /aʊ/ diphthong is a journey from a wide, open-mouthed position

to a more rounded, closed one. It’s often represented by “ow” or
“ou.” This diphthong is dynamic, starting with a broad sound like “a”
in “cat” and gliding into a sound similar to “oo” in “food.”

Common /aʊ/ diphthong examples:

 Clown [klaʊn]

 Drought [draʊt]

 Outfit [ˈaʊtfɪt]

 Prowl [praʊl]
 Thousand [ˈθaʊzənd]

2. /aɪ/ as in “light”

This diphthong starts with an open-mouthed “ah” sound and swiftly

moves to a relaxed “ee” sound. It’s a frequent and lively sound in the
language, appearing in various spellings, such as “i,” “y,” “igh,” and
“ie.”

Common /aɪ/ diphthong examples:

 Sky [skaɪ]

 Crying [ˈkraɪɪŋ]

 Bright [braɪt]

 Tied [taɪd]

 Island [ˈaɪlənd]

3. /ɔɪ/ as in “toy”

The /ɔɪ/ diphthong combines a rounded, mid-mouth “aw” sound with

a sharp “ee.” It’s a playful and distinct sound, often spelled with “oy”
or “oi.”

Common /ɔɪ/ diphthong examples:

 Joy [ʤɔɪ]
 Annoy [əˈnɔɪ]

 Oyster [ˈɔɪ.stər]

 Employ [ɪmˈplɔɪ]

 Foil [fɔɪl]

4. /oʊ/ as in “slow”

/oʊ/ is a blend of a mid-mouth “o” sound and a pursed-lip “oo.” It’s

versatile in spelling, appearing as “ow,” “oa,” or “o,” followed by a
consonant and “e.” This diphthong is smooth and elongated.

Common /oʊ/ diphthong examples:

 Snow [snoʊ]

 Road [roʊd]

 Below [bɪˈloʊ]

 Throw [θroʊ]

 Coarse [kɔːrs]

5. /eɪ/ as in “play”

Starting with an “eh” sound and gliding into a brief “ee,” the /eɪ/
diphthong is commonly written as “ai,” “ay,” or “e” before a
consonant. This diphthong adds a bright, open quality to words.
 Common /eɪ/ diphthong examples:

 Stay [steɪ]

 Break [breɪk]

 They [ðeɪ]

 Obey [əˈbeɪ]

 Display [dɪˈspleɪ]

6. /juː/ as in “music”

This diphthong often begins with a subtle “y” sound, followed by “oo”
as in “food.” It’s typically written as “u,” “ue,” “eu,” or “ew.”

Common /juː/ diphthong examples:

 Tune [tjuːn]

 Student [ˈstjuːdənt]

 Few [fjuː]

 Resume [rɪˈzjuːm]

 Beauty [ˈbjuːti]

7. /ɪər/ as in “deer”
 Combining a relaxed “ih” sound and a brief “er” sound, the /ɪər/
diphthong often appears before “r” or “l.” It is generally spelled as
“ee,” “ea,” or a single “e.”

Common /ɪər/ diphthong examples:

 Pier [pɪər]

 Serious [ˈsɪəriəs]

 Material [məˈtɪəriəl]

 Sphere [sfɪər]

8. /eər/ as in “air”

The /eər/ diphthong starts with an “eh” sound and transitions into a
subtle “er.” It’s typically spelled as “ai,” “a,” or “ea” before an “r.”

Common /eər/ diphthong examples:

 Stay [steɪ]

 Break [breɪk]

 They [ðeɪ]

 Obey [əˈbeɪ]

 Display [dɪˈspleɪ]
There you have it – various common examples of diphthongs and
their phonetical pronunciations. The next step? Learn how to master
the pronunciation of these tricky sounds.

1.2 Prefix & Suffix: Definition & Examples

A prefix is a short morphological unit that is added to the beginning of a root word in
order to alter its meaning and/or function. It can be just a single letter or two to five
letters. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a prefix as “a letter or group of
letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning, such
as un- in unhappy and pre- in preheat”.

A suffix, on the other hand, is a short morphological unit that follows the root word. In
other words, it is added to the end of the root word. A suffix can contain two to four
letters. It is defined as “a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to make
another word, such as -ly in quickly or -ness in sadness”, according to the Oxford
Learner’s Dictionary.

The most common prefixes are as follows.

 A- (abiotic, atypical)
 Un- (undo, unfold)
 Im- (impolite, immature)
 In- (intolerant, indisciplined)
 Il- (illogical, illegible)
 Ir- (irregular, irresponsible)
 De- (decode, destress)
 Re- (redo, reappear)
 Dis- (disinterested, disobedient)
 Mis- (misunderstand, misinterpret)
 Pro- (proactive)
 Sub- (subconscious, substandard)
 Pre- (preset, predetermine)
 Non- (nonexistent, non-violence)
 Anti- (antifungal, antiviral)
 Post- (postmodern, postoperative)
 Inter- (interdependent, interrelated)

The most common suffixes are

 -y (honesty, noisy)
  -ly (quickly, softly)
 -ty (loyalty, sincerity)
 -ry (bravery, mockery)
 -er (larger, brighter)
 -al (parental, bacterial)
 -est (fastest, biggest)
 -age (usage, breakage)
 -ing (trying, binding)
 -ful (truthful, fruitful)
 -ment (shipment, basement)
 -ness (happiness, blindness)
 -able (bearable, eatable)
 -ible (sensible, convertible)
 -less (fearless, baseless)
 -ship (friendship, internship)
 -hood (parenthood, brotherhood)
 -sion (conversion, invasion)
 -tion (invention, exhibition)

1.3 Synonyms & Antonyms: Vocabulary expansion,

Context & Usage

Word Antonym Word Antonym

absence presence frequent seldom

accept refuse harmful harmless

accurate inaccurate horizontal vertical

advantage disadvantage imitation genuine

Word Antonym Word Antonym

ancient modern inhabited uninhabited

abundant scarce inferior superior

artificial natural intentional accidental

attractive repulsive justice injustice

borrow lend knowledge ignorance

bravery cowardice landlord tenant

create destroy, demolish likely unlikely

bold timid, meek minority majority

capable incapable miser spendthrift

Word Antonym Word Antonym

combine separate obedient disobedient

conceal reveal optimist pessimist

common rare permanent temporary

decrease increase plentiful scarce

definite indefinite private public

despair hope prudent imprudent

discourag
encourage qualified unqualified
e

employer employee satisfactory unsatisfactory

expand contract tame wild

 Word Antonym Word Antonym

forget remember vacant occupied

Word Synonym-1 Synonym-2 Synonym-3 Synonym-4

Amazing Incredible Unbelievable Improbable Astonishing
Anger Enrage Infuriate Arouse Nettle
Angry Wrathful Furious Enraged Indignant
Answer Reply Respond Retort Acknowledge
Ask Question Inquire Query Interrogate
Awful Dreadful Terrible Abominable Unpleasant
Bad Depraved Rotten Contaminated Sinful
Beautiful Gorgeous Dazzling Splendid Magnificent
Begin Start Open Launch Initiate
Big Enormous Huge Immense Gigantic
Brave Courageous Fearless Dauntless Intrepid
Break Fracture Wreck Crash Demolish
Bright Sparkling Shimmering Radiant Vivid
Calm Quiet Peaceful Unruffled Tranquil
Come Approach Advance Near Arrive
Cool Chilly Cold Frosty Frigid
Crooked Bent Twisted Zigzag Hooked
Cry Weep Wail Sob Bawl
Cut Slice Carve Cleave Slit