z versus s (rise / rice)

Say each pair aloud. If the two words sound the same when you record yourself, slow down and go back to the steps above.

• rice /raɪs//rise /raɪz/
• price /praɪs//prize /praɪz/
• loose /luːs//lose /luːz/
• advice /ədˈvaɪs//advise /ədˈvaɪz/
• peace /piːs//peas /piːz/
• course /kɔːs//cause /kɔːz/
• ice /aɪs//eyes /aɪz/

1. 1

   House prices have continued to rise steadily across the entire city.

   /s/ in 'House' /haʊs/, 'prices' (first consonant), and 'city' /ˈsɪti/; /z/ in 'prices' /ˈpraɪsɪz/ (ending) and 'rise' /raɪz/

2. 2

   I always listen to soothing music because it helps me unwind.

   /s/ in 'listen' /ˈlɪsn/ and 'soothing' /ˈsuːðɪŋ/; /z/ in 'always' /ˈɔːlweɪz/, 'music' /ˈmjuːzɪk/, and 'because' /bɪˈkɒz/

3. 3

   My tutor gave me sensible advice, but she did not advise a career change.

   /s/ in 'sensible' /ˈsensəbl/ and 'advice' /ədˈvaɪs/; /z/ in 'advise' /ədˈvaɪz/

4. 4

   Public transport saves time, whereas driving private cars causes endless stress.

   /s/ in 'transport' /ˈtrænspɔːt/ and 'stress' /stres/; /z/ in 'saves' /seɪvz/ (final), 'whereas' /weərˈæz/, 'cars' /kɑːz/, and 'causes' /ˈkɔːzɪz/

5. 5

   She tries to save some money every month for summer holidays.

   /s/ in 'save' /seɪv/, 'some' /sʌm/, and 'summer' /ˈsʌmə/; /z/ in 'tries' /traɪz/ and 'holidays' /ˈhɒlɪdeɪz/

6. 6

   The museum displays several ancient coins and rare historical pieces.

   /s/ in 'several' /ˈsevrəl/, 'historical' /hɪˈstɒrɪkl/, and 'pieces' (first syllable); /z/ in 'museum' /mjuːˈziːəm/, 'displays' /dɪˈspleɪz/, 'coins' /kɔɪnz/, and 'pieces' /ˈpiːsɪz/ (ending)

7. 7

   I prefer loose shirts because tight clothes make me lose focus easily.

   /s/ in 'loose' /luːs/ and 'focus' /ˈfəʊkəs/; /z/ in 'because' /bɪˈkɒz/, 'clothes' /kləʊðz/, 'lose' /luːz/, and 'easily' /ˈiːzɪli/

8. 8

   Many modern devices use smart sensors to analyse air quality indoors.

   /s/ in 'devices' /dɪˈvaɪsɪz/ (middle) and 'sensors' (initial); /z/ in 'devices' (ending), 'sensors' /ˈsensəz/ (ending), 'analyse' /ˈænəlaɪz/, and 'indoors' /ɪnˈdɔːz/

9. 9

   Students who pass the difficult test will receive a special prize.

   /s/ in 'Students' /ˈstjuːdnts/ (initial and final), 'pass' /pɑːs/, and 'special' /ˈspeʃl/; /z/ in 'prize' /praɪz/

10. 10

    Fresh ice chilled the drinks, while bright lights dazzled our eyes.

    /s/ in 'ice' /aɪs/ and 'drinks' /drɪŋks/; /z/ in 'dazzled' /ˈdæzld/ and 'eyes' /aɪz/

11. 11

    This small town has quiet parks, friendly neighbours, and safe streets.

    /s/ in 'small' /smɔːl/, 'parks' /pɑːks/, 'safe' /seɪf/, and 'streets' /striːts/; /z/ in 'has' /hæz/ and 'neighbours' /ˈneɪbəz/

12. 12

    My cousin runs a successful bakery business in central Leeds.

    /s/ in 'successful' /səkˈsesfl/, 'business' /ˈbɪznəs/ (ending), and 'central' /ˈsentrəl/; /z/ in 'cousin' /ˈkʌzn/, 'runs' /rʌnz/, 'business' (middle), and 'Leeds' /liːdz/

• ch versus j (cheap / jeep)
• Consonant clusters at the end of words (texts, months)
• Consonant clusters at the start of words (street, spring)
• f versus p (fast / past)
• Final consonants that learners drop (want, hand, desk)
• h at the start of words (hair / air)
• r versus l (right / light)
• s versus sh (seat / sheet)
• sh versus ch (share / chair)
• Silent letters (knee, listen, foreign)
• Silent r after vowels in British English (car, work)
• th versus d and z (they / day / zay)
• th versus s and t (thank / sank / tank)
• The ng sound /ŋ/ (sing, thinking)
• The voiced th sound /ð/ (this, mother)
• The voiceless th sound /θ/ (think, month)
• The /ʒ/ sound (measure, decision)
• v versus b (vote / boat)
• v versus w (vest / west)
• All 59 pronunciation sets
• Part 1 topics
• Part 2 cue cards
• Part 3 questions