Government Workers Pronunciation Worksheet

In English, we dont always pronounce words the same way they are written. But there are lots of
rules than you can learn to help you pronounce words better. Here are some of them.

The -er rule

Lots of jobs end with the letters -er, but you should not try to make an /e/ sound or a /r/ sound.
To make an er sound, open your mouth a little and keep it relaxed. Now make a sound. This is
how you should say er at the end of words. The symbol for this sound is //.
Practice making the // sound at the end of these words:
a

teacher

carer

manager

bus driver

fire fighter

gardener

miner

police officer

The i _ e rule

In the words big, sit and him, the i sound is short. Your mouth should be slightly open, and
you should smile a little. Dont smile too much. The symbol for this sound is / I /.
When there is a letter e at the end of the word, the i sound changes. This happens in words
such as like, wide and five. Your mouth should change shape. First your mouth should be
wide open, then move it into a wide smile. The symbol for this sound is / aI /.
Practise making the / I / and / aI / sounds with these words.
a

big

like

him

fire

sit

driver

thing

outside

with

miner

Author: Naomi Styles

Pearson Education 2008

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