Minimal Pairs /ɪ/ and /i:/

1. bin bean 11. sit seat 21. kip* keep

2. bitch* beach 12. slip* sleep 22. lip leap*
3. chip cheap 13. bit beat*/beet 23. mill* meal
4. did deed* 14. each itch* 24. pick peek*
5. fit* feet 15. fill feel 25. piss* piece
6. grin* green 16. hid heed* 26. pitch* peach
7. his he’s 17. hill he’ll 27. shill* she’ll
8. is ease* 18. hit heat 28. sick seek*
9. it eat 19. ill eel* 29. sin* seen
10. mitt* meet 20. kill keel* 30. still steal

I. Look at the minimal pairs from above and fill in the blanks.

1. I will _____________ some flowers on the mountain ________________.

2. I went to the old ___________ for a ______________.
3. When you are ___________, you need to __________ a doctor.
4. Please ___________down on your seat.
5. After I ___________you in I will see how your _______________.
6. If I see your phone I will _______________ ______________it.
7. I have to scratch _______________ ______________.
8. If you are hungry then ___________ ____________.
9. It is so cold out, I could use a ______________ of ______________.
10. It is rotten so I am going to ______________this ________________.
11. I was so hungry that I _____________ the _______________.
12. Please put the ______________ in the _______________.
13. ____________late again, this is ___________ third time.
14. He wondered if he was ____________ committing the ___________.
15. Please make sure he ________ at ___________.
16. ____________walk up the _____________after school.
17. That ring was _____________ because there was a ___________in it.
18. I am happy because I ______________ the ____________last night.
19. I was nervous, but I bit my ___________and took a ____________.
20. I will see if that shoe will ____________ my __________.

II. Write 15 sentences using 15 words (one in each sentence) from the list of minimal
pairs.

III. Practice reading the sentences for you will be asked to do so next class.