English speaking 3- Assignment 1

1. How many ways are there to pronounce V–ed? What are they?

The ending “-ed” part in V-ed has three ways to be pronounced, which are /d/, /t/ and /id/. In the first
way, the “-ed” part is pronounced as /d/ in verbs that end with voiced sounds, which are sounds that
makes your throat vibrate slightly when you pronounce them. For example, worried /wз:i d/, breathed
/briðd/ and buzzed /bәzd/. In the second way, V-ed is pronounced as /t/ in words with voiceless ending
sounds, which include 6 sounds /s/, /f/, /p/, /ʃ/, /tʃ/, /k/, /θ/. Some examples are hoped /həʊpt/, raced
/reɪst/ and washed /ˈwɑːʃt/. In the last way, V-ed is pronounced as /id/ if the sound of the Verb ends
with /t/ or /d/, as in words like treated /triːtɪd/ and needed /niːdɪd/.

2. What is chunking? Is chunking important in speaking and why?

"Chunking" is the act of combining words together as a phrase to connect them the way we want.
Chunking helps your spoken language flow smoothly without having a staggered or choppy rhythm.
Instead of stopping or making a small pause after every word you say, you group the words into a small
phrase containing from three to five words before making a pause. Similar to sentence intonation,
putting pauses at appropriate places in a sentence not only smoothes the flow of the speech, but it also
helps the listeners pay attention more easily and understand faster. Rather than stopping for one or two
seconds after every word, which puts the listener in an uncomfortable situation as they don not know
when and where they should focus on in your speech, chunking makes your speech sound more natural
and better cadence also increases the listener’s attention.

3. Rearrange the following sentences to make a logic dialogue.

a. And what do you do in the evening?

b. Well, she is a good pianist. She comes to our place and it is a treat to listen to her
playing. Come and see us some day, say, next Sunday?

c. I am sorry to say. But I don’t

d. You see, I live rather far from the university and it takes me about an hour to get home.
I have dinner then I do my homework.

e. Thanks, most willingly.

f. If there is a good film on at our local cinema, I go there. In good weather, I take a walk
in the park. Sometimes, I go to the theatre. By the way, do you know my friend Mary?

g. Mai, what do you usually do after classes?

The order: g – d – a – f – c – b – e.

Mai’s friend: Mai, what do you usually do after classes?

Mai: You see, I live rather far from the university and it takes me about an hour to get home. I have
dinner then I do my homework.
Mai’s friend: And what do you do in the evening?
Mai: If there is a good film on at our local cinema, I go there. In good weather, I take a walk in the
park. Sometimes, I go to the theatre. By the way, do you know my friend Mary?
Mai’s friend: I am sorry to say. But I don’t.
Mai: Well, she is a good pianist. She comes to our place and it is a treat to listen to her playing. Come
and see us some day, say, next Sunday?
Mai’s friend: Thanks, most willingly.