Lesson # 11

Words to know:
[f] [v]
This sound can be found at the beginning, in This sound can be found at the beginning, in
the middle, and at the end of words. the middle, and at the end of words.

As in fun, office, and if As in very, over and save

Upper teeth: touching lower lip. Upper teeth: touching lower lip (as for[f])
Air: continuous. Air: continuous.
Vocal cords: not vibrating Vocal cords: vibrating
Beginning Middle End Beginning Middle End
for sofa if vine even of
far offer off vase over love
few after life vote every live
fast awful leaf vest seven have
from office half very cover move
free afraid safe voice river drive
five before laugh visit heavy stove
face coffee cough valley movie leave
funny telephone graph vowel clever carve
vacuum eleven brave
The letter f is always pronounced [f]. The letter v in English is always pronounced [v].
EXCEPTION: The f in the word of, that is
pronounced [v]. A less common spelling for [v], is the letter f,
just in the word of.
The letters ph are usually pronounced [f].
photo, telephone, graph

The consonants [f] and [v]

The consonant [v]
[v]- -[v]- -[v]

1. victory 1. vivid 1. live (v.)

1.
2. veal
vacant 1.2. ivy
invade 1.2. eve
save
3. vote 3. seven 3. love
4. van 4. evacuate 4. starve
Sentences:
1. There is a Seven Eleven on Vista Drive.
2. I can prove that it was Steve who saved my life.
The consonant [f]
[f]- -[f]- -[f]

1. fee 1. defeat 1. beef

2. fit 2. unfit 2. stiff
3. fade 3. deface 3. safe
4. fetch 4. affect 4. chef
5. foot 5. sofa 5. laugh
Sentences:
1. Philip refused to take food from these families.
2. Don’t laugh at the fat boy; he has suffered enough.
Contrast [b], [p], [v], and [f]

[b] [p] [f] [v]

1. bee pea fee V

2. big pig fig vigor
3. bade paid fade veil
4. robe rope loaf loaves
5. cub cup cough love
Sentences:
1. The vigorous pig is trying to eat the figs.
2. The five survivors wanted to buy a pie.
Listen and repeat. Remember to place your upper teeth over your bottom
lip and add voicing for [v]. Be sure to prolong any vowel before the sound
[v].
[v] [b] [v] [f]
1. vest best 8. vest fest
2. vow bow 9. leave leaf
3. very berry 10. very ferry
4. marvel marble 11. believe belief
5. vase base 12. vase face
6. veil bail 13. veil fail
7. van ban 14. van fan
Listen and repeat. Pay attention to the boldfaced words, and be sure to
pronounce well either [f] or [v] words.
1. half past four
2. very good
3. very truly yours
4. before or after
5. Move over!
6. face the facts
7. rivers and valleys
8. I’m feeling fine.
9. Please vacuum the living room.
10. Have you ever been to Venice?
11. Answer the phone.
12. Are you free on Friday afternoon?
13. Vera never eats liver.
14. Do me a favor.
15. That fellow has a familiar face.

Read the following paragraphs. Circle all the words that have the sound
[f], and underline the ones that have the sound [v]. If you find words
with both sounds, circle and underline them!

Florida

Florida was founded by Ponce de Leon in 1513. This famous explorer from Spain
was searching the fountain of youth. He named the land Florida, which means
“full of flowers” in Spanish. He failed in his efforts to find the fountain. He finally
died after fighting the Indians.

Unfortunately, no one has ever found the fountain in Florida or the formula for
eternal youth. However, the fun and sun in Florida are enough to attract folks
from every hemisphere to this famous state.
 Horoscope

If you were born on February, this is your fortune for today… you are destined to
find fame in the near future. Your failures will be few thanks to the help of loving
friends and family members.

Unfortunately, a frail neighbor falls and fractures a foot. Your social life revolves
around food. In February you will attend and important function in a far-off
land. A favorite nephew forgives you for forgetting fulfill a favor. You will receive
flowers and a fax from a friend in a foreign country.
Pronunciation
Minimal Pair /v/ /b/
Words like VERY and BERRY
 Activity 1
Listen to your teacher saying the words in Column 1 and Column 2 below.

Column 1 Column 2

Very Berry / Bury

Vote Boat
Veils Bales / Bails
Vicar Bicker
Volts Bolts
TV TB
 Activity 2
Listen to your teacher saying one of the words from Activity 1. Say if you think the word is in
Column 1 or Column 2.
 Activity 3
Listen to your teacher saying two words from Activity 1. If the words are the same, circle S
below. If you think the words are different, circle D below.

1. S D 2. S D 3. S D 4. S D 5. S D
6. S D 7. S D 8. S D 9. S D 10. S D
 Activity 4
Listen to your teacher reading the sentences below. Circle the word you hear.

1. The color was very / berry red.

2. They bought ten veils / bales yesterday.
3. Please don’t, Vicar / bicker.
4. We need more volts / bolts now!
5. They don’t have TV / TB here.

 Activity 5
Imagine you are the teacher now! Work with a partner and repeat the activities above. Then
swap roles.
Pronunciation
Minimal Pairs /f/ /v/
Words like FAN and VAN
 Activity 1
Listen to your teacher saying the words in Column 1 and Column 2 below.

Column 1 Column 2
Fan Van
Off Of
Fault Vault
Safe Save
Lift Lived
Calf Carve
File Vile
 Activity 2
Listen to your teacher saying one of the words from Activity 1. Say if you think the word is in
Column 1 or Column 2.

 Activity 3
Listen to your teacher saying two words from Activity 1. If the words are the same, circle S
below. If you think the words are different, circle D below.

1. S D 2. S D 3. S D 4. S D 5. S D
6. S D 7. S D 8. S D 9. S D 10. S D
 Activity 4
Listen to your teacher reading the sentences below. Circle the word you hear.

1. She bought a new fan / van.

2. He took a lot off / of it.
3. He thought it was a very big fine / vine.
4. There was a large fault / vault in the ceiling.
5. It was an excellent safe / save.
6. We lift / lived it up.
 Activity 5
Imagine you are the teacher now! Work with a partner and repeat the activities above. Then
swap roles.
 Do the additions.

1. Thirty + twenty-five =
_____________________________________

2. Sixty + five =
____________________________________________

3. Forty-six + twelve =
______________________________________

4. Fifty-three + ten
=________________________________________

5. Fifty + ten
=_____________________________________________

6. Forty-nine + two
=________________________________________

 Identify the number in letters.

1. 67 ___________________________________

2. 53 ___________________________________

3. 70 ___________________________________

4. 52 ___________________________________

5. 69 ___________________________________

6. 54 ___________________________________

7. 66 ___________________________________