Sounds [s], [ʃ], [z] and [ ʒ]

1. Practice the following words. Ss

[z] is a weak, short and voiced consonant. To produce [z] first practice
[s] and use your voice. The vocal cords are vibrating.

[s ] same, save, say, ‘second, seem, self, suit, circle, spend, sword, sparkle
case, almost, beside, least, Alice, expensive, exciting, listen, mister, since
across, ice, advice, piece, science, perhaps, sentence, famous, concert

[ʃ ] shape, sharp, shall, should, shout, sure, shoot, shine, shore, shortage, sugar
machine, patient, ocean, fashion, special, position, pressure, precious, motion
selfish, mention, rush, punish, anxious, partial, push, delicious, tissue, social

[z] zoo, zone, desire, noisy, busy, easy, reason, losing, cause, use, is, lose
dizzy, maze, those, breeze, prize, amazing, Susan, surprise, present, pause
[ ʒ] usually, pleasure, measure, treasure, vision

2. Practice the sounds in contrast.

[s –z] [s - ʃ ]
↙ ↘ ↙ ↘
Sue – zoo seal – Zeal sea - she mess – mesh
sink – zinc racing – raising sip - ship same - shame
bus – buzz niece – knees sell – shell sigh - shy
price – prize place - plays lease – leash sort - short

[ ʃ-s]
shave – save shift – sift shame – same shelf – self short – sort
shoot – suit shake – sake shell – sell sheet – seat shock – sock

3. Practice the following stress patterns.

be↘ sure, feel↘ anxious, present↘ situation, serious↘ reason, circular↘ shape,
shelter↘ shortage, green↘ zone, noisy↘ neighbors, busy↘ road, easy↘ exam
sun ↘ shining

4. Practice the sound [s] in the dialogue.

It is expensive.

Sean: let’s go to the seashore on Saturday.

Sarah: Yes! Let’s go sailing and waterskiing. That’s so exciting.
Sean: It’s expensive, too. Let’s just sit in the sun and go swimming instead.
Sarah: let’s stay over Saturday night and spend Sunday there, too. We could
stay at the Six Star Hotel.
Sean: Be sensible, Sarah. It’s too expensive. Let’s sleep outside instead.
Sarah: Yes. Let’s sleep on the sand. That’s more exciting.
5. Read the story and underline all words with sound [s].

The Smile of a Snake

She speaks slowly and smokes special, expensive cigarettes. As she steps
upstairs, her long skirt sweeps over her silver slippers. She is small and smart and
sweet-looking. Her skin is like snow.
“You have stolen my heart!” I once said stupidly, and she smiled. But when she smiled,
she smiled the smile of a snake.

6. Practice the following. Check the pronunciation of the first 3 tongue twisters
with their transcriptions underneath. Then transcribe the last 4 tongue twisters.

This shop sells the latest fashion of shorts and shirts.

[ ðis ʃop sels ðə leitist ‘fæʃn əv ʃo:ts ənd ʃə:ts ]

The shepherd and his sheep shuddered in a shed near the station.
[ðə ‘ʃepəd ənd hiz ʃi:p ʃʌdid in ə ʃed niə ðə steiʃn]

The seizure of the treasure is a pleasure.

[ ðə ‘si:ʒə əv ðə ‘treʒə iz ə ‘pleʒə. ]

Should she shut summer shutters slowly or shut summer shutter swiftly.
Lazy dogs are busy now.