1. A minimal pair is a pair of words that vary by only a single sound,
usually meaning sounds that may confuse English learners, like the
/f/ and /v/ in fan and van, the / / and /i:/ inɪ it and eat, or the /e/ and / /ɪ
in desk and disk
/ /ɔ versus / /ʌ
caught cut
launch lunch
porn pun
torch touch
Minimal PairsMinimal Pairs
Contrast between a long and a short vowelsContrast between a long and a short vowels
The / / vowel is usually spelled <or>, <our>, and <oar>, but we also see <al>ɔ
in hall, <au>, <aw> and <ar> after <w> in swarm and warned. The / / vowel isʌ
spelled <u> and unusually <ou> in touch, <o> inton.
2. /i:/ versus /ɪ /
ceased cyst
cheap chip
heel hill
reach rich
The /i/ vowel is typically spelled with <ee>, <ea>, <eCe> (gene), <iCe> (litre), or
<ie> (piece), and occurs in the letter names. There are many other irregular
spellings such as <eo> (people). The / / vowel is normally <i> in a monosyllable orɪ
before a doubled consonant, and is often <e> in an unstressed inflection
(rushes, wanted).
