This document provides descriptions of 5 vowel sounds in English: /æ/, /а/, /Ͻ/, /Ɛ/, and /e/. For each vowel sound, it explains how to produce the sound in the mouth and provides example words and sentences containing that sound. It also contrasts the sounds /æ/ and /а/ and /Ɛ/ and /e/ to highlight the differences between similar vowel pairs.

1. /æ/
/а/
/Ͻ/
/Ɛ/
/e/

2. /æ/
-is a low front vowel sound. To produce this
sound the tip of the tongue is positioned
behind the lower teeth. The jaw is lowered a bit
and the mouth is opened as wide as it can be
without muscular effort. The resulting sound is
prolonged.

3. Words
add capture
and captain
bad fashion
bag glamour
cat marriage
land nagging
pan ransack
tan slander

4. Phrases
a gas attack a cat out of the bag
a bad plan the man with the mask
bag and baggage vast land
Sentences
•The attack reached a climax at the river bank.
•Each man carried a gas mask.
•Dad wants me to visit the family ranch.

5. /а/
-is a low central vowel sound.
Your tongue is low in the center
of your mouth and your jaw is
lower than it is when you say
/æ/.

6. Words
box war
God top
jobs cot
lock pot
lot coffee
not chop
problems block
stop mop

7. Phrases
a lot of logs a good job
a pot of gold on top of the world
on a cot hot coffee
Sentences
•Lolo ordered a pot of hot coffee.
•The cop looks good in his black cap.
•The man’s office is the hospital.

8. /Ͻ/
-is a low back vowel sound. To produce this
sound, the tongue and jaw are lowered
adequately and the mouth opening I usually
about one inch or less across and half an
inch from top to bottom. The resulting
sound is a little bit prolonged.

9. Words
all alteration
ball bought
call caught
fall daughter
hall laundry
jaw plausible
law sought
tall taught

10. Phrases
a tall wall an awkward crawler
saw a ball a plausible and laudable lawyer
naughty daughter warm applause for the boss
Sentences
•Paul is an awkward crawler.
•Three tall and bald-headed men crawled off the
hall.
•The warden climbed the tall wall along the lawn.

11. /Ɛ/
- is a lower mid front vowel sound. To
produce this sound the jaw is lowered
briefly and the tongue exerts no pressure at
all. The resulting sound is a short and
relaxed.

12. Words
bed bread
beg breakfast
bless dreamt
fell dictionary
led friend
lend peasant
pen many
yes sketch

13. Phrases
a red dress jetmatic generator
pleasant smell tender loving care
henny penny Ben ten
Sentences
•If you blend your voices, the melody will be better.
•We dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell.
•Extreme measures are needed to quell resistance.

14. /e/
-is a higher mid front vowel sound. In
producing this sound, the jaw is lowered
and the tip of the tongue touches the
bottom of the front teeth but without
pressure. The lips are open and relaxed.

15. Words
aid beige
bail break
brain chamber
date fatal
fade gauge
grace sachet
fail steak
sail stadium

16. Phrases
a fatal blow break into the gate
fair and great on her raven hair
lay the blame to the maiden fair
Sentences
•The fair ladies failed to come yesterday.
•She braided her raven hair.
•The country faces a brain drain problem.

17. Contrast /æ/ and /а/
/æ/ /а/
hat hot
cap cop
cat cot
black block
jab job
map mop
rat rot
lack lock
pat pot
tap top

18. Contrast /Ɛ/ and /e/
/Ɛ/ /e/
pen pain
fed fade
debt date
fell fail
met mate
men main
bet bait
sell sail
wet wait
tell tail

19. Thank You!!!!!!
Prepared by:
JAPETH AMBIDA
NERIO