© Paul Smit 2006-2020
To say the /v/ sound, your top teeth must lightly touch your bottom lip while making a vibrating sound. /v/ is a voiced sound, meaning that the vocal cords are used to produce sound. Remember – Top teeth, bottom lip.
The teeth are not used to make the /b/ sound; your top and bottom lips briefly touch each other before you open your mouth to release air. /b/ is a voiced sound. Remember – briefly touch your upper and lower lips, purse them outwards while allowing sound escape your mouth.
Exercise 1: Contrasting the sounds
- Listen to the audio files, focusing on the different sounds for /v/ and /b/.
- When you feel confident that you can make the two sounds, practice saying the word pairs.
| vet | bet | |
| van | ban | |
| vend | bend | |
| very | berry | |
| vowel | bowel | |
| vat | bat | |
| rove | robe | |
| curve | curb |
© Paul Smit 2006-2020
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Exercise 2: Listen to the words and choose the correct answer.
- Click the play button to listen. You can listen as many times as you want.
- Choose the sentence you heard. You can check each answer if you wish.
- Click the blue arrow on the bottom right to move to the next question.
Exercise 3: Listen to the sentences and choose the correct answer.
- Click the play button to listen. You can listen as many times as you want.
- Choose the sentence you heard. You can check each answer if you wish.
- Click the blue arrow on the bottom right to move to the next question.
Tongue twister
- Listen to the tongue twister and repeat
- Focus on pronouncing the letters v and b correctly
- Repeat again, faster each time.
Betty Barbara Vincent vends big violet vegetables from her battered Volvo van
Betty drives her van via the bendy valley as she vends big valuable vegetables
Follow the curves Betty! Don’t hit the curbs!
© Paul Smit 2006-2020