Minimal Pairs

Minimal pairs

/æ/ cat versus /ʌ/ cut 

This is probably the most difficult pair for Spanish speakers as there is only one "a" sound in Spanish whereas there are several in English. The only thing to do is to listen carefully. Perhaps the best way to learn to produce the /ʌ/ is to learn a model word like "but"and then attempt to pronounce the same sound in other words with this phoneme.

Listen and decide which of the words you hear in the following sentences. Write the word in the space provided.

Choose the correct minimal pair

01 

That's a magazine fan/fun

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 02 

 No-one wants that . bag/bug

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 03 

Is this the right ? track/truck

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04 

The lasted longer than I thought it would. ban/bun

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05 

A is not enough. tan/ton

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06

 I don't like on my fish. batter/butter

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07

Remember to every time! flash/blush

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08 

That was a decision!rash/rush

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09 

Watch out for the ! rabble/rubble

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10 

Look at that on the table! gnat/nut

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11

 Is this your first ? cap/cup

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12

 That’s a lousy . hat/hut

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13

 I don’t like dirty in my house. rags/rugs

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14

Wow, what a bad ! cat/cut

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15

Watch out for the when you are leaving! /puddle

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