Minimal Pairs

Minimal pairs

/ɒ/ not versus /ɔː/ nought

This is a difficult pair for Spanish speakers as they have only one /o/ 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

He was Cloze (1): JXUwMDM3JXUwMDBiJXUwMDAw . odd/awed

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01 - odd /ɒd/ - /ɔːd/ awed = something like amazed.

There are lots of Cloze (1): . stocks/storks

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02 - storks /stɒks/ - /stɔːks/

Give me a Cloze (1): JXUwMDJiJXUwMDFiJXUwMDA3JXUwMDFi ! shot/short

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03 - shot /ʃɒt/ - /ʃɔːt/ shot = a small glass of whisky, for example/short = a drink of spirits (= type of strong alcohol) without water or any other liquid added (dictionary.cambridge.or)

What a useless Cloze (1): JXUwMDJiJXUwMDFjJXUwMDBi ! sod/sword

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04 - sod /sɒd/ - /sɔːd/ sod = something like an idiot; you shouldn't use it but understanding it might be a good idea.

What goes into the Cloze (1): JXUwMDI4JXUwMDFmJXUwMDFkJXUwMDA2 ? pot/port

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05 - port /pɒt/ - /pɔːt/

06

Look for the Cloze (1): in the kitchen. fox/forks

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06 - forks /fɒks/ - /fɔːks/

I love a good Cloze (1): JXUwMDNiJXUwMDBjJXUwMDBi . cod/chord

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07 - cod /kɒd/ - /kɔːd/

There’s plenty of room in the Cloze (1): JXUwMDNiJXUwMDBjJXUwMDFi . cot/court

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08 - cot /kɔːt/ /kɔːd/ cot = a baby's bed.