| Final -s is pronounced /s/ after voiceless sounds | |
| Final -s is pronounced /z/ after voiced sounds | |
| (exception) Final -s and -es are pronounced /ez/ (or /iz/) after sh,ch,s,z,-ge, and -dge sounds | |
| What is a voiceless sound? | Voiceless sounds are sounds that don't have any noticable vibration in the voice box. The voice box is that place in the front of your throat that contains your vocal chords. If you put your hand on your throat in front of your voice box and make a sound you'll feel vibration if it is voiced and you won't feel vibration if it is voiceless. Make the following sounds touching your voicebox: sh, ch , f, s, and p. Do not say the letter, make the sound of the consonant without the vowel that is part of the letter. |
| What is a voiced sound? | Voiced sounds are sounds that noticably vibrate in the voice box. The voice box is that place in the front of your throat that contains your vocal chords. If you put your hand on your throat in front of your voice box and make a sound you'll feel vibration if it is voiced and you won't feel vibration if it is voiceless. Make the following sounds touching your voicebox: m,n,l,o,e,a,g. Do not say the letter, make the sound of the consonant without the vowel that is part of the letter or if it is a vowel, only that sound. |