Lesson 3 Sound æ vs e

Sound /e/ Explanation & Examples

The /e/ sound (as in “bed” or “head”) is a short vowel sound produced with a relaxed tongue and slightly open mouth. It is similar to the Ukrainian “е”.

Patterns for the /e/ Sound:

1. E: bed, best, rest, hotel, pet, get, net, step.

2. EA: heavy, head, measure, bread, ready, meant, dead.

Exceptions:

These words don’t follow typical patterns but use the /e/ sound:

said, says, again, against, friend, guest.

Sentences:

1. Ben went to bed early after a long day.
2. The red dress was the best one in the shop.
3. Please get the eggs from the fridge.
4. My friend said the weather would be better tomorrow.
5. The guest left something heavy near the desk.
6. She met her friend at the hotel for lunch.
7. Ten people were ready to enter the contest.
8. They spent the weekend resting by the lake.
9. Many of the guests enjoyed the event.
10. The head chef explained the recipe step by step.

Sound /æ/ Explanation & Examples

The /æ/ sound (as in “cat” or “bat”) is a short vowel sound that is pronounced with the mouth more open and the tongue lower than for the /e/ sound. It’s often challenging for learners because it doesn’t have a direct equivalent in many languages, including Ukrainian.

Keep in mind!

• Open your mouth wide.
• Keep your tongue low and flat in your mouth.
• Your jaw will drop lower than for the /e/ sound.

Examples:

cat, bat, hat, map, back, jazz, apple, class, glass, trap, dance, laugh, fast

Sentences:

1. The cat sat on the mat.
2. She grabbed an apple from the basket.
3. What class do we have after this one?
4. I want to dance today.
5. Laughing is really good for you.
6. When is she going to be back?
7. I won’t get into this trap again.
8. Let’s do it as fast as possible.
9. I’ll grab a glass of water for you.
10. I’m into jazz, so let’s enjoy and dance.

Minimal Pairs /æ/ vs. /e/

1. bat vs. bet
2. bad vs. bed
3. sat vs. set
4. cat vs. kept
5. dad vs. dead
6. had vs. head
7. lad vs. led

Sentences

1. The cat slept on the bed.
2. He sat down to set the timer.
3. He met ten men in the park.
4. I had a hat and head scarf.
5. They went fast to rent a car.
6. Her dad said something bad about what he had.
7. The lad was led to the guest house.
8. She grabbed her mat quickly.
9. We were happy when the guest arrived.
10. The men said the bread was not bad.

The /æ/ Sound Before N, M, R

• This difference is relevant for American English, it’s doesn’t exist in British English
• The tongue stays in the same position.
• The jaw won’t drop as low as for æ we discussed above.
•  The other thing to note is that it is not a single sound, it is more of a diphthong sound – æ is going into a schwa before the N, M, R sound. 

Examples:

• Before N: ban, man, ran, fan, plan, hand, understand, and, manager handsome, plant, fantastic, any, many
• Before M: ham, jam, camera, damn, lamp
• Before R: carry, marry, parrot, character

Sentences:

1. I packed my bag and ran to the station.
2. The man had a black hat in his hand.
3. The jazz band played at the plaza (/ˈplæz.ə/ /ˈplɑː.zə/).
4. The lamp cast a soft glow on the table.
5. Dad asked for a map to plan the trip.
6. They clapped their hands after the act.
7. Sam and Jack planned to travel back home.
8. The athlete ran fast to catch the ball.
9. I have a fantastic handsome manager who can carry out all the tasks I ask.
10. She understands that she is ready to get married.

The /æ/ Sound Before NG, NK

• You need to pronounce a (ей) as in say.

Examples:

anger – angry

danger – dangerous

anxious – anxiety

bank – banker

thanks – thank you – thankful

Sentences:

1. Thank you for helping me today.
2. He was angry about the broken chair.
3. She left her wallet at the bank.
4. Let’s hang out this weekend.
5. The phone rang, but no one answered.
6. He sank into the couch after a long day.
7. I heard a loud bang in the kitchen.
8. I feel thankful that we avoided that dangerous situation.
9. Kids often use funny slang words when they talk.
10. The gang decided to meet at the park.

Practice makes perfect

Here’s a mixed set of 30 sentences. You need to analyze them and find the following sounds: /æ/ & /e/ & /æ/ sound before N, M, R  & /æ/ sound before NG, NK.

1. The cat is on the edge of the table.
2. I thanked him for bringing the snacks.
3. Can we meet on campus tomorrow?
4. The man has a red bag.
5. The man was thinking about baking something fantastic.
6. My dad sent me a text this morning.
7. The camera is on the balcony.
8. I bet I can catch the ball!
9. He planted a small sapling near the cabin.
10. She ran after the tram in a panic.
11. The bank is next to the shopping mall.
12. I sank into the soft armchair after work.
13. My grandma makes amazing jam.
14. They blanked out the wrong answer on the quiz.
15. Is that jacket black or beige?
16. His parents are planning a family trip to Canada.
17. The plank of wood was used to fix the broken floor.
18. The lamp was damaged during the move.
19. I had eggs and ham for breakfast.
20. He sat on the bed and read a book.
21. We packed bananas for the picnic.
22. I drank a glass of milk after my run.
23. That brand of cream is my favorite!
24. The prank made everyone laugh at the party.
25. The pan is next to the pen.
26. We heard them clapping and singing at the park.
27. My uncle enjoys hiking and camping.
28. She said the map was in the cabinet.
29. Can you lend me ten dollars?
30. The tram stopped at the next station.

• Starting with your personal view:

  • “I honestly think that…”
  • “In my opinion,…”
  • “If you ask me,…”

• Showing uncertainty or openness to other views:

  • “I’m not 100% sure, but I feel like…”
  • “It seems to me that…”
  • “I could be wrong, but I’d say…”

• Connecting your opinion to personal experience:

  • “From my experience, I’ve noticed that…”
  • “In my life, I’ve found that…”
  • “Based on what I’ve seen, I believe…”

• Highlighting general observations:

  • “People often say that…”
  • “I’ve heard many people argue that…”
  • “It’s widely believed that…”

• Acknowledging complexity:

  • “It’s not a simple question, but I think…”
  • “On the one hand, I think…, but on the other hand,…”
  • “There are so many sides to this, but I’d say…”

• Agreeing or disagreeing politely:

  • “I see what you mean, but I think…”
  • “That’s a good point, but I feel like…”
  • “I completely agree with that because…”

Speaking practice

1. What does “a good life” mean to you personally?
2. What aspects of life do you think contribute most to happiness and fulfillment?
3. How important do you think relationships are in creating a good life?
4. Do you believe that material possessions play a role in happiness? Why or why not?
5. In your opinion, is there a difference between a happy life and a meaningful life?
6. How does personal growth and self-improvement contribute to a good life?
7. Can you think of any specific experiences or moments in your life that have made you feel genuinely happy?
8. How does culture or upbringing influence our ideas about what makes life good?
9. Do you think achieving goals is essential to having a good life, or is it more about enjoying the present moment?
10. What role do hobbies and interests play in creating a fulfilling life?

Interesting quotes

1. “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama
2. “The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” – Dalai Lama
3. “Happiness depends upon ourselves.” – Aristotle
4. “Do more of what makes you happy.” – Unknown
5. “Happiness is not a goal…it’s a by-product of a life well lived.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
6. “Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.” – John Lennon
7. “It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” – Charles Spurgeon
8. “For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
9. “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” – Mahatma Gandhi
10. “The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy – it’s all that matters.” – Audrey Hepburn