Reading rules in English for beginners with examples

The first thing that a person who starts learning English is faced with is the difficulty in reading most of the words. On this score, many jokes among even the speakers of this language, what to say about those for whom he is not native. One Dutch linguist even wrote a poem containing the most difficult and contradictory cases of English phonetics - it is difficult to read it without errors even to those who know the language well.

But jokes are jokes, but one must learn to pronounce words correctly. This is helped by the rules of reading in English. For beginners, they will be a bit complicated, but it's only with unaccustomed. Having understood them and having well established the theory on examples, you will see how much they will make your life easier.

What are these rules for?

Without knowing them, it will be difficult to learn to read. Of course, you can remember the transcription of those words that you meet. But in this case your ability to read will be very limited. And if you meet a word with a familiar root, but an incomprehensible suffix or prefix for reading? Or your own name? In such cases, errors are inevitable, if you do not know the rules of reading in English. For beginners, they are especially important, because they allow you to feel and understand the logic of language construction at all levels, beginning with phonetics.

Next, you will learn how to read various sounds and their combinations, how to present English rules to children, and what exercises you can use to learn how to read and remember transcription symbols.

Reading consonants

Let's start with the simplest, and then we will move on to the complex one. Most consonant sounds in the English language differ little from the Russians. But still the difference is felt. In general, we can distinguish such characteristic features:

• Are always firmly pronounced;
• Sonorous sounds are not stunned at the ends of words;
• After the sounds [p, t, k] there is an aspiration, because lips open faster than in pronunciation in Russian;
• The sound [w] is pronounced distinctly, with two lips;
• When pronouncing the sound [v], on the contrary, only the lower lip is involved;
• Many sounds [t, d, s, z, n, l, tʃ, dʒ] are pronounced with the tip of the tongue touching the alveoli, and not to the teeth (as in Russian pronunciation).

Reading vowels: 4 types of syllable

We continue to disassemble the reading rules in English. For beginners with examples it is better to submit material. Then it will be clearer how to pronounce this or that sound.

There are only six vowels in the English alphabet , but the difficulty of reading them is due to the presence of four different types of syllables:

• open;
• closed;
• Vowel + r;
• Vowel + r + vowel.

Consider them all in order, not forgetting the examples.

In an open syllable, the vowel is read as it is called in the alphabet: O is read as "ou (eu)", U is read for a long "yu," etc. The only exception is the letter Y, which is pronounced "ay". How to determine that the syllable is open? It must end with a vowel that can stand:

• At the end of the monosyllabic word (me, go);
• In the beginning or in the middle (game, time, music);
• Next to another vowel (suit).

In a closed syllable, which ends in a consonant (sometimes doubled), the vowels are read truncated:

• Aa [æ] turns into something between Russian sounds [a] and [e], for example: cat, apple.
• Uu [ʌ] is similar to the Russian sound [a], for example: rubber, jump.
• Ii [i] is read as a short Russian sound [and], for example: sit, finger.
• Ee [e] is read by the sound [e], for example: pen, egg.
• Oo [ɔ] is read by a short sound [o], for example: shop, fox.
• Yy [i] under stress should be read as a short sound [and], for example: mystery, myth.

This is the minimum, which includes reading rules in English for beginners. With exercises for all 4 types it's better not to rush, but first to learn the differences between closed and open syllables. Then you can go further, to more complex cases.

The type of the syllable "vowel + r" is read as follows:

• -ar pronounce with a long sound [aaa];
• -or is read as long [ooo];
• -ur, -ir, -er are similar to the sound [o], but only pronounced by the throat.

The type of the syllable "vowel + r + vowel" turns the sound into a special two-part phenomenon of English phonetics - diphthong:

• Aa is read [ɛə], an example: dare.
• Ee is read [iə], an example: mere.
• Ii is read [aiə], example: fire.
• Uu is read [juə], an example: cure.
• Yy is read [aiə], example: tyre.

The exception is the letter Oo, which in the fourth type of the syllable is not read by the diphthong, but simply by a long one [ɔ:]. For example: more.

Reading of letters

Reading rules in English (for beginners and continuing study) can not do without explaining the various combinations of consonants and vowels. Let's start with the first.

The combination of wr at the beginning of the word: the sound [w] is not pronounced. Examples: write, wrist, wrong.

The combination of wh at the beginning of the word: the sound [h] is not pronounced. Examples: why, what, white. But there is an exception: if -wh is followed by the -o, "[w]" drops out when reading. So the words: who, whole, Who and others sound.

In the letters kn and gn at the beginning of the word: only the sound [n] is read. Examples: knot, gnat.

The combination of ng at the end of the word sounds like a sound [ŋ], pronounced through the nose (going), and in the middle of the word - just [ŋg], for example: hungry, singer.

The combination of ch is read [tʃ], like the Russian sound [ch '], soft. For example: cheese, coach.

The combination sh gives a sound [ʃ], similar to the Russian [w] in the soft version of the pronunciation. For example: she, push.

The combination of the letters qu is read [kw], for example: queen, quite.

The bland combination of -our is read [ə]: color, favorite.

The combination of -ous at the end of words should be read [əs]: dangerous, famous.

The combination of the letters -sion after the consonant is pronounced [ʃn], for example: mission. And after a vowel sound there is a ringing to [ʒn], an example: decision.

Before the letters e, i, y: the consonant C is pronounced with the sound [s], G is pronounced [dʒ]. In other cases it reads like this: C - [k], G - [g]. Compare: cell - cat, gym - game.

Vowel combinations: -ee, as well as -ea give a long sound [i:], the -ai combination is read [ai], the -oo combination gives the sound a long [u:]. For example: bee, seal, moon.

True, there are sometimes exceptions. For example, blood: in this word, the double O is read as a sound [ʌ]. But there are not many such cases. They are easy to remember, and they do not particularly complicate the rules of reading in English.

For beginners

For children and adults, the explanation of the rules will be different. Young "Englishmen" will well learn the knowledge, if they are presented with elements of the game and fairy tales. For example, you can explain 1 and 2 types of reading as "open" and "closed" doors, where in the first case the letters feel free and shout their name (from the alphabet) loudly, and in the second - they are almost not audible. Similarly, you can write a kind of grammar fairy tale and tell her child. An interactive element can be the task: "spell" the words, correctly reading them. It is much easier and more interesting to remember the rules of reading in English.

For primary school

The small table proposed below includes rules for reading vowels in two types of syllables. For the convenience of a child who is not familiar with transcription, next to the sound is placed about his reading, written in Russian letters. In any case, the table should be read aloud together with an adult who knows the language: one should pay attention to how the same letter behaves in different types of syllables, and to understand the proposed examples of words.

Primary school students are often asked to learn transcription marks at home. You can make a set of cards and work out like this: you read a short word, where there is a certain sound, and the child shows a card with its designation. In group work, everyone should have their own set.

Read without hesitation

As soon as possible and more qualitatively remember the rules of reading in English? For beginners, exercises will be the best option. It's great if you manage to combine 2 types of classes: listen to samples and read independently. However, this approach may soon become boring, so it is good to connect the elements of the game and the competition. For example, take two different lists of words for various rules - one for you, another for a friend - and check who will read faster and with fewer errors. The game version can be this: using mixed cards with separate words and with transcription marks, find and lay out the matches.

Who needs reading rules in English? For beginners to learn it (this goes without saying), for those who continue - to test themselves, and for the forgotten - to remember the knowledge that has not been used for a long time.