Lesson # 14

Words to know:
[p] [b]
This sound can be found at the This sound can be found at the
beginning, in the middle, and at the end beginning, in the middle, and at the
of words. end of words.

As in pay, apple, and stop

As in boy, rabbit, and tub
Lips: pressed together.
Air: stopped and then exploded Lips: pressed together (as for[p])
Vocal cords: not vibrating Air: stopped and then exploded
Vocal cords: Vibrating
Beginning Middle End Beginning Middle End
pen open top be obey cab
put apart cap but baby cub
pet apple lip bat table rub
pay happy map back habit tub
pig pepper stop best rubber rib
pot paper soap bone lobby rob
pain supper pipe bank cabin knob
past airport jump boat label crib
person people camp begin ribbon bulb
borrow neighbor robe
The letter b is almost always
pronounced [b]. EXCEPTION: When
b follows m in the same syllable, it
is SILENT.
Eg.: comb, plumber
The consonants [p] and [b]
The consonant [b]

[b]- -[b]- -[b]

1. bee 1. Frisbee 1. lib

2. bid 2. forbid 2. babe
3. bay 3. obey 3. Bob
4. bell 4. rebel (v.) 4. mob
5. book 5. combat 5. lab
Sentences:

1. We’d better stop his barbaric behavior.

2. The book you bought from Bob is a fable.
The consonant [p]

[p]- -[p]- -[p]

1. pea 1. repeat 1. leap

2. pick 2. carpet 2. lip
3. pay 3. participate 3. grape
4. pause 4. depend 4. map
5. put 5. impact 5. stop
Sentences:

1. People in this town paid a lot to keep the public park.

2. Perhaps you should put this point into your paper.
Listen and repeat. Make certain that your lips are pressed together for [p] and that you add
voicing when saying [b]

[p] [b]

rope robe
mop mob
tap tab
rip rib
staple stable
simple symbol

Listen and repeat. The boldfaced words should be pronounced either [p] or [b]

1. Stop it!
2. bread and butter
3. above and bellow
4. pencil and paper
5. the bigger, the better
6. proud as a peacock
7. I’ll be back.
8. Bad habits can be broken.
9. Open up!
10. Practice makes perfect!
11. Bob bought a blue bathrobe.
12. Wash the pots and pans with soap.
13. Betty was born in Boston.
14. Her purple pants are pretty.
15. Bill is in the lobby.
 Choose the correct word from the box to complete sentence, then practice reading the
sentences aloud.

peacock Pete peanuts peace people peeve peeled peak peach P

Pete
1. A nickname for Peter is _________________.
Peace
2. The opposite of war is _________________.
peanuts
3. Pam bought _________________ to feed the elephants.
peak
4. The top of a mountain is called a _________________.
People
5. The plural of person is _________________.
peach
6. A popular fruit is a _________________.
peacock
7. A bird with bright feathers is a _________________.
8. The potatoes should be washed well if they are not going to
peeled
be_________________.
p
9. The letter preceding Q is _________________.
peeve
10. Something that annoys you is called a “pet _________________”.

Read the following tongue twisters three times. And increase your speed every time.
Betty Botter

Pronunciation
Minimal Pairs /b/ /p/
Words like BIG and PIG
 Activity 1
Listen to your teacher saying the words in Column 1 and Column 2 below.

Column 1 Column 2

Big Pig
Bath Path
Cab Cap
Bin Pin
Bear Pear
Bees Peas
Bay Pay
Back Pack
Stable Staple
Crumble Crumple
Boring Pouring
Mob Mop
 Activity 2
Listen to your teacher saying one of the words from Activity 1. Say if you think the word is in
Column 1 or Column 2.
  Activity 3
Listen to your teacher saying two words from Activity 1. If the words are the same, circle S
below. If you think the words are different, circle D below.

1. S D 2. S D 3. S D 4. S D 5. S D
6. S D 7. S D 8. S D 9. S D 10. S D

 Activity 4
Listen to your teacher reading the sentences below. Circle the word you hear.

1. It was a yellow cab / cap. 7. Ask him to stable / staple them.

2. I have never seen so many bees / peas! 8. I need a bin / pin.

3. That’s a very big bear / pear. 9. He works on a big / pig farm.

4. Please give me that back / pack. 10. It was a beautiful bath / path

5. It’s boring / pouring today. 11. There’s a mob / mop outside.

6. Be careful or it will crumble / crumple! 12. He didn’t like the bay / pay.

 Activity 5
Imagine you are the teacher now! Work with a partner and repeat the activities above. Then
swap roles.
 my
our

his
my

their
her
his

their
her
her
his

our
her
his
our
her

their
our
his
their
his
my
my
our
her
its

his
her
7

12

11

10

3
5

13

fingers
hair
mouth
 2

13

12

11

10

13

shorts

dress
socks

jeans