THE ENGLISH VOWEL SYSTEM

1 /ʊ/ AND /u:/ Listen and repeat the words.

Bull = good, put, should, would
Boot = do, soon, true, you

2 PRACTICE Put the words in the correct column.

/ʊ/ bull /u:/ boot

3 /ə/ AND /3:/ Listen and repeat the words.

/ə/ = computer, trousers, sandals, cardigan, sweater, trainers
/3:/ = bird, shirt, skirt, t-shirt
/ə/ /3:/
4 PRACTICE Put the words in the correct column. Listen and
check.
actor ▪ cinema ▪ first ▪ painter ▪ third ▪ arrive ▪ world ▪ picture ▪
working ▪ prefer

5 /e/ AND /æ/ Listen and repeat the words.

/e/ = check, leg, letter, red, bread, friend, any, many, again,
said
/æ/ = back, camera, factory, hat, jam, manager, map, plan, traffic

6 PRACTICE Listen and circle the word you hear.

1 men ▪ man 5 heard ▪ head
2 cut ▪ cat 6 set ▪ sit
3 hard ▪ had 7 better ▪ butter
4 paper ▪ pepper
7 /a:/AND /ʌ/ Listen and repeat the words.
/a:/ = class, dance, fast, father, glass, tomato, bar, car, card, aunt, laugh
/ʌ/ = bus, colour, come, cup, front, London, luck, Monday, month

8 PRACTICE Listen and circle the word you hear.

1 heart ▪ hat 4 look ▪ luck
2 far ▪ four 5 luck ▪ lock
3 cat ▪ cut 6 butter ▪ better

9/ ɒ /AND /ɔ:/ Listen and repeat the words below paying attention to the bolded
sounds.
/ɒ/ = frost
/ɔ:/ = forecast

10 PRACTICE Listen and circle the word you hear.

1 not ▪ note
2 luck ▪ lock
3 coat ▪ caught
 4 shot ▪ short
5 walk ▪ work

11 /ɪ/ AND /i:/Listen and repeat the words below paying attention to the bolded
sounds.
/i:/ = feel
/ɪ/ = fill

12 PRACTICE Listen and circle the word you hear.

1 leave ▪ live
2 knee ▪ near
3 litter ▪ letter
13 /eɪ/, /aɪ/ AND /ɔɪ/Listen and repeat the words below paying attention to the
vowel sounds.

/eɪ / = table, rain, wait, play, grey, break, eight

/aɪ / = white, die, dry, why, night
/ɔɪ/ = point, voice, boy, enjoy

14 PRACTICE Listen and circle the word you hear.

1 gate ▪ get
2 way ▪ white
3 my ▪ May
4 point ▪ Paint

15 /aʊ/ AND /əʊ/Listen and repeat the words below paying attention to the vowel
sounds.

/aʊ/ = account, power

/əʊ/ = role, upload

16 PRACTICE Listen and circle the word you hear.

1 coast ▪ cost
2 boat ▪ boot
3 woke ▪ walk

17 /eə/, / ɪə/ AND /ʊə/ Listen and repeat the words below paying attention to the
vowel sounds.

/eə/ = care, air, wear

/ɪə/ = real, beard, beer, here
/ʊə/ = pure, tour

18 PRACTICE Listen and circle the word you hear.

1 near ▪ knee
2 bird ▪ beard
3 wear ▪ way
4 sure ▪ euro