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Lngllsh edagogy
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Breaking Speech into Units (4): Individual Sound Production
Regular Past Tense Endings
This extract has been designed to make you become aware of the pronunciation of final
consonants, particularly, regular past tense endings. Identify the corresponding units, place
prominent syllables where needed in each unit. Notice the linking sounds within these units and
start practising in order to work with your fluency.
The clock radio played soft music, but it sounded far away
to Howard. At last, he opened his eyes, rolled over, and
looked at the clock. He turned away and started to go
back to sleep when suddenly he realized that it was
already eight oclock. He was late. He jumped out of bed,
quickly shaved, brushed his teeth, combed his hair, and
got dressed. Hed wanted to take a shower, but decided
that there wasnt enough time. He rushed down the stairs
and into the kitchen. He hated being late. Hurriedly, he
fixed breakfast coffee and toasted English muffin (no
time for his usual fried egg) and raced out the door. He
started his car and just pulled out the driveway when the
thought popped up into his mind: it was Saturday; he
didnt have to go to work after all. He slowly returned,
climbed the stairs, changed his clothes, and went back to
bed again.