Silent Letters | English Pronunciation & Vocabulary | PART 1

Summary

This video dives into the tricky world of silent letters in English, helping learners understand when to pronounce certain letters and when to skip them. The presenter explains simple rules for silent letters like A, B, C, D, E, and more, offering practical examples for each. Viewers can follow along with subtitles, and there's a focus on making pronunciation easier by breaking down words step-by-step. Part one covers half of the alphabet, with a link provided to continue learning in part two. Viewers are encouraged to engage on Facebook for further discussion.

Takeaways

• 😀 Silent letters are common in English, appearing in about 60% of words.
• 🅰️ The letter A is often silent in words that end in '-ally'.
• 🅱️ The letter B is silent when it follows M, and often silent before T.
• 🅲 The letter C is usually silent after the letter S.
• 🅳 The letter D is silent in certain words like 'sandwich' and quiet when followed by G.
• 🅴 The letter E is silent at the end of words but can change the vowel sound before it.
• 🅶 The letter G can be silent in words like 'sign', 'champagne', and 'design'.
• 🅷 The letter H is often silent when following W or at the start of certain words like 'hour'.
• 🅺 The letter K is silent when it comes before N, such as in 'knight' or 'know'.
• 🅻 The letter L can be silent in words where it's hard to pronounce, like 'half' and 'calm'.

Q & A

Why are silent letters in English words considered frustrating?

Silent letters are frustrating because they are present in about 60% of English words, making pronunciation tricky and inconsistent.

When is the letter 'A' silent?

The letter 'A' is often silent in words ending with '-ally', such as in 'basically' or 'logically'.

What is the rule for the silent 'B' after the letter 'M'?

The letter 'B' is always silent when it follows the letter 'M', as in words like 'lamb', 'comb', or 'bomb'.

Can the letter 'B' be silent before another letter?

Yes, the letter 'B' is often silent when it appears before the letter 'T', as in 'debt' or 'doubt'.

What is a common rule for the silent 'C' in English?

The letter 'C' is often silent when it follows the letter 'S', as seen in words like 'science', 'scissors', and 'muscle'.

When is the letter 'D' silent in English?

The letter 'D' can be silent in words like 'sandwich', where only the 'N' sound is pronounced. It can also be very quiet in front of a 'G', as in 'bridge' or 'edge'.

How does a silent 'E' affect the pronunciation of words?

Although the 'E' is silent at the end of many words, it affects the pronunciation of the vowel before it, making the vowel sound longer. For example, 'hid' becomes 'hide'.

What is the rule for silent 'G' in words?

The letter 'G' is silent in words like 'sign', 'champagne', 'design', and 'foreign'. The combination 'GH' is also silent after a vowel sound, as in 'night' or 'though'.

When is the letter 'H' silent in English?

The letter 'H' is silent after a 'W', as in 'whale' or 'what'. It can also be silent at the beginning of words like 'honest' or 'hour', or when following the letters 'C', 'G', or 'R'.

Why is the letter 'K' silent before 'N'?

In English, the letter 'K' is always silent when it comes before the letter 'N', as in 'knife', 'knock', and 'know'.