Improve The Pronunciation Of Your Suffixes In 5 Minutes

Feb 20

I've had a number of clients posting comments about their No. 1 struggle with British English Pronunciation. So if you posted and you're watching, this video is really going to help you out. But just before I do that, if you're new to English Pronunciation Roadmap, then I've just uploaded another video asking for what is your No. 1 struggle with British English pronunciation - so if you want some help with something you struggle with, then click here or click the link at the end of this video and I'll help you out.

Anyway, so a lot of people seem to struggle with the pronunciation of suffixes - the common addition to the ends of words - like an ’s’ in ‘parts’ or ‘plates’.

Some are quite obvious, like the ’s’ for instance but some are not. And to be more specific, there are four suffixes that seem to be most confusing:

No. 1 -ed

So when it is preceded by a written ‘t’ or ‘d’ and it is treated as an extra syllable, it is often pronounced as 'id' as in 'kid':

dedicated downloaded open-ended revisited melted
needed planted shouted targeted treated visited
waited wanted hated admitted chatted knitted patted

But when treated as part of the final syllable the ‘e’ isn’t spoken - so just add a D sound:

ashamed abandoned murdered plastered
moaned phoned amazed appealed appalled

And finally, when it's treated as part of the final syllable, and the final consonant before the ‘ed’ is voiceless (like ‘sh’ ‘f’ ’s’ ‘k’ ‘p’ or ’t'), not only would the ‘e’ not be spoken, but the ‘d’ would be spoken as a T sound:

provoked wished laughed bashed flashed
mashed backed smoked smacked walked popped

No. 2 -ory

Im most cases this is simply pronounced as 'ree' and the 'o' is NOT pronounced:

lavatory conservatory laboratory conservatory territory
declamatory satisfactory exclamatory inflammatory introductory

Although in some words the 'o' is pronounced as a schwa

accessory advisory compulsory

No. 3 -ary

In most cases it is simply pronounced 'ree' and the 'a' is NOT pronounced:

extraordinary involuntary cautionary commentary
complimentary contemporary dietary revolutionary
documentary evolutionary hereditary imaginary
involuntary momentary missionary

Although in some words the 'a' is pronounced as a schwa

anniversary beneficiary disciplinary glossary

No. 4 -ony

the 'o' in most cases is pronounced as a schwa and the ‘ny’ as an 'nee':

acrimony ceremony harmony matrimony
monotony testimony symphony sanctimony

Let me know if that was helpful. Scroll down now and leave a comment, hit the thumbs up or thumbs down, just give me some response. If you want some help with something you struggle with, then click the link at the end of this video and I'll help you out with your No. 1 struggle with British English pronunciation.