English audiobooks for beginners

Like any other language, students begin learning English with the alphabet. Next, they learn the rules of reading and writing. It is possible to speak English without a deep knowledge of phonetics, but this requires constant immersion in the language. Of course, you won't be able to communicate at a native level right away — it will be difficult to pick up all the nuances of pronunciation by ear. That's why we recommend that you first master the basic principles of reading and pronunciation in English.

What is the difficulty of learning English pronunciation?

The English themselves often joke about the rules of reading in English: “English pronunciation is the only language where ‘ough’ can be pronounced five different ways in one sentence!” Indeed, in English, almost every spelling rule has an exception because “that's how it has historically developed.”

Modern spelling has preserved long-standing pronunciation traditions. For example, the word “knight” once sounded like “knicht.” But in the 16th century, the so-called Great Vowel Shift occurred. Vowels and diphthongs began to be pronounced completely differently, but the conservative inhabitants of Foggy Albion did not want to change the spelling.

Also, there are many borrowings from German and French in English vocabulary — their original spelling has been preserved to this day (croissant, plateau, rendezvous). In addition, it is worth considering the noticeable differences in pronunciation between British dialects and the literary norm. That is why it is almost impossible to learn all the rules of reading in English — you will never please everyone.

The same letters can be pronounced differently, which significantly complicates modern articulation and causes confusion even for native speakers. Therefore, there is only one way out — persistent learning!

How to read English vowels?

There are only six vowels in English: a [ei], e [i:], i [ai], o [ou], u [ju:] and y [wai], but they are used to convey more than 20 vowel sounds.

The sound of a vowel depends on the context:

• its position in the word;
• and the neighboring letters, especially those that come after it.

The sound of a vowel also depends on the type of syllable:

• An open syllable ends with a vowel or consists of a single vowel.
  → Here, the vowel is pronounced as it sounds in the alphabet.
  For example: name [neim], he [hi:]
• Closed syllable — ends with a consonant.
  → Here the vowel is pronounced short, not as a diphthong.
  For example: cat [kæt], pen [pen]

The letter r has a particular influence on reading when it follows a vowel:

• In an open syllable, r changes the second part of the diphthong into a neutral sound [ə].
• In a closed syllable, a vowel + r create a new long sound:
  • [a] → [a:],
  • [ɔ] → [ɔ:],
  • [e], [i], [u] → [ə:].

In unstressed positions, vowels are reduced — that is, they are shortened or disappear completely. The letters u, a, and o often sound like the neutral [ə]:

• sofa — [ˈsəʊfə],
• today — [təˈdeɪ],
• difficult — [ˈdɪfɪkəlt].

The letters i, e, y under reduction are pronounced as a short [i]:

• enemy — [ˈenimi],
• examine — [ɪɡˈzæmɪn].

In fast speech, even pronouns such as she, he, we, me are often pronounced as [ʃi], [hi], [wi], [mi] — with a short [i] instead of a long [i:].

Sometimes vowels disappear completely:

• lesson — [ˈlesn],
• open — [ˈəʊpn],
• pencil — [ˈpensl].

In writing, this can also be conveyed by replacing the omitted vowel with an apostrophe:

• I am → I’m,
• we are → we’re,
• she is → she’s.

Mastering these rules usually does not take much time, if you do not take into account the exceptions that are always and everywhere in English.

Rules for reading consonants

In the English alphabet, there are 21 consonants + the letter Y, which can be either a vowel or a consonant. In total, consonants represent 24 consonant sounds.

The basic rules for reading consonants in English are as follows:

• Consonants before vowels are not softened.
• At the end of a word, voiced consonants are not devoiced (unlike in Ukrainian).
• Double consonants are read as one sound.

Types of consonants according to the method of articulation:

1. Plosives (explosives) — the air flow is completely blocked:
   —Voiceless: [p], [t], [k].
   —Voiced: [b], [d], [g].
   —Nasal: [m], [n], [ŋ].
2. Fricative — a narrow opening is formed for air to pass through:
   —Voiceless: [f], [θ], [ʃ], [s], [h].
   —Voiced: [v], [ð], [ʒ], [z].
   —Sonorants: [w], [l], [r], [j].
3. Affricates (plosive-fricative) — begin as plosives and end as fricatives:
   —[ʧ] — unvoiced.
   —[ʤ] — voiced.

Consonants are also divided into voiced and unvoiced:

• Voiced: [b], [v], [g], [d], [z], [l], [m], [n], [r].
• Unvoiced: [k], [p], [s], [t], [f], [ʧ], [ʃ], [θ], [h].

Note: if a voiced consonant is devoiced at the end of a word, the meaning may change. For example, bed [bed] — “bed”, bet [bet] — “bat”.

All consonants in English are pronounced hard — there is no softness.

There are also letters with one pronunciation:

• b [b], l [l], m [m], n [n], d [d], q [kw], k [k], p [p], t [t], f [f], h [h], z [z], v [v], j [ʤ].

With two variants:

• g: [ʤ] before e, i, y; [g] — in all other cases.
• c: [s] before e, i, y; [k] — in all other cases.
• s: [s] — at the beginning or near consonants; [z] between vowels or after voiced consonants.
• x: [gz] before a stressed vowel, [ks] in all other cases.
• r: [r] at the beginning of a word; not pronounced after a vowel at the end of a word.

In some letter combinations in English, certain consonants are not pronounced. For example:

• b — not pronounced in lamb,
• c — not pronounced in muscle,
• sc — c not pronounced in scene, science,
• g — not pronounced in paradigm, fight, gnome,
• k — not pronounced in knot, knife,
• n — not pronounced in autumn, column,
• w — w is not pronounced in wreck, wrist,
• t — is omitted in words of foreign origin, such as bouquet, gourmet.

It is extremely important to know these cases in order to pronounce words correctly and not confuse their meanings. When learning English, do not try to transfer the sound rules of your native language — in English, everything has its own rules.

Syllables in English

There are six main types of syllables in English. Knowing these types helps you pronounce words correctly and recognize their sound structure.

1. Open syllable.

An open syllable is formed when a vowel is at the end of a syllable or before a consonant that begins the next syllable. In such syllables, the vowel is usually long.

Examples: tea, fly, tree.

2. Closed syllable.

A closed syllable has a vowel sound between two consonants. The vowel here is short and its pronunciation is close to the usual short sound.

Examples: stop, sell, book, smart.

3. Vowel + R

(Vowel + R).

This type consists of a vowel followed by the consonant “r.” The vowel in this combination is usually short and changes its sound under the influence of “r.”

Examples: car, bird, hurt.

4. Vowel–Consonant–e (Vowel–Consonant–e, VCe).

Here, the vowel is long because of the final “e,” which is not pronounced but makes the preceding vowel long. This is a very common pattern in long words.

Examples: wake, whale, fire, mine, more.

5. Vowel + R + Vowel (Vowel + R + Vowel).

This syllable contains the consonant “r” between two vowels. This syllable has its own pronunciation characteristics and is often found in words with an “r” sound effect.

Examples: perform, ardor, mirror, further.

6. Syllable with “-le” (Consonant-le syllable)

This type of syllable occurs at the end of words and contains a “silent” letter “e.” The ‘l’ sound is formed by the consonant before “le.” Examples: cable, bugle, little, puzzle.

Knowing how vowels and consonants combine allows you to pronounce words clearly and correctly, avoiding common mistakes.

Rules for reading words with prefixes

Prefixes in English have a fixed meaning, regardless of the word to which they are added. For example, the prefix pre- means “before”: preview — “preview,” predict — “predict.”

In English, prefixes can be one or two syllables, usually of Greek or Latin origin. They help you understand new words or phrases, but sometimes they have a special sound or change the meaning of a word to the opposite.

Prefixes allow you to shorten long phrases to a single word, for example, underestimate — “to underestimate.”

Common prefixes in English:

• a- (an-) — negation (atheist, anemic);
• a- — toward, in the direction of (affect, aside);
• ab- — from (abrupt, abstract);
• ad- (ac-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-, at-, as-) — movement toward, addition (adjust, advance);
• ante- — before (antecedent);
• anti- (ant-) — against (antibiotic);
• be- — through, completely (bewitch, beset);
• com- (co-, col-, con-, cor-) — together, completely (combat, confide);
• contra- — against (contraband);
• counter- — opposite (counterintelligence);
• de- — down, removal (descend, detach);
• dia- (di-) — through, across (diagonal);
• dis- (di-) — negation, removal (dislike, discount);
• en- (em-) — in, on, bring into a state (engulf, enlighten);
• ex- (e-, ef-) — from, former (exit, ex-husband);
• extra- — outside, additional (extraordinary);
• hemi- — half (hemisphere);
• hyper- — above, higher than normal (hyperactive);
• hypo- — under, below (hypodermic);
• in- (il-, im-, ir-) — not, without / in, inside (illegal / inbound);
• infra- — below (infrared);
• inter- — between (interact);
• intra- — inside (intravenous);
• non- — absence, negation (non-smoker);
• ob- (oc-, of-, op-) — against, blocking (obstruct, oppose);
• out- — exceeding, external (outperform);
• over- — excessive, above (overwork, overall);
• peri- — around (perimeter);
• post- — after (postpone);
• pre- — before (prelude);
• pro- — for, forward (pro-choice, propel);
• re- — again (rebuild);
• semi- — half, partial (semicircle);
• sub- (suc-, suf-, sug-, sup-, sur-, sus-) — under, below (submarine);
• syn- (sym-) — together (synchronize);
• trans- — through, between (transfer);
• ultra- — beyond, above (ultraviolet);
• un- — not, cancellation (unhappy, unlock);
• under- — under, insufficient (underestimate).

Pay attention to negative prefixes such as “a-”, “im-” or “un-”. They are not used together with the negative particle “not” because this creates a double negative. For example, the phrase “not unlikely” actually means “likely.”

Suffixes: how they transform words in English

Suffixes and endings in English are often confused because both are sometimes referred to by the general term “word endings.” However, they are easy to distinguish.

Endings change the form of a word, but they do not change its meaning or part of speech. For example, endings can indicate the plural form of nouns (apple — apples) or the past tense of verbs (work — worked). There are not many such endings in English — for example, -s (-es) and -ed.

Suffixes, on the other hand, help form new words and phrases, completely changing the meaning or part of speech. For example, to build — building (to construct — a structure), active — activity (active — doing something).

Knowing suffixes is a great way to expand your vocabulary. Unlike endings, there are many suffixes in English. They can indicate the state, origin, gender, or property of an object, as well as turn adjectives or verbs into nouns. We will look at only the most common suffixes and give examples of their use.

Suffixes for professions and occupations

Many English suffixes come from French, for example, professor comes from the French professeur. Suffixes for the names of professions are as follows:

• -er, -or — blue-collar occupations: painter, farmer, actor.
• -ist, -ian — professions in medicine, science, art: dentist, biologist, musician.
• The exception is doctor.

The suffix -ess forms feminine variants (actress), but it is now used less and less to avoid emphasizing the professional field (instead of stewardess, we now use flight attendant).

Suffixes for forming other parts of speech

Here are some suffixes for nouns:

• -ment forms nouns from verbs: develop — development.
• -tion (also -sion, -cion) forms nouns from verbs: create — creation.

-ness and -ity turn adjectives into nouns: happy — happiness, active — activity.

-ship and -hood denote communities or states: partnership, neighborhood.

Suffixes for verbs:

• -ify, -efy — to give a property: solid — solidify (solid — to solidify).
• -ate — forms verbs from nouns ending in -ation: celebration — celebrate (celebration — to celebrate).
• -en — means “to become”: bright — brighten (bright — to illuminate).
• -ise / -ize — action, often from nouns: final — finalize (final — complete). British English uses -ise, American English uses -ize.

Suffixes for adjectives:

• -al, -ar — relation, belonging: regional (regional), lunar (lunar).
• -ive — ability or effect: creative (creative), persuasive (persuasive).
• -able, -ible — possibility or suitability: manageable (manageable), visible (visible).
• -ful and -less — presence or absence of a quality: hopeful — hopeless (hopeful — hopeless).
• -ish — similarity (childish — childlike), weakening (bluish — bluish), belonging (English — English).
• -ing — causes a feeling or property: exciting (exciting), boring (boring).

As for adverbs, English uses only one basic suffix for this part of speech — -ly: loud — loudly (loud — loudly), weak — weakly (weak — weakly).

Today we have provided you with only the basic information about reading letters and words in English. If you have started studying it, there are many more rules ahead of you, and even more exceptions to them. Of course, you may make mistakes, but if you structure your lessons and study with enthusiasm, this sea of information will very quickly turn into your favorite lake, where you know every fish. We wish you success!