Play the audio and write down what you heard!
Time's up
Let’s try the /æ/ sound first! (cap, began, back, sang)
Now, let’s try the /ʌ/ sound! (cup, begun, buck, sung)
Try some of these drills:
/æ/
- Pat sat on a mat.
- The cat had a hat.
- Dan ran to the van.
- Sam has a can.
- Max packed a bag.
- Ann sat with Jack.
- Dad had a nap.
- Matt likes to chat.
- The bat is with Pat.
- Pam has a cat.
/ʌ/
- But the cup up.
- Cut the nut with a hut.
- Bun in the sun.
- Chuck lucked out.
- Run to the bus.
- Gus must rush.
- The pup dug.
- Mud on the rug.
- Hug the cub.
- Mum loves fun.
Identify the different sounds and read the poem. Start slow and then get faster. Check the audio after!
In a vast green land, near a sunlit hut,
(In æ væst green lænd, near æ sʌnlit hʌt,)
Lived a brave pup named Gus with a cap.
(Lived æ brave pʌp named Gʌs with æ cæp.)
He loved to run fast and explore the glen,
(He loved to rʌn fæst ænd explore the glen,)
With friends by his side, again and again.
(With friends by his side, ægain ænd ægain.)
One day, as Gus sat by a bubbling brook,
(One day, æs Gʌs sæt by a bʌbbling brook,)
He met a young lamb named Jack with a look.
(He met æ young læm named Jæk with æ look.)
“Let’s gather some snacks and have a grand feast,
(“Let’s gæther some snæcks ænd hæve æ grænd feast,)
And share them with friends from west to east.”
(ænd share them with friends from west to east.)
They set off together, down the forest path,
(They set off together, down the forest pæth,)
Through meadows and hills, in the soft spring sun.
(Through meadows and hills, in the soft spring sʌn.)
Gus found a hat, tattered and old,
(Gʌs found æ hæt, tættered ænd old,)
Jack saw it too, and said it looked bold.
(Jæk saw it too, ænd said it looked bold.)
“That hat is grand!” exclaimed little Gus,
(“Thæt hæt is grænd!” exclaimed little Gʌs,)
“It will keep us dry if the sky turns black.”
(“It will keep ʌs dry if the sky turns blæk.”)
“But beware of the thorns,” Jack wisely said,
(“Bʌt beware of the thorns,” Jæk wisely said,)
“They can scratch you up and hurt your head.”
(“They cæn scræch you ʌp ænd hurt your head.”)
They carefully picked the snacks and the hat,
(They carefully picked the snæcks ænd the hæt,)
And headed back home for a cozy chat.
(ænd headed bæck home for æ cozy chæt.)
As the sun started setting, they reached their den,
(ʌs the sʌn started setting, they reached their dæn,)
With stories to share, again and again.
(With stories to share, ægain ænd ægain.)
They sat by the fire, the hat in their hands,
(They sæt by the fire, the hæt in their hænds,)
And talked about their adventures in faraway lands.
(ænd talked æbout their adventures in faræway lænds.)
Gus told tales of mountains and tracks,
(Gʌs told tales of mountains ænd træcks,)
While Jack shared dreams of warm summer snacks.
(While Jæk shared dreams of warm sʌmmer snæcks.)
“Tomorrow,” said Gus, “we’ll explore once more,
(“Tomorrow,” said Gʌs, “we’ll explore once more,)
There are so many treasures, adventures galore.”
(There are so many treasures, ædventures galore.”)
Jack nodded happily, with a twinkle in his eye,
(Jæk nodded happily, with æ twinkle in his eye,)
“With you, Gus, the fun will never die.”
(“With you, Gʌs, the fʌn will never die.”)
So if you visit the meadow, near the sunlit hut,
(So if you visit the meadow, near the sʌnlit hʌt,)
Remember the tale of Gus and Jack.
(Remember the tale of Gʌs and Jæk.)
With laughter and joy, their friendship was true,
(With laughter ænd joy, their friendship was true,)
In a world full of wonder, for me and you.
(In æ world full of wonder, for me and you.)
In a vast green land, near a sunlit hut,
(In æ væst green lænd, near æ sʌnlit hʌt,)
Lived a brave pup named Gus with a cap.
(Lived æ brave pʌp named Gʌs with æ cæp.)
He loved to run fast and explore the glen,
(He loved to rʌn fæst ænd explore the glen,)
With friends by his side, again and again.
(With friends by his side, ægain ænd ægain.)
10 Most Common /ɛ/ words:
Read the dialogue to practice these common words!
10 Most Common /ʌ/ words:
Read the dialogue to practice these common words!
Exercise 8: Practice with your teacher!
- Choose a mixture of either the /æ/ or the /ʌ/ sound. (Make sure it’s random!)
- Next, sound out the words to your teacher.
- After saying all 4 words, your teacher will reveal what sound they heard/what word they thought you said!
- Count how many your teacher guessed correctly out of 4!
- After that, swap roles, and you write down which words you hear from your teacher!
Minimal Pair List
bat – but
cat – cut
pat – putt
cap – cup
lack – luck
pack – puck
lap – lup
mad – mud
pan – pun
bad – bud
rack – ruck
tan – ton
fan – fun
sack – suck
ran – run
ham – hum
tack – tuck
lag – lug
bag – bug
sang – sung
hang – hung
slag – slug
shack – shuck
flash – flush
stack – stuck
stab – stub
grab – grub
back – buck
hatch – hutch
track – truck