Minimal Pairs

Student A: Ask question a or b. Student B: Say the matching answer.

1. a. What’s a ram? A male sheep.

1. b. What’s a lamb? A baby sheep.

2. a. Is it light? No, it’s heavy.

2. b. Is it right? No, it’s wrong.

3. a. What’s a tune? A song.

3. b. What’s a tool? A piece of equipment.

4. a. Where’s the fan? On the ceiling.

4. b. Where’s the pan? In the kitchen.

5. a. The copy machine doesn’t work. Call the technician.

5. b. The coffee machine doesn’t work. I guess I’ll have tea.

6. a. What’s a fool? A silly person.

6. b. What’s a pool? A place to swim.
Minimal Pairs
Student A: Ask question a or b. Student B: Say the matching answer.

1. a. Where’s the wine? In the bottle.

1. b. Where’s the vine? On the fence.

2. a. Is he a very old man? No, only 38.

2. b. Is he a wary old man? Yes, very suspicious.

3. a. What’s a bat? A stick used in baseball.

3. b. What’s a vat? A big container for liquid.

4. a. Where’s the vase? On the table.

4. b. Where’s the base? On the bottom.

5. a. He wants to buy my boat. Will you sell it?

5. b. He wants to buy my vote. That’s illegal!

6. a. What does “path” mean? A little road.

6. b. What does “pat” mean? To tap.
Minimal Pairs
Student A: Ask question a or b. Student B: Say the matching answer.

1. a. What does “traffic” mean? Lots of cars.

1. b. What does “terrific” mean? “Great!”

2. a. Have a seat. Thank you.

2. b. Have a sit. Is that English?

3. a. What shape is a bead? Round.

3. b. What shape is a bed? Rectangular.

4. a. Where is the first? At the beginning.

4. b. Where is the forest? In the mountains.

5. a. I love the beaches in Vancouver. So do I.

5. b. I love the bitches in Vancouver. Don’t be rude!

6. a. What does “marvel” mean? An amazing thing.

6. b. What does “marbel” mean? A kind of stone.
Minimal Pairs
Student A: Ask question a or b. Student B: Say the matching answer.

1. a. What is “believe”? A verb.

1. b. What is “belief”? A noun.

2. a. What’s a “volley”? A shot in tennis.

2. b. What’s a “folly”? A foolish act.

3. a. What did you watch? An old movie.

3. b. What did you wash? My car.

4. a. What’s Jell-O? A kind of dessert.

4. b. What’s yellow? A banana.

5. a. Her son went to Yale! That’s wonderful!

5. b. Her son went to jail! That’s terrible!

6. a. What does “yell” mean? To shout loudly.

6. b. What does “jell” mean? A product for one’s hair.
Minimal Pairs
Student A: Ask question a or b. Student B: Say the matching answer.

1. a. Who’s young? A baby.

1. b. Who’s Jung? A psychoanalyst.

2. a. What’s a joke? Something funny.

2. b. What’s a yolk? The yellow part of an egg.

3. a. What’s a chip? A small piece.

3. b. What’s a ship? A big boat.

4. a. What’s the terrain like? Very bumpy.

4. b. What’s the train like? Fast and loud.

5. a. What does “reach” mean? To stretch out your arm.

5. b. What does “rich” mean? Lots of money.

6. a. Hey you. What’s up?

6. b. Hey Jew. I’m not Jewish.
REFLECTION
• How important is it to have good pronunciation?