Unit 31: Word endings:-ture, -tain, -ine
Page 4 of 7
The ain creates two different sounds:
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brain | mountain |
In brain you can hear a long /ā/ sound. In mountain, it creates a weak vowel sound, like a short /ĭ/.
Study the examples in the table below:
In these words the second syllable is stressed, so you can hear a clear long /ā/ sound, as in brain. | In these words the second syllable is unstressed and has a weak sound, rather like a short /ĭ/, as in mountain. | ||
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bargain Britain captain certain chaplain chieftain curtain fountain mountain porcelain villain |
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