4. Cowards die many times

Icono IDevice Writing activity
After reading some more quotations on the walls of the corridor, Paco enters his room and realizes that there are some other pictures, similar to the ones he has just seen in the corridor. On this occasion, however, something different can be read in them. Have a look at the three pictures Paco reads.
A B
C

What are the sentences Paco reads in the pictures? Could you find their Spanish correspondent?


Icono de iDevice Example activity
Although it may seem difficult at first, English phonetics is not very difficult. On this occasion, we are going to concentrate on diphthongs and triphthongs. Let's have a look at the English phonetics of the proverbs above, but first, go back to our friend the robot, and ask her to pronounce the proverbs to you!
Can you recognize the diphthongs and triphthongs in the proverbs?

In English, we have eight diphthongs and five triphthongs. Here you can find them! Click on the pictures to see them clearer!

 

 

Now, go back to the robot and tell her to pronounce to you all the examples from the pictures!

Icono IDevice Further knowledge
Click here if you want to find out further information about English diphthongs. And by clicking here, you'll see the five triphthongs and some more examples you will be able to listen to!

Icono de iDevice Self assessment

Fill in the blanks with D if the word contains, at least, a diphthong and T if it contains a triphthong. If you doubt, you may use either our friend, the robot, or a dictionary.

 

By Suzanna. C. Commons
 By FHKE. C. Commons

 

slow
 slower
 tourism
noise
 towel
 sower
mobile
 widow
 hypertext
trier
 mouse stayer
great
 near ballet

 

  

Icono IDevice Curiosity

Homophones

As you have seen in some of the examples above, there are words which are different but pronounced in the same way (notice: no/know, here/hear, hour/our). These words are known as homophones. If they are not only pronounced in the same way but also have the same spelling, they are known as homonyms. Homonyms are also homographs, which are words with the same spelling but different meanings, although they may have the same pronunciation or not (e.g. bow [n.] reverencia / bow [n.] moño). There are lots of examples in English. Let's concentrate a bit on homophones and homonyms.

 

 

If you are interested in this subject, click here to find out an excellent list of English homophones. By clicking here you'll be able to get a list of homonyms. Finally, if you feel like smiling, have a look at these funny homonym jokes!

 


This is the end of topic 2. In it, we've checked the form and uses of two important verb tenses, the Present Simple and the Present Continuous, we've seen some vocabulary on feelings and people's personality, and we've worked a little bit on the difference between English diphthongs and triphthongs. We really hope you've enjoyed it! See you in Topic 3!
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