GOLDEN STARS MONTESSORI ACADEMYArial;
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JSS3 ENGLISH LANGUAGE: Changing Statements & Consonant Sounds
Core Concepts
This lesson covers two essential areas of English: first, how to correctly transform positive statements into negative ones using 'not'; and second, how to accurately produce and differentiate between the consonant sounds /z/ and /dz/.
Key Points
To make a positive statement negative, we primarily use the word 'not'. The placement of 'not' depends on the type of verb in the sentence.
a. With Auxiliary Verbs (Helping Verbs)
Auxiliary verbs include 'is, am, are, was, were, has, have, had, will, would, can, could, shall, should, may, might, must'. If a sentence already contains one of these, simply add 'not' immediately after it.
Examples:
Positive: She is reading.
Negative: She is not reading. (or She isn't reading.)
Positive: They have arrived.
Negative: They have not arrived. (or They haven't arrived.)
Positive: I can speak French.
Negative: I cannot speak French. (or I can't speak French.)
b. Without Auxiliary Verbs (Simple Present and Simple Past Tense)
When a sentence does not have an auxiliary verb (typically in simple present or simple past tense), you must introduce 'do', 'does', or 'did' before 'not'. Remember to use the base form of the main verb after 'do/does/did not'.
Examples:
Positive: He likes oranges.
Negative: He does not like oranges. (or He doesn't like oranges.)
Positive: We live in Abuja.
Negative: We do not live in Abuja. (or We don't live in Abuja.)
Positive: They walked to school.
Negative: They did not walk to school. (or They didn't walk to school.)
Note: The verb 'to be' (am, is, are, was, were) acts as its own auxiliary verb even when it's the main verb. Just add 'not' after it.
Example:
Positive: I am a student.
Negative: I am not a student.
Both /z/ and /dz/ are voiced sounds, meaning your vocal cords vibrate when you produce them. You can feel this by placing your hand on your throat.
a. The /z/ Sound (Voiced Alveolar Fricative)
This sound is similar to the buzzing of a bee. To make it, position the tip of your tongue close to the ridge behind your upper front teeth (the alveolar ridge). Allow air to flow continuously through a narrow gap, creating a sustained buzzing sound. Your vocal cords must vibrate.
Common Spellings: 'z' (e.g., zoo, la zy), 's' (e.g., i s, ha s, boy s), 'se' (e.g., plea se, chee se).
Examples: zebra, bu zz, ro se, frien ds.
b. The /dz/ Sound (Voiced Alveolar Affricate)
This sound is a blend of two sounds: a quick stop sound /d/ immediately followed by the /z/ sound. It begins with your tongue briefly pressing against the alveolar ridge, stopping the air, then quickly releasing it into the /z/ sound. Your vocal cords vibrate throughout this combined action.
Common Spellings: 'j' (e.g., jump, joy), 'g' (before 'e', 'i', 'y', e.g., gem, ma gic), 'dg' (e.g., ju dge), 'dge' (e.g., bri dge, ba dge).
Examples: jacket, ener gy, sol dier, e dge.
c. Comparing /z/ and /dz/
The key difference lies in the beginning of the sound.
/z/ is a continuous, buzzing sound from start to finish.
/dz/ begins with a brief stop (like the /d/ sound) before transitioning into the buzzing /z/ sound. It's a single, integrated sound, not two separate ones spoken sequentially.
Practice: Say 'zoo' (continuous /z/) and then 'juice' (starts with a stop, then /z/). Notice the distinct feel in your mouth.
Summary
To negate a positive statement, add 'not' after an auxiliary verb or use 'do/does/did not' with the main verb's base form. The /z/ sound is a continuous, voiced buzz, while the /dz/ sound is a voiced blend that starts with a quick stop before releasing into a buzz. Mastering these grammatical rules and phonetic distinctions will significantly enhance your English proficiency.