Phonetics - sports worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve the "Sports - Phonetics" worksheet step by step.

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🔹 Task 1: Listen to the sounds.

This part is meant for auditory practice, but since we can't listen here, we’ll focus on Task 2, which asks you to select the correct phonetic symbol for each word based on how it's pronounced in English.

We are given four possible phonetic symbols:
- /iː/ — long "ee" sound (as in *see*)
- /i/ — short "i" sound (as in *sit*)
- /ai/ — diphthong "ai" sound (as in *rain*)
- /ei/ — diphthong "ei" sound (as in *eight*)

Note: The symbol /3:/ appears in one option (for "surf"), which is the schwa sound (a weak vowel), but that’s not among the main options listed at the top. However, it's included in the choices for "surf".

Let’s go through each word and match the correct phonetic symbol.

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✔ Step-by-step Analysis

#### 1. Play
- Pronunciation: /pleɪ/
- The "ay" at the end makes a /eɪ/ sound (like "day").
- So, correct answer: /ei/

> ⚠️ Note: In some older or non-standard transcriptions, /ei/ might be used instead of /eɪ/, but in standard IPA, it's /eɪ/. Here, the options use /ei/ to represent this diphthong.

✔ Answer: /ei/

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#### 2. Hockey
- Pronunciation: /ˈhɒk.i/ (British) or /ˈhɑː.ki/ (American)
- The "ey" at the end is pronounced as /i/ (short "i")
- So, the ending sound is /i/

✔ Answer: /i/

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#### 3. Volley-ball
- "Volley" = /ˈvɒl.i/ (UK) or /ˈvɑː.li/ (US)
- The "y" at the end is pronounced like /i/ (short "i")
- So, the final vowel sound is /i/

✔ Answer: /i/

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#### 4. Table-tennis
- "Table" = /ˈteɪ.bəl/
- The "a" in "table" is pronounced as /eɪ/ → so /ei/
- "Tennis" = /ˈten.is/ → has /i/

But the question is about "Table-tennis" as a whole — likely focusing on the "table" part.

So, the key vowel in "table" is /ei/

✔ Answer: /ei/

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#### 5. Roller-blading
- "Blading" = /ˈbleɪ.dɪŋ/
- The "a" in "blading" is pronounced as /eɪ/ → /ei/

✔ Answer: /ei/

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#### 6. Swim
- Pronunciation: /swɪm/
- The "i" is short → /i/

✔ Answer: /i/

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#### 7. Surf
- Pronunciation: /sɜːf/ (UK) or /sɜːrf/ (US)
- The "u" is pronounced as /ɜː/ (a schwa-like sound), but in the options, we have:
- /iː/, /i/, /ai/, /3:/

Wait — /3:/ is actually the schwa sound /ə/, but in this case, "surf" is pronounced with /ɜː/ (not schwa).

However, in some dialects, especially in fast speech, it might be reduced, but generally, "surf" is pronounced with a /ɜː/ sound.

But look: the options provided are:
- /iː/
- /i/
- /3:/ ← this is /ɜː/ or schwa? Actually, /ɜː/ is usually written as /ɜː/, but sometimes /3:/ is used for /ɜː/ in simplified systems.

But /3:/ is often used for /ɜː/ in some phonetic guides (especially in older or simplified systems).

So, if /3:/ represents /ɜː/, then "surf" = /sɜːf/ → /3:/

✔ Answer: /3:/

> ⚠️ Note: This is a bit ambiguous because the symbol /3:/ is typically the schwa (/ə/), but in some contexts, it may be used for /ɜː/. Given that "surf" ends in /ɜː/, and /3:/ is the only available option close to that, we'll go with /3:/

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#### 8. Climb
- Pronunciation: /klaɪm/
- The "i" is pronounced as /aɪ/ → /ai/

✔ Answer: /ai/

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✔ Final Answers:

| Word | Correct Phonetic Symbol |
|-----------------|--------------------------|
| Play | /ei/ |
| Hockey | /i/ |
| Volley-ball | /i/ |
| Table-tennis | /ei/ |
| Roller-blading | /ei/ |
| Swim | /i/ |
| Surf | /3:/ |
| Climb | /ai/ |

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📌 Summary of Corrections:

- Play → /ei/
- Hockey → /i/
- Volley-ball → /i/
- Table-tennis → /ei/
- Roller-blading → /ei/
- Swim → /i/
- Surf → /3:/ (representing /ɜː/)
- Climb → /ai/

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💡 Tips:

- /ei/ = "long a" sound (like in *day*, *play*)
- /i/ = short "i" (like in *sit*, *swim*)
- /ai/ = "ai" diphthong (like in *climb*, *rain*)
- /3:/ = schwa or near-open central vowel — used here for "surf"

> Note: In real IPA, "surf" is /sɜːf/, but since /ɜː/ isn't an option, and /3:/ is closest, it's acceptable in this context.

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✔ Final Answer Key (to fill in the worksheet):

- Play → /ei/
- Hockey → /i/
- Volley-ball → /i/
- Table-tennis → /ei/
- Roller-blading → /ei/
- Swim → /i/
- Surf → /3:/
- Climb → /ai/

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation for pronunciation rules!