🎯 Pronunciation & Mistakes (111 lessons)
Pronunciation and common mistakes cover sounds, spelling patterns and the errors learners repeat, with the correct form beside each one.
Choose your level
- Beginner (A1) · 23 lessons
- Elementary (A2) · 32 lessons
- Intermediate (B1) · 32 lessons
- Upper-Intermediate (B2) · 14 lessons
- Advanced (C1–C2) · 10 lessons
Beginner Pronunciation & Mistakes · A1
Alphabet and Letter Sounds
26 letters, 44 sounds.
Short Vowel Sounds
a, e, i, o, u in short words.
Long Vowel Sounds
Vowels that say their name.
Common Confusing Pair: Its vs It's
its = belonging; it's = it is.
Common Confusing Pair: Your vs You're
your = belonging; you're = you are.
Common Confusing Pair: There, Their, They're
place; belonging; they are.
Mistake: Missing Verb To Be
English needs a verb in every sentence.
Mistake: Plural Forms
Don't add -s after numbers with adjectives incorrectly.
Sound: Short and Long I
ship vs sheep: length changes meaning.
Sound: B and P
b is voiced, p is not.
Sound: L and R
Tongue tip touches the roof for l, curls back for r.
Sound: V and W
v: teeth on lip; w: rounded lips.
See all 23 Beginner pronunciation & mistakes lessons →
Elementary Pronunciation & Mistakes · A2
Silent Letters
Some letters are written but not pronounced.
Pronouncing -ed Endings
/t/, /d/ or /id/ depending on the last sound.
Pronouncing -s Endings
/s/, /z/, /iz/.
Word Stress Basics
Stress one syllable in each word.
Sentence Stress
Stress content words.
Mistake: Make vs Do
make creates; do performs tasks.
Mistake: Say vs Tell
say + words; tell + person.
Mistake: Much vs Many
Choose by countability.
Mistake: Borrow vs Lend
borrow = take; lend = give.
Mistake: Bring vs Take
bring toward speaker; take away.
Mistake: Since vs For
since = point; for = period.
Spelling Rule: I Before E
i before e except after c.
See all 32 Elementary pronunciation & mistakes lessons →
Intermediate Pronunciation & Mistakes · B1
Intonation in Questions
Rising for yes/no; falling for wh-.
Connected Speech and Linking
Words blend in natural speech.
The Schwa Sound
The most common English vowel.
Weak Forms
Function words reduced in speech.
Minimal Pairs
Words differing by one sound.
TH Sounds
Voiced and unvoiced th.
Mistake: Affect vs Effect
affect = verb; effect = noun.
Mistake: Lose vs Loose
lose = misplace; loose = not tight.
Mistake: Then vs Than
then = time; than = comparison.
Mistake: Fewer vs Less
fewer with countables; less with uncountables.
Mistake: Who vs Whom
who = subject; whom = object.
Mistake: Lay vs Lie
lay needs an object; lie doesn't.
See all 32 Intermediate pronunciation & mistakes lessons →
Upper-Intermediate Pronunciation & Mistakes · B2
Stress in Compound Words
Stress first part in noun compounds.
Rhythm in English
English is stress-timed.
Sentence Stress for Meaning
Moving stress changes meaning.
Accents Around the World
UK, US, Australia, India.
Mistake: Redundancy
Avoid repeating ideas.
Mistake: False Friends
Words that look like your language but mean different.
Mistake: Uncountable Nouns
advice, information, furniture are uncountable.
Mistake: Preposition Errors
Wrong prepositions after verbs.
Reduction in Fast Speech
going to → gonna; want to → wanna.
Mistake: Dependant vs Dependent
dependant = person (noun); dependent = adjective.
Mistake: Complement vs Compliment
complement completes; compliment praises.
Mistake: Discreet vs Discrete
discreet = careful; discrete = separate.
See all 14 Upper-Intermediate pronunciation & mistakes lessons →
Advanced Pronunciation & Mistakes · C1–C2
Elision and Assimilation
Sounds drop or change in fast speech.
Intonation for Attitude
Pitch shows emotion and attitude.
Mistake: Pleonasm and Tautology
Avoid empty repetition.
Mistake: Hypercorrection
Over-applying rules.
Etymology and Word Roots
Latin and Greek roots unlock vocabulary.
Understanding Native Speed Listening
Strategies for fast speech.
Mistake: Mixed Metaphors
Don't combine incompatible images.
Prescriptive vs Descriptive Grammar
Rules from authorities vs. how people actually speak.
Register Shifts
Moving between formal and casual speech inappropriately.
Sociolinguistics of Accent
Accent signals region and identity.