Vowels and consonants are the two major categories of English phonemes, and they have different characteristics and rules in the process of pronunciation. According to the phonetic definition, the difference between vowels and consonants is mainly whether the airflow is obstructed in the mouth and whether the vocal cords vibrate. Specifically:
A vowel is a phoneme in which airflow is unobstructed in the mouth and the vocal cords vibrate to form a clear and loud sound. For example: i: , ɑ: , u: etc.
Consonant refers to the phoneme in which the airflow in the mouth is obstructed to a certain extent, and the vocal cords vibrate or do not vibrate, forming a vague sound. For example: p, t, k, s, f, m, n, l, etc.
The classification of vowels and consonants is mainly based on the way and position of the sounds, as well as the differences in length and tone. Here are some common ways to classify them:
- Classification of vowels
Depending on the height of the tongueVowels can be divided into high vowels, middle vowels, and low vowels. For example: i: , , e are high vowels, , : , : are middle vowels, , ɑ: , are low vowels.
According to the anterior and posterior position of the tongue, vowels can be divided into front vowels, * vowels, and back vowels. For example: i: , , e, is a pre-vowel, , : is a **vowel, u: , , , ɑ: , is a post-vowel.
According to the rounding of the tip of the tongue, vowels can be divided into rounded vowels and unrounded vowels. For example: u: , , : , is a round-labbed vowel, i: , , e, , , , , ɑ: is a non-round-lipped vowel.
According to the length of the pronunciation, vowels can be divided into long vowels and short vowels. For example: i: , u: , : , , ɑ: are long vowels, , , , e, , , are short vowels.
Depending on the change in pronunciationVowels can be divided into monophthong and diphthong. A vowel is a vowel that does not change the position of the tongue and the quality of the sound during pronunciation. A diphthong is a vowel in which the tongue is slipped from one position to another, and the sound quality changes from one sound to another. For example: i: , u: , : , , ɑ: , , , , e, , , is a vowel, e, a, e, a, is a diphthong.
- Classification of consonants
According to the vibration of the vocal cords, consonants can be divided into voiceless consonants and voiced consonants. Clear consonants refer to consonants in which the vocal cords do not vibrate during pronunciation, but only rely on the impact of air currents to form a sound. Voiced consonants are consonants in which the vocal cords vibrate during pronunciation, and the airflow and vocal cords work together to form a sound. For example: p , t , k , s , f , , , are clear consonants, b, d, g, z, v, , are voiced consonants.
Depending on the degree of obstruction of the airflow, consonants can be divided into plosive consonant, fricative consonant, affricate consonant, nasal consonant, liquid consonant, and semivowel consonant.
PlusivesThis is when the airflow is completely blocked in the mouth during pronunciation, and then the consonant sound that forms the sound is suddenly released. A fricative sound is a consonant that partially obstructs the airflow in the mouth during pronunciation, forming a friction sound.
Broken fricativeIt refers to the consonant sound in which the air flow first forms a plosive, and then forms a fricative sound.
NasalIt refers to a consonant sound in which the airflow comes out of the nasal cavity and the mouth is completely blocked during pronunciation.
StreamingIt refers to a consonant sound in which airflow from the sides or tip of the tongue during pronunciation and is partially obstructed by the mouth.
Half vowelsIt refers to the consonant sound in which the airflow flows out of the center of the mouth during pronunciation and the mouth is not obstructed.
For example: p , t , k , b , d , g are plosives, s , z , f , v , , h are fricatives, t , d are fricatives, m , n are nasal, l , r are streams, w , j are semivowels.
Depending on the position of the pronunciation, consonants can be divided into bilabial consonant, labiodental consonant, dental consonant, alveolar consonant, palatal consonant, velar consonant, and glottal consonant.
BilabialIt refers to the consonant sound in which the upper and lower lips touch or are close to each other during pronunciation.
Lamitodental soundsRefers to the consonant sound in which the lower lip and upper teeth touch or are close to each other during pronunciation.
Tooth soundsRefers to the consonants in which the tip of the tongue or the front of the tongue and the upper teeth are in contact or close to each other.
Gingival soundsRefers to the consonants in which the tip of the tongue or the front of the tongue and the upper gums are in contact or close to each other during pronunciation.
Hard palateRefers to the consonant sound in which the front of the tongue and the hard palate are in contact or close to each other during pronunciation.
Soft palateRefers to the consonants in which the back of the tongue and the soft palate are in contact or close to each other during pronunciation.
Pharyngeal soundsRefers to the consonant sound in which the glottis contracts or closes during pronunciation.
For example: p, b, m, w are bilabial, f, v are labial, , t, d, n, s, z, l, r are gingival, t, d, , j, j are hard palate, k, g, are soft palate, h is pharyngeal.
To determine whether a sentence is a negative sentence, you need to observe whether there are negative words or negative words in the sentence according to the structure and meaning of the sentence. Here are some common ways to tell:
If there are negative words like not, no, none, nothing, nobody, nowhere, neither, never in the sentence, then the sentence is negative. For example:
he is not happy.He was not happy. (negative sentence).
she has no money.She has no money. (negative sentence).
they saw nothing.They didn't see anything. (negative sentence).
nobody likes him.Nobody likes him. (negative sentence).
If there are auxiliary verbs or modal verbs in the sentence in negative forms like don't, doesn't, didn't, can't, couldn't, won't, wouldn't, shouldn't, mustn't, etc., then the sentence is a negative sentence. For example:
he doesn’t like coffee.He doesn't like coffee. (negative sentence).
she didn’t go to school yesterday.She didn't go to school yesterday. (negative sentence).
they can’t speak english.They don't speak English. (negative sentence).
you shouldn’t smoke here.You shouldn't smoke here. (negative sentence).
If there are adverbs or adjectives in the sentence such as hardly, scarcely, barely, seldom, rarely, little, few, etc., which indicate negation or limiting meaning, then the sentence is a negative sentence. For example:
he hardly ever smiles.He almost never laughs. (negative sentence).
she scarcely knows him.She barely knew him. (negative sentence).
they barely passed the exam.They barely passed the exam. (negative sentence).
you seldom visit me.You rarely come to see me. (negative sentence).
If there are conjunctions or phrases in the sentence such as not only, not until, not unless, not even, not yet, etc., which indicate negative or inflective meaning, then the sentence is a negative sentence. For example:
he is not only smart but also handsome.He is not only smart but also handsome. (negative sentence).
she did not le**e until he came back.She didn't leave until he returned. (negative sentence).
he will not go unless you go with him.He won't go unless you go with him. (negative sentence).
she does not even know his name.She didn't even know his name. (negative sentence).
Summary. A negative sentence is a type of sentence that denotes a negative meaning, and usually needs to be constructed using negative words. A negative word is a word used to denote negation, rejection, denial, or negativity, such as not, no, never, none, nothing, nobody, nowhere, neither, hardly, scarcely, rarely, etc.
The negative meaning of a negative sentence can be directed to the subject, predicate, object, adverbial, or whole sentence of the sentence, therefore, the types and methods of composition of the negative sentence are also different. According to the position and function of the negative word, the negative sentence can be divided into the subject negative sentence, the predicate negative sentence, the object negative sentence, the adverbial negative sentence and the whole sentence negative sentence.
Depending on the tense and voice of the sentence, as well as the type of predicate, the method of forming a negative sentence is also different. To determine whether a sentence is a negative sentence, you need to observe whether there are negative words or negative words in the sentence according to the structure and meaning of the sentence. Understanding and mastering the concepts and usage of negative sentences is of great significance and value for improving our English grammar and expression skills.