Make the sounds
1 Open your mouth a little so that there is some space between your top and bottom teeth.
2 Put the tip of your tongue lightly between the top and bottom teeth, keeping it relaxed.
3 Breathe out through your mouth.
4 Don't let any air out through your nose.
5 The sound you produce can be voiced /&/ or voiceless /8/ (see page 15).
When do I use this sound?
Voiced/voiceless	Spelling	Examples	Frequency
voiceless	th	think, three	often
voiceless	voiced consonant + th	month, seventh, width	often
voiced	ther/the	brother, other, breathe	often
voiced	th	those, these	often
The spelling th is pronounced as a /t/ in some names and places, like Thomas, Thames and Thailand.
Now try it!
Say each of these words and sentences aloud. Then compare your pronunciation with the model on tracks 39-41.
1 think £hjee ethical both earth path
2 Ihey the weather. other soothe breathe
DVD
Q A
39-41
3>U     Section B: The sounds of English
Work on your Accent THIN & THIS
B    1 Though my mother and her three brothers think they're healthy, they're not.
2 I thought the weather on Thursday was thoroughly threatening.
C    1 Six thick thistle sticks.
2 The other bathing brothers.
3 Not these things here, but those things there.
Am I doing something wrong?
All groups]
X   Making the same sound in the words'boat'and'both'. You are stopping the airflow, and then suddenly releasing it. You need to make a soft, continuous hiss.
Start by making a long /s/ sound. Maintain the continuous hiss.
Now, gradually slide your tongue forward until the tip rests between your teeth. Keep breathing out!
You are now producing the /0/ sound.
1 2 3 4 5 6 8
X   Making the same sound in the words 'pass' and 'path', or 'breeze' and 'breathe'.
«^  Start by making a long /s/ sound. Slowly slide your tongue forward, while continuing to breathe out.
When the tip of your tongue sits lightly between your teeth, almost level with the lips, you will produce the correct /8/ sound.
12 4 6
)
X   Making the same sound in the words 'free' and 'three'.
Look in a mirror when you are practising this sound. Focus on relaxing your lips, and keeping them completely still. For /f/, your bottom lip will move, but for /9/ it should not.
Then follow the instructions in the Make the sounds section, making sure that it is your tongue and teeth making the sound, not your lips and teeth.