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Pronunciation Guide
FREE LISTENING WORKSHEET · APG

Practice English consonant clusters in 20 words

Listen, notice one detail, and say the word in a phrase.

Open the guide & listening notes →Take the interactive quiz →

Videos and full notes: https://ipronounce.io/guides/consonant-clusters

Name: ________________________　 Date: __________________

A five-word listening round

  1. Choose five words below. Open each linked word and play its APG video.
  2. Write one sound observation: the strongest syllable, a silent letter, a consonant connection, or a variant you hear.
  3. Say the original practice phrase, then write and say your own sentence.
  4. Read the word’s listening note and compare it with your observation. Repeat any word you want to revisit.
Your listening record — choose five, then return for another round
Word & videoPractice phraseWhat I hear / my sentence
clothesHang your clothes in the closet.
depthWe measured the depth of the pond.
nextTake the next street on the left.
archWe walked beneath the stone arch.
conchShe held a conch shell to her ear.
exemptSome items are exempt from the fee.
instinctHer first instinct was to help.
textPlease send me a text when you arrive.
scratchThe branch left a scratch on the door.
scriptThe actor read the script on the train.
scrutinyThe proposal came under close scrutiny.
shriekedThe children shrieked with delight.
splendidWe had a splendid view of the mountains.
spreadsheetShe entered the figures in a spreadsheet.
strengthThe rope was tested for strength.
strictlyThe rule is strictly enforced.
structureThe structure survived the storm.
succinctHer answer was clear and succinct.
thresholdHe paused at the threshold.
thriveThese plants thrive in full sun.

Test your pronunciation knowledge

Choose one answer for each question. The answer key includes explanations and source links.

  1. How is the written ed pronounced in “shrieked”?

    1. As a separate ed syllable
    2. As d
    3. As t, within the same syllable

  2. Which two consonants end “depth”?

    1. p followed by unvoiced th
    2. b followed by voiced th
    3. t followed by s

  3. Which consonant sequence begins “script”?

    1. s-t-r
    2. s-k-r
    3. sh-r

  4. Which consonant may appear between ng and th in “strength”?

    1. b
    2. p
    3. k
Show the answer key

Open this section before printing to include the answers.

  1. C. As t, within the same syllable “Shrieked” ends with k-t and has only one syllable. The written ed does not add another vowel.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  2. A. p followed by unvoiced th “Depth” ends with p followed by /θ/, the sound in thin. Keep both attached to the word’s single vowel beat.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  3. B. s-k-r “Script” begins with s-k-r, followed by its single short i vowel. It ends with p-t, without another vowel.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

  4. C. k “Strength” can end with ng-k-th or ng-th. The k is present in some pronunciations and absent in others; both have one syllable.

    Source: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Sources & reuse

The pronunciation notes are based on the dictionary sources linked from each word page. Practice phrases and exercises are original APG learning material, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Credit American Pronunciation Guide and keep the source links when adapting this worksheet. Videos and reference quotations retain their own terms.

Full sources & credits →