Minimal pairs are words that sound the same apart from one sound. The only difference between fee /fiː/ and V /viː/ is the initial consonant sound.
Comparison Words (minimal pairs in the order /f/ - /v/) 1 fee – V 3 focal – vocal 5 defied – divide 7 off – of 2 fairy – vary 4 deafen - Devon 6 infest – invest 8 half – halve 9 proof – prove 10 relief - relieve
Words with /f/ and /v/ diversify, effective, favourite, flavour, forgive, offensive, overflow, verify
Phrases (minimal pairs – not necessarily in the order /f/ - /v/) 1 a fine vine 2 fewer viewers 3 define “divine” 4 sniffle and snivel 5 a fan of vans 6 he’s vast and fast 7 the staff are starving 8 refuse to read reviews
Sentences (minimal pairs – not necessarily in the order /f/ - /v/)
1 I always view a few live1 programmes on wildlife. 2 I think it’s vile that she rifled through her rival’s files. 3 I always fear that the ferry will veer in a very dangerous manner. 4 Before leaving the leafy station near Fife, I buy a five pound ticket. 5 For reference: he believes all beliefs should be treated with reverence. 6 It’s safe to say that the surfers who serve in the army save all their money.
1 Here live means not from a recording and is pronounced /lʌɪv/. In the sentence I live in London, the word is pronounced /lɪv/.
