Losing Stops

Words that end in -st, -ct, -pt, and -nd, are difficult to pronounce for many students of English.  When a final -s is added to these words, the plosive sound (t or d) gets blended out.   Native speakers make this blend naturally.  Print this page and open the next link. Listen to these word pairs and then to the smooth transition from the final -s to the initial sound in the next word. Then practice saying the sentences.

st+s ct+s
last / lasts act / acts
The class lasts an hour. She acts like she's angry.
list / lists fact / facts
The flight manifest lists 88 passengers aboard. The facts in the case merit an investigation.
insist / insists enact / enacts
She insists on leaving early. Congress enacts laws.
resist / resists project / projects
A patient who resists treatment may suffer needlessly. Intel projects large profits next quarter.
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pt+s nd+s
adopt / adopts lend / lends
Sarah often adopts stray animals. He often lends money to friends.
concept / concepts end / ends
The concepts in the lecture were new and difficult. The play ends at ten.
Accept / accepts defend / defends
She accepts blame for the mistake. A public defender defends indigent people.
Corrupt / corrupts offend / offends
"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." She often offends others with her tactless remarks.
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