Which of the following words does not take the vowel sound /i:/ ?

Question

Accepted Answer

Option 4, "this," is the correct answer because it does not contain the vowel sound /i:/. The vowel sound /i:/ is a long vowel sound typically found in words like "deep," "complete," and "dream." Let's examine each option to understand why "this" is the correct choice:

1. **Deep**: The word "deep" contains the vowel sound /i:/ in the middle of the word. The "ee" in "deep" is pronounced as the long vowel sound /i:/, which is a high front vowel sound.

2. **Complete**: In the word "complete," the final syllable "-plete" contains the vowel sound /i:/. The "e" in the "-plete" part is pronounced as the long vowel sound /i:/, making it consistent with the vowel sound in question.

3. **Dream**: The word "dream" also contains the vowel sound /i:/. The "ea" in "dream" is pronounced as the long vowel sound /i:/, similar to the sound in "deep" and "complete."

4. **This**: The word "this" does not contain the vowel sound /i:/. Instead, it contains the short vowel sound /ɪ/, which is different from the long vowel sound /i:/. The "i" in "this" is pronounced as a short, lax vowel sound, distinguishing it from the other options.

In summary, Option 4, "this," is the correct answer because it does not include the long vowel sound /i:/, unlike the other options, which all feature this specific vowel sound.