搞懂英文 R-Controlled Vowels：一篇掌握 ar, er, ir, or, ur 發音規則
你是否也覺得，英文單字中只要出現字母 "r"，發音就變得特別困難？尤其是當 "r" 跟在母音 (a, e, i, o, u) 後面時，它們會結合成所謂的 R-Controlled Vowels (R控母音)，徹底改變母音原本的發音。
別擔心！這其實是有規則可循的。今天，我們將一次性拆解 ar, er, ir, or, ur 這五大常見組合，透過單字與情境例句，幫助你徹底掌握它們的發音技巧。
1. 發音規則：ar
單字範例：
- harp (豎琴)
- farm (農場)
- scarf (圍巾)
- arm (手臂)
情境練習句：
The girl is playing the harp on the farm. Her scarf is waving in the wind. I enjoy the sweet music, and I open my arms.
(那個女孩在農場上彈奏著豎琴。她的圍巾在風中飄揚。我享受著甜美的音樂，並張開了我的雙臂。)
2. 發音規則：er
單字範例：
- cracker (餅乾)
- butter (奶油)
- brother (兄弟)
- slipper (拖鞋)
- sister (姊妹)
- finger (手指)
- mother (媽媽)
情境練習句：
I like to eat crackers with butter. My little brother likes his blue slippers. My sister likes her fingers, and my mother likes her curly hair.
(我喜歡吃餅乾配奶油。我的小弟喜歡他的藍色拖鞋。我姊姊喜歡她的手指，而我媽媽則喜歡她的捲髮。)
3. 發音規則：ir
單字範例：
- bird (小鳥)
- circle (圓形)
- dirty (骯髒的)
- dirt (泥土)
情境練習句：
The birds are singing in the tree. Four boys are sitting in a circle and playing with dirt. Their hands are very dirty.
(小鳥們在樹上唱歌。四個男孩圍成一個圓圈玩著泥土。他們的手非常髒。)
4. 發音規則：or
單字範例：
- north (北方)
- horn (喇叭)
- corn (玉米)
- short (短的)
- fork (叉子)
- sailor (水手)
- vendor (小販、供應商)
- mirror (鏡子)
- harbor (港口)
情境練習句 (1)：
Morgan is walking north. There is a boy blowing the horn. A girl is eating corn with a short fork.
(Morgan 正在往北方走。有個男孩在吹喇叭。一個女孩正用一把短叉子吃玉米。)
情境練習句 (2)：
A sailor is talking to a vendor. The sailor wants to buy a big mirror. The sailor sees a girl in the harbor.
(一位水手正在跟小販說話。那位水手想買一面大鏡子。水手在港口看到了一位女孩。)
5. 發音規則：ur
單字範例：
- furry (毛茸茸的)
- purple (紫色)
- purse (錢包)
- burning (燃燒)
情境練習句：
The furry purple purse is on fire. The purse is burning, and the woman is worrying.
(那個毛茸茸的紫色錢包著火了。錢包正在燃燒，而那位女士很擔心。)
總結
掌握 R-Controlled Vowels 的關鍵在於「多聽多練」。試著大聲朗讀上面的單字和句子，感受舌頭位置的變化。當你熟悉這些組合後，未來遇到再多包含 "r" 的單字，你也能自信地念出來！