English is not Phonetic

Always remember that English is not "phonetic". That means that we do not always say a word the same way that we spell it.

Some words can have the same spelling but different pronunciation, for example:

•  I like to read [ri:d].
•  I have read [red] that book.

Some words have different spelling but the same pronunciation, for example:

•  I have read [red] that book.
•  My favourite colour is red [red].