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Ask for help > Rule - "m" before "p" and "b"
Rule - "m" before "p" and "b"
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Kita19
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Rule - "m" before "p" and "b"
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Hello!
Last week a student of mine asked me if we must always write "m" (instead of "n") before the letters "p" and "b" in English. This is a rule we apply in the portuguese language, but I�m not sure if this rule also exists in English!
Can anybody help me, please? I wanted to answer my student correctly... 
Thanks a lot!
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1 Feb 2009
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traceyo777
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Not sure about that but we do have i before e except after c.
:-)
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1 Feb 2009
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lomigue
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I�m not sure but amphibian, amply,amber, ambient,ambulance,employ and all the words that I KNOW WRITE WHITH M before the letters P and B.
I hope help you |
1 Feb 2009
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Kita19
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Yes, lomigue, I can�t remember of any word that has "n" before "p" or "b" either, but they might exist...  is there a native speaker anywhere who can make this question disappear? Just because if this rule really exists, I think native speakers should have been taught that in the primary school...
Thanks! |
1 Feb 2009
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littlecityblue
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No, there�s no rule in English like that. Unpopular. Unbutton. No, definitely not.
Sara |
1 Feb 2009
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Ivona
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There�s no strict rule, but changes do occur, e.g. with the prefix in- ...
in-competent, in-adequate, etc.
BUT
im-proper, im-perfect ... because of the labial �p�
(That�s how much i remember what i learned at university . I should brush up on it. You never know...)
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1 Feb 2009
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Pinky Makus
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Has anyone mentioned silent letters?� I only remember discussing this when I did a unit on silent letters.
Think about words like lamb,� climb, and thumb.� The b is silent.� But words like lamp, crimp, and shrimp the m and the p are pronounced.� Does this help at all?
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2 Feb 2009
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alien boy
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The spelling generally reflects the original pronunciation of the word. Originally the silent letters were sounded. As the spoken dialect changed/became socially more desirable the word sound changed but not the spelling.
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2 Feb 2009
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