By means of solid-state ^(31)P MAS NMR, basic phosphine oxides with varied molecular sizes, namely tributylphosphine oxide (TMPO) and tributylphosphine oxide (TBPO), were used as probe molecules to characterize the internal and external acidity of H-ZSM-5 zeolites. It was found that, the relative change in ^(31)P NMR chemical shift at a given acid site is nearly the same regardless of the characteristics of the adsorbed probe molecules. Consequently, five internal acid sites were identified whose relative distribution and strength varied with the Al content in the zeolite framework. Zeolites having lower Al content tend to possess internal acid sites with higher acid strength on the expanse of decrease in weaker acidity. On the other hand, for the three different external acid sites found, while their relative distribution varied slightly with Si/Al ratio of the zeolite, the acid strength remained practically unchanged. This study, which demonstrates the methodology of detennining the relative distribution of acid sites (viz. internal vs external acidity), should be helpful in further understanding of the reaction mechanism and related selectivity features of the zeolitic catalysts.