WEAK FORM

Weak form is an essential feature of English pronunciation.

There is a small group of about 35-40 which are pronounced in mainly two different ways -
a weak form and a strong form, some of these words have more than one weak form.
Weak forms are much more common than strong forms. Weak form is the normal
pronunciation.

Weak forms usually contains a schwa sound // or another weak vowel such as //

Weak forms can be defined as words that are unstressed when we speak naturally. It means
that the vowel sound is reduced to a short vowel or a schwa sound

Weak form words are structural or function words. i.e adjetival words (including articles),
some pronouns, conjunctions, prepositions, and a group of auxiliary verbs.

There are three factors to use weak form and when not to use them:

ACCENT: It is a characteristic of utterance, which affects all weak-form words because

they are never accented.

STRANDING: The use of prepositions and auxiliary verbs in their weak or strong form
may depend on whether they are exposed or not as a result of a syntactic device. The words
placed in exposed or stranded are pronounced with the strong form.

PHONETIC ENVIRONMENT: Weak-form words beginning with /h/ can be influenced

by a pause or a silence. /h/ can’t be dropped after a pause.

Auxiliary verbs cab either weak or strong (and optionally, accented) in initial position in an
utterance.

Some words such as “to” have two deifferent weak forms of pronunciation, it depends on
if the next word begins with a vowel or not. If it starts with a vowel it is pronounced with
a /u/ but if it begins with a consonant it’s pronounced with a //. This also applies to the
auxiliary verb “do”.

Prepositions can take either a weak form or strong form before an unaccented pronoun, but
only a weak form before accented pronouns.

● I’m still working for them. /aɪm ˈstɪl wɜːkɪŋ fə (fɔː) ðem/
● I’m still working for them. /aɪm ˈstɪl wɜːkɪŋ fə ˈðem/
Some words don't have weak form: on, off, up should be pronounced /ɒn, ɒf,ʌp/ in all
contexts. Then doesn’t have a weak form either, the weak form /ðən/ can only be
understood as than.

Content/lexical words are stressed because they carry the main meaning of the sentence.
Ex: nouns, verbs, adjectives, negatives auxiliaries

Grammatical words are often not stressed. Ex: articles, prepositions, linking words,
positives auxiliaries

English is classified as a stress-timed language and it means that English has stressed
syllables at regular intervals. That means, the time between one stressed syllable and the
next is roughly the same. In English, the amount of time it takes to say something does not
depend on the number of syllables.

EX:

· Boys play games (3 syllables)

· The boys will play game (5 syllables)

Both sentences will last approximately the same amount of time, even though the second
sentence has 5 syllables.

In syllable-timed languages each syllable lasts more or less the same amount of time. It
does not matter if the syllable is stressed or unstressed. Spanish and French are examples of
syllable-timed languages.

Prominence: it is used in word stress- the emphasis on a syllable of a word.

Accent: it is the emphasis given to any word in a utterance by the speaker in order to
highlight the intended meaning

ADJECTIVAL WORDS:

● A – strong / eɪ / weak / ə /

In a minute /ɪn ə ˈmɪnit/ (/ə/ + Consonant)

● AN- weak / ən /

In an hour /ɪn ən ˈaə/ (/ən/ + Vowel)

I said “a” son (strong form /ei/ because it is stressed)

● THE– Strong /ðiː/ - weak /ðə/

The east and the west /ði ˈiːst ən ðə ˈwest/ (/ðə/ + Consonant)
The old and the poor /ði ˈəʊld ən ðə ˈpʊə/ (/ði/ + vowel)
Alan is ‘the’ man for the job /ˈælən ɪz ˈdiː mæn fə ðə dʒɔb/ (strong form because it
is stressed)

● SOME – Strong /sʌm/ - weak /səm/

Have some more /ˈhæv sm mɔː/ (usamos weak form porque la cantidad exacta no es
definida)
I’ve got some more friends coming /ɑɪv gɔt sm ˈfrendz kʌmɪŋ/ (usamos weak form
porque porque es una cantidad indefinida)
Some people complained (but not everybody) /ˈsʌm piːpl kəmˈpleɪnd/ (strong form
because it is working as an indefinite pronoun)
If you need some, just say so /if jʊ ˈniːd sʌm dʒʌst ˈseɪ səʊ/ (strong form because it
is stranded)
There are some in the drawer /ðərə ˈsʌm ɪn ðə ˈdrɔː/ (strong form when following
the verb there to be)

● HIS – Strong /hɪz/ - weak /ɪz/

That’s his family /ˈðæts ɪz ˈfæmli/ (weak because “his” is in the middle of the
sentence
It was his /ɪt wəz hɪz/ (strong because “his” is used in exposed position)
His hands in his pockets /hɪz ˈhændz ɪn ɪz ˈpɔkɪts/ (strong strong because “his” is at
the beginning of the sentence)
That’s his funeral /ðæts ˈhɪz fjuːnərl/ (strong form because it is accented)
● HER – /ə(r), ɜː(r)/ usually After C.

She broke her own record /ʃi ˈbrəʊk ər əʊn ˈrekɔːd/

/hə/ Usually After V

Give her her money back /ˈgɪv ə hə ːmʌni bæk/

The strong form /hɜː(r)/ is accented.

Her room is tidier than his /ˈhɜː rʊːm ɪz ˈtaɪdɪə ðən ˈhɪz/

PRONOUNS:
● HE – Strong /hi:/ - weak/hi, i/

(The weak form is usually pronounced without h except at the beginning of a

sentence)
Is he happy? /ɪz i ˈhæpi// (weak form without h because it is in the middle)
He says he can't /hi ˈsez i ˈkɑːnt / (with h because it is at the beginning)
The strong forma /hi:/ is accented.
He is the one! /ˈhiː z ðə wʌn /

● HIM– Strong /hɪn/ - weak /ɪm/

Tell him at once /tel ɪm ət ˈwʌns/ (weak form without h because it is in the middle)
It`s him I can’t stand /ɪts ˈhɪm aɪ kɑːnt stænd/ (strong form with h because it is
accented)

● WE – Strong /wiː/ - weak /wi/

How can we get there? /ˈhaʊ hən wi ˈget ðeə/ (always weak form)
We need that, don’t we? /wi ˈniːd ðæt ˈdəʊnt wi/ (always weak form unless It is
stressed)
● US – Strong /ʌs/ - weak /s, əs/

Tell us when /ˈtel əs ˈwen/

The strong form /ʌs/ is used when accented.
Did he really mean us? /dɪd i ˈrɪəli miːn ˈʌs/

● SHE – Strong /ʃiː/ - weak /ʃi/

Why did she read it? /ˈwaɪ dɪd ʃi ˈriːd ɪt/ (always weak form)
Who is she? /ˈhuː ˈɪz ʃi/ (always weak form unless It is stressed)

● HER– Strong /hɜː/ - weak /ə(r)/, /hə(r)/

Phone her anda tell her /ˈfəʊn ər ən ˈtel ə/

Tea will do her good /ˈtiː wl ˈduː hə ˈgʊd/

The weak form /hə/ and not /ə/ is used After another central vowel.
That will stir her to protest/ˈðæt wl ˈstɜː hə tə prəˈtest/
This will cure her/ˈðɪsl ,ktʊi hə/

The strong form /hɜː/ is used when accented

It's her responsibility /ɪts ˈhɜː rɪspɔnsəbɪləti/

● YOU – Strong /juː/ - weak /jʊ/

What do you think? /ˈwɔt də jʊ ˈθɪnk/

You like it, do you? /jʊ ˈlaɪk ɪt ˈduː jʊ/
 ● THEM – Strong /ðem/ - weak /ð(e)m/

Tell me to be nice to them /ˈtel ðm tə bi ˈnaɪs tə ðəm/

The strong form /ðem/ is usted when accented.

Let them decide /let ˈðem dɪsaɪd/

● THERE – Strong // - weak /ðə/

When this word has a demonstrative function, it’s always occur in strong form.
There’s something there /ðəz ˈsʌmθɪŋ ðeə/
There are two left /ðerə ˈtuː ˈleft/
There was no interest /ðə wəz ˈnəʊ ˈɪntrəst/
There were three survivors/ðə wə ˈθriː səˈvaɪvəz/
There will be no excuses /ðə wl bi ˈnəʊ ɪk,skjuːs/

There must not be confused with the adverb of place there, which is always
pronounced /ðeə/
They're over there /ðeər ˈəʊvə ˈðeə/

In final position could be both, weak or strong:

There isn’t any, is there? /ðər ˈɪznt eni ɪz ðə/ or /ðər ˈɪznt eni ɪz ðeə/

CONJUNCTION:

● AND- Strong /ænd/ weak /ən/

The weak form /ənd/ is more formal than /ən/ anda therefore not essential.
 Go and ask /ˈgəʊ ən ˈɑːsk/
The weak form // is more formal that // and therefore not essential

Strong form occurs un accented por prominent positions.

I said ‘and’, not ‘end’ /aɪ sed ˈænd | nɔt ˈend/
And, he said, that’s not all /ˈænd hɪs sed | ˈðæts nɔt ˈɔːl/

● AS- Strong /æz/- weak /əz/

As good as ever /əz ˈgʊd əz ˈevə/

The strong form /æz/ occurs when as functions as a preposition in exposed position
What`s he acting as? /ˈwɒts i ˈæktɪŋ æz/

● BUT – Strong /bʌt/ - weak /bət/

Poor but proud /ˈpɔː bət ˈpraʊd/

The strong form /bʌt/ is accented to emphasize a contradictions.

Rain? Nothing rain but rain! /ˈreɪn | nʌθɪŋ ˈbʌt reɪn/

● THAN – Strong /ðæn/ - weak /ðən/

More often that not /mɔːr ˈɔfn ðən ˈnɔt/

The strong form /ðæn/ occurs un stranded positions and when accented
Who is taller that? /ˈhuːz i ˈtɔːlə ðæn/
Better? Who's he better than? /ˈbetə ˈhuːz is betə ˈðæn/
 ● THAT – Strong // - weak /ðət/

Now that you mention it /ˈnaʊ ðət ju ˈmenʃn ɪt/

The conjunction and relative pronoun that has in practice no strong form; the
determiner that, on the other hand, has no weak form, it is always pronounced /ðæt/
He said that that was easy /hi sed ðət ˈðæt wəz ˈiːzi/

● YOUR – Strong /jɔː/ - weak /ji/ //

Take you time /ˈteɪk jə ˈtaɪm/

PREPOSITIONS:

● AT- Strong /æt/ - weak /ət/

Is he good at languages? /ɪz i ˈgʊd ət ˈlæŋgwɪdʒɪz/

What’s he aiming at? /ˈwɔts i ˈeimɪŋ æt// (Strong form is used when it is in exposed
position)
What’s he aiming at now? /ˈwɔts i ˈeimɪŋ æt naʊ/ (Strong form is used when it is in
exposed position)
You said he’s clever, what at? /jʊ ˈsei hɪz ˈklevə/ (strong when accented)

● FOR– Strong /fɔː/ - weak /fə/

For better or for worse /fə ˈbetər ɔː fə ˈwɜːs/

What’s he famous for? /ˈwɔts i ˈfeɪməs fɔː/ (Strong form when it is in exposed
position)
What’s he famous for mainly? /ˈwɔts i ˈfeɪməs fɔː meɪnlɪ/ (Strong form when
accented)
● FROM – Strong /frɔm/ - weak /frəm/

A year from now /ə ˈjɪə frəm ˈnaʊ/

Where does he come from everyday? /ˈweə dəz i ˈkʌm frɔm evrideɪ/(Strong form
when accented)
Where are you from? /ˈweər ə jʊ ˈfrɔm/ (Strong form when it is in exposed position)

● OF – Strong /ɔv/ - weak /əv/

The best of luck /ðə ˈbest əv ˈlʌk/

What’s it made of really? /ˈwɔts ɪt ˈmeɪd ɔv rɪəli/ (Strong form when accented)
What’s it made of? /ˈwɔts ɪt ˈmeɪd ɔv/ (Strong form when it is in exposed position)

● TO – Strong /tuː/- weak /tə/ /tʊ/

At a quarter to three /ət ə ˈkwɔːtə tə ˈθriː/ (/tə/ + Consonant)

At a quarter to eight /ət ə ˈkwɔːtə tʊ ˈeɪt/ (/tʊ/ + Vowel)
Who did you give it to? /ˈhuː dɪd jʊ ˈgɪv ɪt tuː/ (Strong form when it is in exposed
position)

Say? There’s nothing to say? /ˈseɪ ðəz nʌθɪŋ tuː seɪ/ (Strong form when accented)

AUXILIARY VERBS:

● AM- strong /æm/ - weak /əm/

(/m/ + I) I know I am (I ‘m) right /aɪ ˈnəʊ ɑɪm raɪt/

 What am I to do /ˈwɔt əm aɪ tə ˈduː/
Of course I am /əv ˈkɔːs aɪsæm/ (Strong form when it is in exposed position)
Am I right? /ˈæm aɪ raɪt/ (Strong form when accented)

● IS - strong /ɪz/- weak /s, z/

/z/ after V or /b, d, g, v, ð, m, n, ŋ, l/

/s/ after /p, t, k, f, θ/
This one is (‘s) yours /ˈðis wʌn z ˈjɔːz/
It is (‘s) no use /ɪt s ˈnəʊ ˈjuːs/

The strong form /ɪz/ used after /s, z. ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/, after pauses, when stranded, and
when accented.
Rose is right and George is wrong /ˈrəʊz ɪz ,raɪt | ən ˈdʒɔːdʒ ɪz ˈrɔŋ/
Tell me: Is he married? /ˈtel mi ɪz i ˈmærid/
That’s what it is? /ˈðæts wɔt ɪt ɪz/
That’s what it is? /ˈðæts wɔt ɪt ˈɪz/

● ARE – Strong /ɑː/ - weak /ə/

What are you up to? /ˈwɔt ə jʊ ˈʌp tʊ/

They're (are) arriving soon/ðeər əˈraɪvɪŋ ˈsuːn/

The strong form /ɑː/ is used when stranded and when accented.
I’m sure they are /aɪm ˈʃɔː ðeɪ ɑː/
We aren’t ready yet, are we? /wi ˈɑːnt ˈredi jet | ˈɑː wi/

● WAS – Strong /wɔz/ - weak /wəz/

She was brilliant /ʃi wəz ˈbrɪljənt/

 The strong form /wɔz/ is used when stranded and when accented.
I wonder what it was /aɪ ˈwʌndə wɔt ɪt wɔz/
I wonder what it was /aɪ ˈwʌndə wɔt ɪt ˈwɔz/
I

● WERE – Strong /wɜː/ - weak /wə/

We were pleased with it /wi wə ˈpliːzd wɪð ɪt/

The strong form /wɜː/ is used when stranded and when accented.
Nervous? I suppose we were /ˈnɜːvəs | aɪ səˈpəʊz wi wɜː/
Nervous? I suppose we were /ˈnɜːvəs | aɪ səˈpəʊz wi ˈwɜː/

● HAVE

/həv/ in initial position or after a pause

/əv/ not initial position and not after V)
/ə/ after vowel

Have you decided? /həv jʊ dɪˈsaɪdɪd/

I could have sent you an e-mail /aɪ kʊd əv ˈsentʃʊ ən ˈiːmeɪl/
They’ve been cheated /ðeɪv biːn ˈtʃiːtɪd/

The strong form /hæv/ is used in exposed position and when accented as in 1. The
strong is preferred when have means tener, as in 2, and is the only possibility when
it means comer as in 3.
1. You haven’t been there, but I have /jʊ hævnt biːn ðeə | bət ːɑɪ hæv/
2. Have a good time /ˈhæv ə gʊd ˈtɑɪm/
3. Have you had tea? /ˈhæv jʊ hæd ,tiː/
● HAS

/həz/ in initial position or after a pause

/əz/ not initial position and not after V; usually after /s, z, ʃ, ʒ, tʃ, dʒ/
/z/ after vowel
/s/ after /p, t, k, f, θ/

Has anyone complained? /həz ˈeniwʌn kəm ˈpleɪnd/

Your coach has arrived /jɔː ˈkəʊtʃ əz əraɪvd/
Who has (‘s) finished? /ˈhuːz ˈfɪnɪʃt/
What has (‘s) happened? /ˈwɔts ˈhæpənd/

The strong form /hæz/ is used when has means tiene (que) or come, etc, and also
when it is stranded or accented
She always has coffee? /ʃirˈɔːlweɪz hæz ˈkɔfi/
They haven’t, but he has /ðeɪ hævnt bət ˈhiː hæz/
He hasn’t paid yet, has he? /hi ˈhæznt ˈpeɪd jet, | ˈhæz i/

● HAD

/həd/ in initial position or after a pause

/əd/ not initial position and not after V
/d/ after vowel
Had he left by then? /həd irˈleft baɪ ðen/
The clock had stopped /ðə ˈklɔk əd stɔpt/
We had (‘d) better hurry /wid ˈbetə ˈhʌri/

The strong form /hæd/ is used when had means tuvo or comiò, etc., and also when it
is stranded and accented.
She’s just had something to eat /ʃiz ˈdʒʌst hæd ˈsʌmθɪŋ tʊ ˈiːt/
They hadn’t, but he had /ðeɪ hædnt | bət ˈhiː hæd/
He hadn’t notice, had he /hi ˈhædnt ˈnəʊtɪst, | ˈhæd i/
● DO – Strong /du:/ - weak /də/ - /dʊ/

How do you know? /ˈhaʊ də ˈjuː nəu/ (/də/ + Consonant)

How do I know /ˈhaʊ dʊ ˈaɪ nəu/ (/dʊ/ + vowel)

The strong form /duː/ is used in exposed position and also when accented.
He lives further away than I do /ˈhiː lɪvz ˈfɜːðər əweɪ ðən ˈaɪ duː/
I don’t mind it I do /aɪ dəʊnt ˈmɑɪnd ɪf ɑɪ ˈduː/

● DOES – Strong /dʌz/ - weak /dəz/

Where does he live? /ˈweə dəz isːlɪv/

The strong form /dʌz/ is used when stranded and when accented.
I think everybody does /aɪ θɪŋk ˈevribɔdi dʌz/
He doesn’t really mean it, does he? /hi ˈdʌznt rɪəli ˈmiːnt ɪt | ˈdʌz i/

● SHALL– Strong /ʃæl/ - weak /ʃ(ə)l/

We shall need to hurry /ˈwɔt ʃl aɪ ˈduː/

The strong form /ʃæl/ is used when stranded and when accented.
I don’t think we shall /aɪ ˈdəʊnt ˈθiŋk wi ʃæl/
I sincerely hope we shall /aɪ sɪnˈsɪəli ˈhəʊp wi ˈʃæl/

● SHOULD – Strong /ʃʊd/ - weak /ʃəd/

I should forget it /ˈaɪ ʃəd fəˈget ɪt/

So you should /ˈsəʊ jʊ ˈʃud/ (strong form because it is at the end)
● WILL - Strong /wɪl/ - weak /wl/

(l) + personal pronoun

I will ('ll) help you /aɪl ˈhelp jʊ/

/wl/ John will (‘ll) ask, and Bill will (‘ll) answer /ˈdʒɔn wl ,ɑːsk ən ˈbɪl wl ˈɑːnsə/

The strong form /wɪl/ is used when stranded and when accented.
It’s obvious that they will /ɪts ˈɔbviəs ðeɪ wɪl/
You won’t tell him, will you? /jʊ ˈwəʊnt ˈtel ɪm, | ˈwɪl jʊ/

● WOULD - Strong /wʊd/ - weak /wəd/

/d/ after Vowel

We would (‘d) love to go /wid ˈlʌv tə gəʊ/

The strong form /wʊd/ is used after C, and also when stranded and when accented.
That would be nice /ˈðæt wʊd bi naɪs/
Who do you think would /ˈhuː də jʊ θɪŋk wʊd/
I would if I could /aɪ ˈwʊd ɪf aɪ ˈkʊd/

● CAN – Strong /kæn/ - weak /kən/

It can happen again /ɪt kən ˈhæpən əˈgen/

The strong form /kæn/ is used when stranded or when accented.

Let’s see if the others can /lets ˈsiː ɪf ði ˈʌðəz kæn/
You can never tell, can I? /jʊ kən ˈnevə ˈtel, | ˈkæn jʊ/
 ● COULD-– Strong /kʊd/ - weak /kəd/

He could do it /ˈhiː kəd ˈduː ɪt (weak form)

Most of them could /ˈməʊst əv ðəm ˈkʊd/ (strong form because it is at the end)

● MUST– Strong /mʌst/ - weak /məst/ /məs/

/məst/ + V, /j/
Must I sign this? /məst aɪ ˈsaɪn ðis/

/məs/ + C
You can must be joking /jʊ məs bi ˈdʒəʊkɪŋ/

The strong form /mʌst/ is preferred before the weak form of have /əv/, as in 1, it is
also used when stranded and when accented as in 2 and 3.
1. I must have fallen asleep? /aɪ ˈmʌst əv ˈfɔːlən əˈsliːp/
2. Indeed, you must /ɪnˈdiːd jʊ mʌst/
3. We mustn’t allow that, must we? /wi ˈmʌsnt əˈlaʊ ðæt, ˈmʌst wi/

EXAMPLES:

● I gave her a box of chocolate for her birthday

/aɪ ˈgeɪv hərə ˈbɒks əv ˈtʃɒklət fəhə ˈbɜːθdeɪ/

● Are you coming to the cinema with us tomorrow

/ə jə ˈkʌmɪŋ tə ðə sɪnəmə wɪð əs təˈmɔrəʊ/

● What does he do at the weekend?

/ˈwɒt dəz i ˈduˈ ət ðə wiːkˈend/

● How long have you been wating here?
 /ˈhɑʊ lɔŋ əvjə bin ˈweɪtɪŋ hɪə/
● I could have done more if I’d had more time

/aɪ kədəv ˈdʌn ˈmɔː ɪf ɑɪd ˈhæd ˈmɔː ˈtaɪm/

● What are you looking at?

/ˈwɒt əjə ˈlʊkɪŋ æt/

● Does she really think she should do it?

/dəsʃi ˈriːəli ˈθɪŋk ʃiʃəd.duː ɪt/

● What did you do to your hair?

/ˈwɒt dɪdjə.duː təjə ˈheə/

● What were you doing when she called you?

/ˈwɔt wəjə ˈduːɪŋ wen ʃi ˈkɔːlt jə/

(The words “I” or “If” doesn’t have weak form so its pronunciation doesn’t
changes)

What is juncture?

Juncture is the relationship between one sound that immediately follows it. It’s a pause in a
continuous flow of speech. It helps us to distinguish between utterances which are identical
in pronunciation and different in meaning. There are differences in the length of vowel
sounds, in degree of syllable stress, etc.

· The clock keeps ticking /kiːps tɪkɪŋ/

· The clock keep sticking /kiːp stɪkɪŋ

What is assimilation?

Assimilation is a feature of connected speech. It means that sound changes to become more
similar to the following sound. This phonological process can occur inside a word and
between two words.

Example within a word:

 ü Handbag /ˈhæmbæg/

Example between words:

ü I live in Barcelona /ɪm bɑːsɪˈləʊnə/

Words which finish with /n/ which are followed by /p, m, b/ can be adjusted itself
to /m/. /n/ changes to /m/ before /m/, /b/, and /p/.

N + P= M

ü On paper /ɔm ˈpeɪpə/

ü On principle /ɔm ˈprɪnsəpl/

ü Unpleasant /ʌmˈpleznt/

ü 10p /ˈtem ˈpiː

N +B= M

ü On behalf /ɔm biˈhɑːf/

ü On balance /ɔm ˈbæləns/

ü Unbalanced /ʌmˈbæləns/

ü Gun boat /gʌm ˈbəʊt/

N + M= M

ü On March /ɪm ɑːtʃ/

ü Unmade /ʌmeɪd/

ü Fine mess /fɑɪm es/

ü Ten pin bowling /ˈtem pɪm bəʊlɪŋ

/t/ with changes to /p/ before /m/, /b/ or /p/

T+M=P
 ü Basket maker/ˈbɑːskɪp ˈmeɪkə/

T+P=P

ü Private property /ˈprɑɪvɪp ˈprɔpəti/

T+B=P

ü Front bench /frʌnp ˈbentʃ/

/d/ changes to /b/ before m/, /b/ or /p/

D+M=B

ü Good morning /guːb ˈmɔːrniŋ/

D+P=B

ü Blood pressure /blʌb ˈpreʃə/

D+B

Bad boy /bɑːb bɔɪ/

/n/ changes to /ŋ/ before /k/ or /g/

· Seven cases /ˈseveŋ ˈkeɪsɪz/

· One go /wʌŋ ˈgəʊ/

· On grass /ɔŋ ˈgrɑːs/

· In keeping /iŋ ˈkiːpɪŋ/

/t/ change to /k/ before /k/ or /g/

 · Credit card /ˈkredɪk kɑːd/

· Smart card /ˈsmɑːk kɑːd/

/d/ change to /g/ before /k/ or /g/

· Hard core /ˈhɑːg kɔː/

· Bad girl /bæg gɜːl/

/t/ +/j/ = // (T + Y = CH)

· Nice to meet you /miːtʃjʊ/

· Picture /ˈpɪktʃə/

/d/ + /j/ = /dʒ/ (D + Y)

· Would you like some tea? /wʊdʒʊ/

· Soldier /ˈsəʊldʒə/

/s/ + /j/ = /ʃ/ (S + Y = SH)

· Special /ˈspeʃl/

· It’s just you= it’s jus you /dʒʌsʃjʊ/

/z/ + /j/= /ʒ/

· Treasure /ˈtreʒə/

/s/ changes to /ʃ/ before /ʃ/ or /j/

· Dress shop /ˈdreʃ ˈʃɔp/

· Nice shoes /nɑɪʃ ʃuː/

· Nice yacht /nɑɪʃ ʃɑːt/

· This year /ðɪʃ ʃɪə/

· This job /ðɪʃ ʃɔp/

/z/ changes to /ʒ/ before /ʃ/ or /j/ followed by a rounded vowel sound
 · These sheep /ˈðiːʒ ˈʃiːp/

· These shops /ˈðiːʒ ʃɔp/

· Where’s yours? /weəʒ jɔːz/

· These chairs /ˈðiːʒ tʃeə/

· These years /ðiːʒ jɪə/

/θ/ changes to /s/ before /s/

· Earth science /ˈɜːs ˈsɑɪəns/

· Fifth set /ˈfɪfs sʌmə/

· Fourth summer /ˈfɔːs sʌmə/

ELISION:

Elision is a process of connected speech in which sounds are lost. Elision mainly affects
final /t, d/ if they are preceded by a consonant.

Elision of /d/:

· Handkerchief /ˈhæŋkətʃiːf/

· Handsome /ˈhænsəm/

· Bend them /ˈben ðem/

· Landscape /ˈlænskeɪp/

· Wild beats /ˈwɑil ˈbiːsts/

· Child protection /ˈtʃɑɪl prəˈtekʃn/

· Goldfish /ˈgəʊfɪʃ/

The preceding /n/ is adjacent to bilabial consonants and assimilates to /p/ by becoming /m/.

· Grandpa /ˈgræmpə/

· Grandmother /ˈgræmʌðə/
 · Grandma /ˈgræmə/

Elision, however, does not take place if the following consonant is /h/, such as in:

· Hand held /ˈhænd ˌheld/

· Grand house /ˈgrænd ˈhɑʊs/

· Wild horse /ˈwɑɪld ˈhɔːs/

· Old hand /ˈəʊld hænd/

The past-tense suffix “ed” is pronounced /d/ after voice consonants. If the following word
begins with a consonant that causes elision.

· I warned them /ɑɪ ˈwɔːn ðem/

· And called them /ən ˈkɔːl ðem/

· And told them /ən ˈtɔl ðem/

The elision of /t/:

The preceding consonant must be voiceless in the case of /t/ elision.

· Facts /ˈfæks/

· Instincts /ˈɪnstɪŋks/

· Vastness /ˈvɑːsnəs/

· Soft spot /ˈsɔf ˈspɔt/

· Left foot /ˈlef ˈfʊt/

· Act three /ˈæk θriː/

· Just now /ˈdʒʌs nɑʊ/

Elision does not occur if the following consonant is /h/.

· Gift horse /ˈgɪft hɔːs/

· Guest house /ˈgest hɑʊs/

· Left hand /ˈlef hænd/

The past tense suffix “ed” is pronounced /t/ after voiceless consonants. If the following
word begins with a consonant that causes elision.

· I left my friend /ɑɪ ˈlef mɑɪ ˈfrend /

· Crossed the street /ˈkrɔs ðə ˈstriːt/

· And passed the shop /ən ˈpɑːs ðə ˈʃɔp/

· Then lost my way /ðen ˈjɔs mɑɪ weɪ

/t/ does not get elided if it would otherwise bring two /s/s together at the end of a word

· Ghost /ˈgəʊsts/

· Costs /ˈkɔsts/

· Feasts /ˈfiːsts/

Nevertheless, /t/ is elided in these other cases:

· First serve /ˈfɜːs ˈsɜːv/

· Most surprising /məʊs səˈprɑɪzɪŋ/

· Lost soul /ˈlɔs səʊl/