Pronunciation Practice

One of the most important aspects of English pronunciation is word and sentence stress. We stress a
syllable in a word and a word in a sentence by saying it LOUDER, LONGER, and HIGHER.

In sentences, we stress content words and do not stress structure words.

Content words are words that carry information and meaning:

o nouns negatives (e.g., no, not can’t, isn’t)
o main verbs question words (e.g., how, where, when, why)
o adjectives interjections (e.g., wow, hey, well, thanks, hello, goodbye, cheers)
o adverbs

Structure words are words that show relationships between the content words:
o prepositions (e.g., of, in, at, for)
o articles (a, an, the) and other determiners (some, both
o pronouns (e.g., it, she, he, they, some, any, that)
o conjunctions (e.g., but, or, because, when)
o modals and auxiliaries (e.g., can, should, is, has been, might, have to, got to)

Because structure words receive little focus, they are reduced in English. Reduction is the opposite of stress.
Here’s your cup of tea. SOUNDS LIKE Here’s yer cup ə tea.
I’d like some cream and sugar. SOUNDS LIKE I’d like some cream n sugar.
They gave her a ride to his school. SOUNDS LIKE They gaver a ride to-is school.

In the above, you hear /ə / instead of “of,” /n/ instead of “and,” /ɚ/ instead of “her,” and /iz/ instead of “his.”
Therefore, when you hear English, you may not clearly hear a structure word, which may explain why students
of English have problems hearing prepositions, pronouns, articles, and other function words.

Reduction of Modals and Auxiliaries

In normal conversational English, “You” almost always reduces to “yə.” Common forms such as the following
are also reduced:

• Going to -- gonna Want to -- wanna

• Got to -- gotta Would you / you would – wouldja / you’d
• Has to -- hasta Could you -- couldja
• have to -- hafta Do you -- dya
• Used to -- useta Did you -- didja

Developed by Jane Chisholm for the Language Institute, Georgia Tech

Where are you going to go?
Could you give me a call next week?
Did you finish all of the work?
What do you do for a living?
They want to meet us for lunch.
Where did you used to live?
Would you lend me a hand?
When do you have to catch the train?

Practice these short common phrases of English. Stress the content words and reduce the structure words
and common forms with “you.”

1) I’m interested in your work. I’d like to see it. Please show it to me.

2) Could you tell me your name? I think we’ve met before.

3) Do you have the time? I think I’m going to be late.

6) Would you gimme a hand? This chair is really heavy, and I can’t lift it myself.

7) Do you wanna go to lunch? I’m really hungry and need some fuel.

8) What did he tell you? Do you think it was the truth?

9) Do you need some help? I can move that for you.

10) Where do you live? Are you close to a Train Station?

11) Can you gimme a ride? My car’s in the garage.

LINKING FINAL SOUNDS

Link the underlined sounds using the following rules:

 Link final consonants with words that begin with vowels.

Examples: He fell asleep at one. I’m going to pick up my friend at Andy’s.

 Link final consonants with pronouns that begin with /h/ and drop the /h/.
Examples: He left her at work. I’m going to take him for his appointment.
 Link final consonants with similar sounds.
Examples: I ate two dinners. I have very large hands. He has seven clients. John led the team to victory.

Developed by Jane Chisholm for the Language Institute, Georgia Tech

Dialog Practice with a partner
a. Please tell her.
b. Okay, I’ll tell her.

a. I really like it.

b. I like it, too.

a. He did it.
b. I’ve also done it.

a. She asked him a question.

b. He gave her the answer.

a. I worked a lot.
b. We worked until the next day.

a. I’d like only one.

b. I’d like eight.

a. I have his number.

b. I have his address, too.

a. Pass her the report.

b. Then please pass it to me.

a. It’s five am.

b. No, it’s seven am.

a. We meet at six.
b. We meet at nine.

Developed by Jane Chisholm for the Language Institute, Georgia Tech