with Speak Method
| English Online with Speak Method |
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| Rule 4: Reduce small, common words. Below is a list of common words which are reduced when people speak. This is not informal. It is a part of the natural rhythm of the language. Some students express concern about reducing words. I recommend you practice for two reasons: 1) Reducing small words improves stress. When small words become even smaller, the stressed words sound even more important. 2) Americans speak this way. You will have more difficulty hearing what others say if you do not study reduced words. If you find this difficult, try it with one word at a time. For instance, start with the word "and." Then reduce other small words later. |
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| Word |
Reduced Sound |
Examples |
Extra Notes |
| and |
'n |
bread
'n
butter
pencil 'n paper |
|
| or |
'r |
more 'r less his 'r hers |
|
| for |
fr |
this is fr you the flowers are fr my mother |
|
| can |
cn |
cn you do it? I cn finish by Monday |
We tend to reduce "can" and stress "can't." |
| of |
uv |
it's on the corner uv 1st and Bell St |
|
| to |
t' |
t'day, t'morrow t' the store, t'work |
Sometimes "to" is not reduced when people are thinking, as in, "Now let's go to ... that store over there." |
| all forms of "to have" |
can drop the "h" about half the time |
where 'ave you put it? what 'ad she done? |
the "h" will be dropped when a conversation or story involves known information, i.e. during the middle of a topic |
| pronouns with "h," i.e. his, her, he |
can drop the "h" about half the time |
what's 'iz name? ("s" sounds like "z" in "his") how'd 'e do that? (for "how did he do that?") |
The "h" will be dropped when a conversation or story involves known information, i.e. during the middle of a topic. |
| a an |
u (join with the next word) "an" does not reduce, but connects smoothly with the next word |
a man = uMAN an apple = anAPPLE |
This should be done always-- only separate "a" or "an" from the noun for special emphasis. If you learned both pronunciaitons for "a," you can attach either sound to the noun. |
| the |
thu (join with the next word) |
the news = thuNEWS |
This should be done always-- only separate "the" from the noun for special emphasis. If you learned both pronunciaitons for "the," you can attach either sound to the noun. |
| Rhythm and
Stress: Rule 1 |
Rhythm
and Stress:
Rule 2 |
Rhythm
and Stress:
Rule 3 |
Rhythm
and
Stress: Rule 5 |
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