University of Mostefa Benboulaid –Batna2- Lecture: Eleven

Department of English Groups: 05&06

Module: Phonetics Teacher: Dr. SAÏDOUNI
Level: 1st year.
Weak Forms
 Content words: words that have a dictionary meaning even when they are
used alone. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are content words.

 Function words: words which do not have a dictionary meaning in the way
that we normally expect nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs to have, but
which show rather grammatical functions and relationships in and between
sentences. Conjunctions, prepositions, articles, auxiliary verbs, pronouns
…etc are function words.

Function words are, in certain circumstances pronounced in their strong forms but
are more frequently pronounced in their weak forms.

Strong forms:

Strong forms are generally used:

 If a function word is said in isolation or is stressed, the strong form is

used.

E.g. the strong form of the word “and” is /ænd/, the strong form of the
word “can” is/ kæn/.

 When the word comes at the end of the sentence.

E.g. when did you get it from?

Chips are what I am fond of.

 When the word is given special emphasis.

E.g. you must give me more money.

 When the word is contrasted with another word.

E.g. the letter is from him not to him.

 When the word is quoted or cited.

E.g. we must use the word “and” to join clauses.

Weak form:

 If a function word is unstressed, usually spoken in connected speech, the

Weak form is used.

Some common weak form words:

Words Weak forms

The /ðə / (before consonants). Shut the door.

/ði/ (before vowels). Wait for the end.

“a”, “an” /ə/ (before consonants). Read a book.

/ən/ (before vowels). Eat an apple.

“and” /ən/ Come and see

sometimes /n/ after /t, d, s, z, ∫/ fish and chips

“But” /bət/ It’s good but expensive.

“that” /ðət/ The price is the thing that annoys me.

“than” /ðən/ Better than ever.

“his” /iz/ (when it occurs before a noun). Take his name.

/hiz/( at the beginning of the sentence)

“her” /ə/ (before consonants). Take her home.

/ər/ (before vowels). Take her out.

“your” /jə/ (before consonants). Take your time.

/jər/ (before vowels). On your own.

“she”, “he”, “we”, “you", “him”, “her”, “them”, “us”.

“she” /∫i/ When did she read it?

Who is she?
“he” /I / (the weak form is usually pronounced without /h/ except
at the beginning of the sentence we use”hi”).
He was late, wasn’t he?

“you” /ju/ You like it, do you?

“We” /wi/ We need that, don’t we?

“him” /im/ Leave him alone.

“her” /ə / (/hə/ when sentence initial). Ask her to come.

“them” /ðəm/ Leave them here.

“Us” /əs/ Write us a letter.

“at” /ət/ I will see you at lunch.

“for” /fə/ (before consonants). Tea for two.

/fər/ (before vowels). Thanks for asking.

“from” /frəm/ I am home from work. In final position /fr m/.

Here’s where it came from.

“of” /əv/ most of all. In final position /v/. Someone I’ve heard of.

“to” /tə/ (before consonant). Try to stop.

/tu/ (before vowels). Time to eat.

“as” /əz/ As much as possible

“some” /səm/ Have more some tea. In final position/s m/.

“there” /ðə / (before consonants). There should be a rule.

/ðər/ (before vowels). There is.

“can”, “could” /kən/ They can wait. /kəd/ He could do it.

“have”, “has”, /əv/, /əz/, /əd/ ( with initial /h/ in initial position)
“had”
Which have you seen?
 Which has been best?

Most had gone home.

“shall”, /∫əl/ We shall need to hurry.

“could”
/∫əd/ I should forget it.

“must” /məs/ (before consonant). You must try harder.

/məst/ (before vowels). He must eat more.

“do”, “does” /də/ Why do they like it?

/dəz/ When does it arrive?

“am”, “are”, /əm/ Why am I here?

“was”,”were”
/ ə/ (before consonants). Here are the plates.

/ər/ (before vowels). The coats are in there.

/wəz/ He was here a minute ago.

/wə/ (before consonants). The papers were late.

/wər/ (before vowels). The questions were easy.

Exercise 01: Transcribe the following:

Phonetic pronunciation dictionary

transcription

English linguistics grammar civilization

Literature methodology students teachers

Handout administration cheating insult

Exercise02: Transcribe the following sentences using the weak forms.

1- All the boys are going.

2- She can speak Spanish quite well.

3- He should tell her to come.

4- I want her to park that car over there.

5- Jane and bill could have driven them to and from the party.

6- To come to the point, what shall we do for the rest of the week?

7- I went to the hotel and booked a room for two nights for my father and his
best friend.