Strong forms & weak forms
Huang Wanmei
Strong forms & Weak forms
? Strong forms,stressed forms
? Weak forms,unstressed forms (schwa /?/)
Words Strong Vowels Weak Vowels
at /??/ /??/
has /???/ /???/
she /??:/ /??/
could /???/ /???/
How are strong forms
changed into weak forms?
? From strong vowels to weak ones /?/
– Prepositions
at for from of to
– Aux verbs
am are can do does had has have must shall should was
were will would
– Adverbs conjunctions articles
a an and as but some than that the
– Pronouns
her them us you your
? From strong vowels to weak ones /?/
– be been he him his she we
? /?/ dropping
– Weak forms which drop their initial /?/ except at the
beginning of utterances
– had has had have he her him his
Rhythm of English
? Rhythm in English speech is based on stress,
A rhythm unit is formed by a stresses syllable,
together with unstressed syllables.
? 1 2 3 4
? 1 and 2 and 3 and 4
? 1 and a 2 and a 3 and a 4
? 1 and then a 2 and then a 3 and then a 4
? Tom John Steve Sam
? Thomson Johnson Steven Samson
? Thomson and Johnson and Steven and Samson
? Thomson and then Johnson and then Steven and then Samson
Patterns of rhythm
1,Sentences with two stressed syllables
? ?
Come here.
Do it now.
Leave it alone.
They did it well.
I think he ought to.
2,Sentences with three stressed syllables.
? ? ?
Don’t go now.
Sam works hard.
I think he wants us to go.
I’m sorry I’m late again.
I wonder if he’ll tell them in advance.
3,Sentences with four stressed syllables.
? ? ?
?
He used to play it every day.
She ought to know the way by now.
You said that he wanted us to come for the party.
Huang Wanmei
Strong forms & Weak forms
? Strong forms,stressed forms
? Weak forms,unstressed forms (schwa /?/)
Words Strong Vowels Weak Vowels
at /??/ /??/
has /???/ /???/
she /??:/ /??/
could /???/ /???/
How are strong forms
changed into weak forms?
? From strong vowels to weak ones /?/
– Prepositions
at for from of to
– Aux verbs
am are can do does had has have must shall should was
were will would
– Adverbs conjunctions articles
a an and as but some than that the
– Pronouns
her them us you your
? From strong vowels to weak ones /?/
– be been he him his she we
? /?/ dropping
– Weak forms which drop their initial /?/ except at the
beginning of utterances
– had has had have he her him his
Rhythm of English
? Rhythm in English speech is based on stress,
A rhythm unit is formed by a stresses syllable,
together with unstressed syllables.
? 1 2 3 4
? 1 and 2 and 3 and 4
? 1 and a 2 and a 3 and a 4
? 1 and then a 2 and then a 3 and then a 4
? Tom John Steve Sam
? Thomson Johnson Steven Samson
? Thomson and Johnson and Steven and Samson
? Thomson and then Johnson and then Steven and then Samson
Patterns of rhythm
1,Sentences with two stressed syllables
? ?
Come here.
Do it now.
Leave it alone.
They did it well.
I think he ought to.
2,Sentences with three stressed syllables.
? ? ?
Don’t go now.
Sam works hard.
I think he wants us to go.
I’m sorry I’m late again.
I wonder if he’ll tell them in advance.
3,Sentences with four stressed syllables.
? ? ?
?
He used to play it every day.
She ought to know the way by now.
You said that he wanted us to come for the party.
