Exercise 37

Reduction affects form words (articles, particles, prepositions, conjunctions, auxiliary and modal verbs, personal, possessive, reflexive, relative pronouns and the word ‘some’ meaning ‘indefinite quantity’. These words have two forms: strong and weak.

There are three degrees of reduction:

- Quantitative reduction (shortening of a long vowel)

e. g. he [hi: - hi – hi]

- Qualitative reduction (changing of the quality of a vowel0

e. g. can [ kæ n – kә n]

- Zero reduction (omission of a vowel)

e. g. I’m [aim]

The following cases should be remembered as the traditional use of strong forms:

a. Prepositions have their strong forms in the sentence final position or when followed by an unstressed personal pronoun.

e. g. What are you looking at? [ æ t ]

I’m listening to you. [tu: ]

b. Auxiliary and modal verbs are in their strong forms at the end of a sentence or sense-group and in contracted negative forms. In both cases the verbs are stressed.

e. g. Are you free? – I am. [ æ m]

I can’t come. [k α: nt]

c. The verb ‘to have’ in the meaning of ‘to possess’ is used in its full form whether stressed or unstressed. The verb ‘to do’ is not reduced when used for emphasis.

e. g. I have a brother. [h æ v]

Do tell me a bout it. [ du: ]

d. The demonstrative pronoun ‘that’ is never reduced while the conjunction ‘that’ is always weak.

e. g. I know that. [ ð æ t]

I know that you are ill. [ ð ә t ]

Exercise 37

In the conversation that follows, the words ‘a’ and ‘the’ are not there. Put in the missing articles. Comment on all the weak and strong form words. Practise reading the conversation.

‘a’ and ‘the’ are nearly always weak!

: Do you have children, Shirley?

: Yes, son and daughter.

: Oh that’s nice, what do they do?

: My daughter jenny’s music teacher, and Michael, my son, is at college – he wants to

be a pilot!

: Oh, lovely!

: Yes…

: Do they live at home?

: Michael lives with me, but Jenny lives in London – she’s married with two children.

: Oh! So you’re grandmother!

: Yes, she has girl and boy too – Rebecca and Thomas.

: Oh, lovely – how old are they?

: Girl’s seven and boy’s two – do you want to see photo?

: Oh yes… Ah… aren’t they beautiful!

Exercise 38.

Match the parts in A and B to make full sentences. Comment on weak form words.

a. I’m going out b. They’re waiting c. My daughter’s studying d. My brother’s going abroad e. We’re going to the airport f. She’s getting ready

1. to see the manager. 2. to buy a newspaper. 3. to go out with her boyfriend. 4. to meet some friends. 5. to work. 6. to become a doctor.

Study the table below. Learn the weak forms of auxiliary verbs and their contractions, then practise saying them in the sentences that follow.

Do you [d u] or [d ә ] They’re [ð eә ] We’re [wiә ] or [wә ] You’re [juә ] or [jә ] be [bi] Being [biiŋ ] been [bin] Was [wә z] wasn’t [ w znt]

Were [wә ] Weren’t [w ε : nt] I’m [aim] or [ æ m] I’ll [ail] or [ æ l] We’ll [wil] Have [hә v] or [ә v] Haven’t [hæ vnt] They’ve [ð eiv] or [ð ev] We’ve [wiv]

a. Do you really like Beethoven?

b. You weren’t I when I called.

c. They’re leaving this Wednesday.

d. She’s just being difficult.

e. I was worried about you.

f. I’ve been waiting for you to phone.

g. We’re dealing with the problem.

h. I haven’t said a word to anyone.

i. I’m afraid we were too late.

j. I’ll have finished typing it by lunchtime.

k. They’ve never been happy together.

A: Have you ever been to Ireland, Pete?

B: Yes, loads of times. My parents go over there every year, you see.

A: Do they? Why’s that then?

B: Oh, my Dad was born in Dublin.

A: Was he really? He doesn’t sound Irish at all?

B: No… well his family left when he was about ten. What about you? Have you ever been there?

A: Well, we were going to Dublin last summer and then there was that long ferry strike…

B: That’s right, there was.

A: Anyway we were hoping to go this year instead, but hotel prices have gone up so much…

B: Yes, I know they have, it’s terrible. I tell you what, shall I give you my cousin’s address? Perhaps you can stay with her for a few days?

A: Are you sure we can? It seems a bit cheeky…

B: No…

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