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Strong Form and Weak Form in English Conversation-1

Strong and weak forms are used in English because it is a stress-timed language. Content words are stressed using strong forms, while function words like articles and conjunctions are spoken using weak or reduced forms. In weak forms, vowels are reduced to a schwa sound. Knowing when to use strong and weak forms helps with fluency. Words can have both forms depending on their position and role in a sentence. The weak form is more common in casual speech. Strong forms are used at the ends of sentences, for contrast, and to emphasize meaning. Multi-syllable words also have strong and weak pronunciations depending on stress. Mastering strong and weak forms improves English pronunciation and listening skills.

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350 views5 pages

Strong Form and Weak Form in English Conversation-1

Strong and weak forms are used in English because it is a stress-timed language. Content words are stressed using strong forms, while function words like articles and conjunctions are spoken using weak or reduced forms. In weak forms, vowels are reduced to a schwa sound. Knowing when to use strong and weak forms helps with fluency. Words can have both forms depending on their position and role in a sentence. The weak form is more common in casual speech. Strong forms are used at the ends of sentences, for contrast, and to emphasize meaning. Multi-syllable words also have strong and weak pronunciations depending on stress. Mastering strong and weak forms improves English pronunciation and listening skills.

Uploaded by

grnunez12
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Strong form and weak form in English conversation


English Words are Stressed when speaking

It is very common to use strong form and weak form when speaking in
English because English is a stress-time language. It means you stress on content words
such as nouns and principal verbs, while structure words such as helping verbs,
conjunctions, prepositions… are not stressed. Using proper strong form and weak
form can help you to speak English more fluently.
For example, take a look at these sentences:

● She can play violin.


● Mary is from Chicago.
Here are these two sentences with stressed words in bold.

● She can play violin.


● Mary is from Chicago.
In this case the words ‘can‘ and ‘is from‘ are weak form. The weak form change the
vowel to “ə” sound.
● can in strong form: /kæn/

● can in weak form: /kən/


● from in strong form: /frɔm/
● from in weak form: /frəm/
Below are some function words that you can remember:

● auxiliar verbs am, are, be, been, can, could, do, does, has, had, shall,
should, was, were, would,
● prepositions at, for, from, of, to,

● pronouns he, her, him, his, me, she, them, us, we, you,
● conjunctions for, and, but, or, than, that,
● particles to,
● articles a, the, an,
Function words have both strong and weak forms in English. (FW:
según la función gramatical que cumple la palabra, se podrá usar débil o
fuerte)

That:

Determiner Relative Pronoun:

That girl is my friend She said that he was angry

Strong form Weak form

Have/has

Full/main Verb Auxiliary verb

I have a book She has supported me all


throughout my career
She has a cat

Strong form Weak form

A lot of function words have both strong and weak forms. As a rule, the
weak form turns the vowel to be muted. For example, take a look at
these sentences:
Wor
d Strong form Weak form
/ði/
– when stands before the
vowels /ðə/
– when stands before the consonants
Ex: They have
The bought the apples. Ex: I dislike the man.
/ bət/
/bʌt/ – mention the difference
– stress on the contrast
Ex: His girl friend is very
But Ex: I’m but a fool. beautiful, but is not enough intelligent.
/ðæt/ /ðət/
– as a demonstrative pronoun – as a relative pronoun.
or adjective
Ex: I think that we should improve
That Ex: That is Tom’s car. quality of services a lot.
/dʌz/
– stress on the verb of action /dəz/
– as a helping verb ()
Ex: She does hope for
Does interview next week. Ex: Does she work as a teacher?
/him/
Ex: This gift was sent to him /im/
Him not to his wife. Ex: I haven’t seen him for ages.
/hə:/
Ex: He loves her but not other /hə/
girls. Ex: Her mother is still young.
Her

/fɔ:/ /fə/
Ex: A good job is what I Ex: I am looking for a job.
For looking for.
At /æt/ /ət/
What are you looking at? I’ll meet you at the office.

How strong form and weak form are used in everyday English
conversation.

The weak form is usually used in everyday English conversation,


especially when speaking fast. But there are many situations you have to
speak in strong form for the followings:
1. Stand at the end of sentence

● What are you looking at (/æt/)?


● Where are you from (/ frɔm/)?
2. In the contrast situations

● The letter is from him, not to him. /frɔm/ /tu/


● He likes her, but does she like him? /hə:/ /him/
3. Stress on opposite prepositions

● I travel to and from London a lot. /tu/ /frɔm/


4. Stress on the purpose of the meaning.

● You must get the unniversity certificate to have good job in


the future. /mʌst/
● You must choose us or them, you cannot have all. /mʌst/
The words that have two syllables or more will have the strong
pronunciation and weak pronunciation. The vowel of the weak
pronunciation will be chaned to /ə/ sound. Let’s see the following
examples:
Strong form Weak form

u Butter / ‘bʌtə/ Autumn / ‘ɔ:təm/

e Settlement / ‘setlmənt Violet / ‘vaiələt/

or Mortgage / ‘mɔ:gidʒ/ Forget / fə‘get/

o Potato / pə’teitou/ Carrot / ‘kærət/

ar March /mɑ:t∫/ Particular /pə‘tikjulə/

a Character / ‘kæriktə/ Attend [ə‘tend]


Hope that you have understood the use of strong form and weak form in
English through this simple lesson. If you have any questions, write it in
comment below.

http://learnenglish.vn/how-to-learn-english/strong-form-weak-form-
english-conversation/

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