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Arsenal's Santi Cazorla interviews Nacho Monreal.

Perfect Pronunciation - Weak Forms

Perfect Pronunciation - Weak Forms

In this week's Premier Skills English podcast, Jack and Rich help you with one important area of pronunciation - weak forms. This is an aspect of pronunciation that often causes problems for learners because weak forms are difficult to use and difficult to notice. In this podcast, learn what weak forms are and how to notice them when you are listening, and how to use them when you are speaking. In the lesson below, you will see lots of sentences about football and other topics that contain weak forms! Don't forget to listen until the end of the podcast because we have another football phrase for you too. Enjoy!

 

Transcript

If you find the podcast difficult to understand, you can read the transcript and listen at the same time.
Read and listen at the same time.

Perfect Pronunciation - Weak Forms

Intro: 

Rich: Do you get it? Gladiator. He was glad, happy he ate her. He was a Gladiator.

Jack: Yes, I get it. It’s awful.

Rich: I’ve got another ...

Jack: Oh no! I mean oh really. Go on ... please.

Rich: Knock, knock.

Jack: Who's there?

Rich:  Lettuce.

Jack: Lettuce who?

Rich: Let us in, it’s cold out here.

Jack: Oh my god! Please, stop. I’m laughing so hard I’m afraid my sides my split.

Rich: One more.

Jack: If you must.

Rich: Where’s your sister going on holiday next summer?

Jack: I’m not sure ... I’ll ask her.

Rich: I bet that will be cold! I will ask her. Alaska. Do you get it?

Jack: No more. Stop! Now!

Welcome - Weak forms

Rich: Hello my name’s Rich

Jack: and I’m Jack

Rich: and welcome to this week’s Premier Skills English podcast

Jack: Where we talk about football and help you with your English.

Jack: What’s happening this week, Rich?

Rich: In this week’s podcast, we are going to focus on pronunciation.

Jack: That’s right. We’re going to look at some things called weak forms

Rich: Weak forms are words or parts of words that are not stressed when we are speaking. They usually sound like /ə/. 

Jack: This sound is so common, it has a name. It’s called the the schwa. You can hear it when you say words like gonna, wanna and gotta. It’s the last sound in these words.

Rich: I think that the main reason this sound is so common is English people are lazy. I mean, it’s a lazy sound.

Jack: Yeah, it’s basically a grunt. All you do is open your mouth a bit and /ə/ - that’s a schwa.

Rich: It’s the sound I make when I’m watching football and someone asks me a question: /ə/?

Jack: And if a word isn’t that important in a sentence, then there’s no point in wasting all that energy making the stressed sound. So words like to, of, at and a become /tə/ /əv/ /ət/ /ə/. If you want to sound natural in English, you should start using them.

Rich: That’s right. Nearly every sentence you will ever here in English will contain a weak form. English is what is known as a stress-timed language. 

Jack: Like we said earlier, we’re all a bit lazy so we only stress the important words. That’s what a stress-timed language is; one where some words are stressed and given more importance. Unstressed words, which are often grammar words like have, the, and, to …  are given less importance or stress. Sometimes these words can be difficult to hear. Some learners say that it sounds like the little words are swallowed. We don’t say fish and chips we say fish ‘n chips.

Rich: This happens a lot in phrases that we use all the time. With common phrases and expressions, we use lots of weak forms in phrases like ‘man of the match’, ‘top of the table’, ‘work your socks off’.

Jack: I like that phrase. You have to work your socks off on the pitch - especially if you’re a midfielder. Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante is a player that works his socks off. 

Rich: Weak forms are also very common in questions like: Have you ever ..., do you want to..., would you mind if I ... /.../

Jack: Have you ever been to a Premier League match? Do you want to see a live match in the UK? Would you mind if I ...?

Rich: This makes English pronunciation difficult especially if your language is a syllable-timed language where all words are pronounced in the same way.

Jack: Another reason to think about weak forms is that they often cause misunderstandings. Because grammar words are often unstressed, learners often don’t notice them being used or don’t use them themselves.

Rich: The jokes I told in the first section, if I can call them jokes, are based on misunderstandings around weak forms. For example, ‘I will ask her’ becomes ‘Alaska’ - the state in the USA - when said at natural speed.

Jack: So, in this week’s language focus, we’re going to look at some more examples in a bit more detail.

Rich: And your task is to listen to five sentences with common weak forms and write the complete the sentences. 

Jack: But more about that later.

Rich: Don’t forget, there is more information about the language we use on the page below and activities to help you understand. 

Jack: Make sure you listen to the end of the podcast because we’ve got another football phrase for you as well.

Topic Focus

Rich: What are you going to do at the weekend, Jack?

Jack: That is very clear Rich and easy for our listeners to say but it’s not how you usually ask that question, is it?

Rich: You’re right. Let me have another go. Jack … What are you going to do at the weekend?

Jack: That’s more like it. That’s much more natural. What jə gonna do ət thə weekend? Whatyə not what are you, gonnə not going to, ət thə not at the

Rich: So, what are you going to at the weekend?

Jack: Very good. That’s much better.

Rich: What are you going to do at the weekend? It’s a real question.

Jack: Ahh … I don’t know …. Maybe I’ll go out to a restaurant … or perhaps I’ll go for a picnic if the weather is nice … I’m definitely going to watch some football!

Rich: What do we want to do now, Jack?

Jack: We want to move back to weak forms. Can you remember what we said a weak form is? Let’s take an example sentence. Rich … you just said what do we want to do now. That’s actually a great example.

Rich: Is it?

Jack: Remember, we said earlier, that weak forms are words that aren’t stressed, they are not pronounced completely, they contain an /ə/ sound - a schwa.

Rich: Yes, and the words that usually include weak forms are grammar words and not content words like adjectives, nouns and main verbs.

Jack: Let’s look at the word do in this example sentence: What do we want to do now? It’s being used in two different ways. The first do is an auxiliary verb and the second do is a main verb. Can you hear the difference? What do we want to do now?

Rich: What do we want to do now? The first do uses a weak form de and the second doesn’t - du:

Jack: Let’s look at some more examples of weak forms being used.

Sting 

Rich: We’re going to give you three more examples. All of these are famous quotes from films. Listen to the sentence, do you know what the film is.

Jack: Quote one: I could have been a contender ... I could have been a contender. 

Rich: Mmm … I could have been a contender. I’ve heard this before. Mmm … I can’t remember.

Jack: This is Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront. Have you seen it? 

Rich: Yes, it’s a great film I’m a big Brando fan.

Jack: Really?  The quote is interesting because it’s difficult to understand with those weak forms. I could have been a becomes  acudvbinə … I could have been a contender. Let’s look at another quote.

Rich: I’m not very good with film quotes. Do another one, Jack.

Jack:OK.  Quote two: I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse. I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.

Rich: Ahh! Yes, I know it … it’s er ...

Jack: It’s Marlon Brando again! The film is the Godfather. The offer is do what I say or I will kill you.

Rich: That’s not very nice, is it? Anyway, again we have a common weak form. Gonna often replaces going to in connected speech.

Jack: Have you got one Rich?

Rich: Ok, I’ll have a go Quote three: Who yer gonna call? Who yer gonna call?

Jack: Easy. It’s Ghostbusters. I’m not sure it’s a quote though. I think it’s the song from the film.

Rich: I’m better with song lyrics than film quotes. It uses weak forms too. It uses gonna again and it has this hu:yə … hu:yə gonna call  hu:yə is who are you … who are you going to call

Jack: Mmm … I don’t think the song would’ve worked if it was Who are you going to call? Ghostbusters!

Rich: No, probably not.

TASK

Jack: Our task for you this week is to listen to five sentences that include weak forms and your job is to write the complete sentence in the comments section.

Rich: If you can’t hear some of the weak forms because we are speaking too quickly you should use your grammar knowledge to complete the sentences.

Jack: Are you ready?

Rich: Let’s do an example first …

Jack: OK an example … here it is …

Rich: Liverpool have gotta win on Saturday!

Jack: In the comments section you should write Liverpool have got to win on Saturday.

Rich: Remember, listen to the sentences and write them in full in the comments section.

Jack: Number one:

Rich: Number two:

Jack: Number three:

Rich: Number four:

Jack: Number five:

Rich: That was difficult. Write your answers in the comments section.

Can you work out this week’s football phrase?

Rich: Have you got a football phrase for us this week? 

Jack: Yes, I have, but first, last week’s football phrase. The phrase was a one-two. This is a type of pass on the football pitch. One player passes to a teammate then runs forward to receive the ball immediately from that teammate. This type of pass is used to go past defenders in tight spaces.

Rich: It’s sometimes, especially in American English, called a wall pass - thanks to Liubomyr, a listener from Ukraine for that!

Jack: Well done to Liubomyr from Ukraine, Milos from Serbia, Elghoul and Khaldoun83 from Algeria, and Kwesimanifest from Ghana. You all got the right answer!

Rich: Right, that’s all we have time for this week! Don’t forget to write your answers to our questions and make a guess at our football phrase in the comments below.

Jack: And don’t forget to listen to our round-up show called ‘This Week’. All the action from Matchweek 9 will be on the Premier Skills homepage on Monday.

Rich: Bye for now and enjoy your football!

Vocabulary

How much did you understand?

In the podcast, Rich and Jack used some words and phrases that might be new for you. Do you know the words in bold?

Perhaps I'll go for a picnic, if the weather is nice.

Chelsea's N'Golo Kante is a player who works his socks off.

There were a few more tricky words in the podcast. Do you know what they all mean? Try the activity below, then, listen to the podcast again to hear how we used the words.

Activity 1

Activity 1: In this activity, try to match the words and phrases to their definitions. All of the words were in this week's podcast.
Can you match the words to their definitions?

Antonio Conte needs to speak clearly when facing the media.

Pronunciation

What are weak forms?

Weak forms are words or parts of words that are not stressed. This means they are not pronounced fully when you are speaking naturally. Let's look at a simple example:

Fish and chips

If you say this slowly and stress each word it sounds like /fɪʃ ænd tʃɪps/.

The word and is pronounced fully with a /æ/ sound like in the word cat. This doesn't sound natural because we're not using a weak form.  

We usually use weak forms when we use grammar words, such as prepositions, conjunctions and articles.

Weak forms usually sound like /ə/. So, when we say fish and chips, we usually say /fɪʃ ən tʃɪps/. The grammar word (and) is not pronounced fully - it is unstressed. 

What is the schwa?

The most common sound in the English language is the schwa. The schwa looks like this: /ə/ It is also the most common weak form. 

Here are some examples where the schwa is used: 

Player

Teacher

Soccer

The schwa is also the most common sound used in weak forms. Take a look at these sentences and look where the schwa is. Try reading the sentences aloud and practise your pronunciation:

  1. It's f/ə/ you.
  2. It takes /ə/ lot of time.
  3. How about /ə/ cup of tea?
  4. The book is /ə/bout pronunciation.
  5. What time /ə/ y/ə/ gon/ə/ get t/ə/ th/ə/ match?

In the activity below, listen to the sentences and decide which word should go into each gap. You have to listen carefully because many of the words are unstressed and contain the schwa.

Activity 2

Activity 2: In this activity, listen to the sentences and decide which words go in each gap. All of the words contain weak forms and schwas.
Can you hear the weak form?

It can be difficult to understand when you don't catch every word!

Task

Listening to weak forms

In this week's podcast, Jack and Rich spoke a lot about weak forms and how using them can help your pronunciation. Your task this week is to listen to five sentences that include weak forms. When you have listened to them, you need to write the complete sentences in the comments section at the bottom of this page. To give you a little help, we've put the exact number of words and letters you need to use in asterisks (*) and the final word in each sentence. If you don't need this help, try to listen to the sentences without looking below (10:05 - 11:35).

  1. ** *** **** ** * ***** *** results?

  2. ***** ** ** ** *** match?

  3. **** * ****** anything?

  4. *** *** ***** ** ***** *** **** later?

  5. ** ***** **** *** ** ** *** ****** **** penalty!

Quiz

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Comment

What do you think?

In this week’s podcast, Jack and Rich spoke about pronunciation and weak forms.

Do you use weak forms in your language? Why is it important to use weak forms when you are speaking English?

Can you think of a famous film/football quote or a song lyric that contains weak forms? 

Look at the task above and write your answers. Don't forget to reply to other listeners too.

Remember to write your guess at this week's football phrase, too!

If you want us to correct your English, just write 'correct me' at the beginning of your comment.

Leave a comment

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Comentários

aiman
03/09/2024
MY
4
points

1. Do you mind if I watch the results ?
2. Shall we go to the match ?
3. Have I missed anything ?
4. We're going to watch the game later.
5. We would have won if we scored that penalty !


aiman
03/09/2024 15:23
Malaysia
Arsenal
4

1. Do you mind if I watch the results ?
2. Shall we go to the match ?
3. Have I missed anything ?
4. We're going to watch the game later.
5. We would have won if we scored that penalty !

mariati.yun
12/07/2023
ID
6
points

1. Do you mind if I watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. Have I missed anything?
4. We're going to watch the game later.
5. We would have won if we scored that penalty!


mariati.yun
12/07/2023 07:47
Indonesia
Liverpool
6

1. Do you mind if I watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. Have I missed anything?
4. We're going to watch the game later.
5. We would have won if we scored that penalty!

Aisyah
20/10/2022
MY
3
points

1. Do you mind if I watch the result?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3.Have I missed anything?
4. We are gonna watch the game later
5. We would won if we scored the penalty


Aisyah
20/10/2022 13:23
Malaysia
Arsenal
3

1. Do you mind if I watch the result?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3.Have I missed anything?
4. We are gonna watch the game later
5. We would won if we scored the penalty

Adryana
31/08/2022
MY
4
points

1. Do you mind if I watch the result?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3.Have I missed anything?
4. We are gonna watch the game later
5. We would won if we scored the penalty


Adryana
31/08/2022 09:12
Malaysia
Arsenal
4

1. Do you mind if I watch the result?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3.Have I missed anything?
4. We are gonna watch the game later
5. We would won if we scored the penalty

jep
13/08/2022
MY
6
points

1. Do you mind if i watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. Have i missed anything?
4. Do you going to watch the game later?
5. We would have won if we had scored that penalty.


jep
13/08/2022 16:50
Malaysia
Manchester City
6

1. Do you mind if i watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. Have i missed anything?
4. Do you going to watch the game later?
5. We would have won if we had scored that penalty.

emilyedward
13/08/2022
MY
5
points

1)Do you mine if I watch the match?
2)Shall we go to thr match?
3)Have I missed anything?
4)You nit haved to watch the game later?
5)We will won if we scored on the penalty?


emilyedward
13/08/2022 12:28
Malaysia
Manchester United
5

1)Do you mine if I watch the match?
2)Shall we go to thr match?
3)Have I missed anything?
4)You nit haved to watch the game later?
5)We will won if we scored on the penalty?

admin's picture
admin
15/08/2022
GB
560
points

Hi EmilyEdward

You have made a couple of typing errors in 1 and 2. 4 and 5 are also not quite right. Try again?

Thanks

Jack - The Premier Skills English Team


admin's picture
admin
15/08/2022 15:48
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Hi EmilyEdward

You have made a couple of typing errors in 1 and 2. 4 and 5 are also not quite right. Try again?

Thanks

Jack - The Premier Skills English Team

muhd haziq
12/08/2022
MY
6
points

1.Do you mind if I watch the results?
2.Shall we go to the match?
3.Have I missed anything?
4.we are gonna watch the game later.
5.we would have won if we scored that penalty.


muhd haziq
12/08/2022 16:10
Malaysia
Liverpool
6

1.Do you mind if I watch the results?
2.Shall we go to the match?
3.Have I missed anything?
4.we are gonna watch the game later.
5.we would have won if we scored that penalty.

chlayy
11/08/2022
MY
1
points

1. Do you mind if I watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. Have I missed anything?
4. Are you going to watch the game later?
5. We would have won if we had scored that penalty.


chlayy
11/08/2022 16:16
Malaysia
Manchester United
1

1. Do you mind if I watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. Have I missed anything?
4. Are you going to watch the game later?
5. We would have won if we had scored that penalty.

SUFIANAH's picture
SUFIANAH
11/08/2022
MY
6
points

1. Do you mind if we watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. do I have missed anything?
4. are we going to watch the game later?
5. we need scored that penalty.


SUFIANAH's picture
SUFIANAH
11/08/2022 15:00
Malaysia
Arsenal
6

1. Do you mind if we watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. do I have missed anything?
4. are we going to watch the game later?
5. we need scored that penalty.

Thiqah Najihah
10/08/2022
MY
5
points

1. Do you mind watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. missed anything?
4. Can wath the game later?
5. scored that penalty?


Thiqah Najihah
10/08/2022 15:29
Malaysia
Manchester United
5

1. Do you mind watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. missed anything?
4. Can wath the game later?
5. scored that penalty?

ainnajwai
10/08/2022
MY
6
points

1. Do you mind if i watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. Have i missed anything?
4. Do you going to watch the game later?
5. We would have won if we had scored that penalty.


ainnajwai
10/08/2022 15:11
Malaysia
Manchester United
6

1. Do you mind if i watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. Have i missed anything?
4. Do you going to watch the game later?
5. We would have won if we had scored that penalty.

hsn's picture
hsn
25/08/2021
TR
5557
points

Comment
I'm not Turkish language expert but as I know weak forms isn't used in our language. I believe that it doesn't need to use weak forms. Maybe it helps energy save-:) When a native speaker use this form it's very hard for learner like me to follow and understand her/him.
Task
1. Do you mind ** * watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. **** * missed anything?
4. Can *** ***** ** watch the game later?
5. ** ***** **** *** ** ** *** scored that penalty!
Phrase
• Motivating is what is known as a main function of management.


hsn's picture
hsn
25/08/2021 16:59
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5557

Comment
I'm not Turkish language expert but as I know weak forms isn't used in our language. I believe that it doesn't need to use weak forms. Maybe it helps energy save-:) When a native speaker use this form it's very hard for learner like me to follow and understand her/him.
Task
1. Do you mind ** * watch the results?
2. Shall we go to the match?
3. **** * missed anything?
4. Can *** ***** ** watch the game later?
5. ** ***** **** *** ** ** *** scored that penalty!
Phrase
• Motivating is what is known as a main function of management.

noita
13/04/2021
AR
5
points

we don't use weak for in our language because We stress all the words in a sentece.
weak forms help us to speak more fluently. to fell that we can speak similar to a native speaker. is it really difficult because we can'T process it naturally.
in oral speech is more common using weak sounds. it appears in dialogues, spontanous conversations so on.
correct me


noita
13/04/2021 22:23
Argentina
Manchester City
5

we don't use weak for in our language because We stress all the words in a sentece.
weak forms help us to speak more fluently. to fell that we can speak similar to a native speaker. is it really difficult because we can'T process it naturally.
in oral speech is more common using weak sounds. it appears in dialogues, spontanous conversations so on.
correct me

Rodrigão
28/10/2020
BR
16
points

Correct me .

I appreciate for this tasks .


Rodrigão
28/10/2020 19:55
Brazil
Liverpool
16

Correct me .

I appreciate for this tasks .

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020
TR
6536
points

I think this week's football phrase is ( a contender team )


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020 09:10
Turkey
Manchester United
6536

I think this week's football phrase is ( a contender team )

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020
TR
6536
points

The Task
1. Do you mind if I watch the results ?
2. Shall we go to the match ?
3. I haven't missed anything.
4. Are we gonna watch the game later ?
5. We'd have won if we'd scored that penalty


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020 09:08
Turkey
Manchester United
6536

The Task
1. Do you mind if I watch the results ?
2. Shall we go to the match ?
3. I haven't missed anything.
4. Are we gonna watch the game later ?
5. We'd have won if we'd scored that penalty

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020
TR
6536
points

A famous football quote is : at the end of the day
Weak forms are ( at - the - of - the )


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020 09:04
Turkey
Manchester United
6536

A famous football quote is : at the end of the day
Weak forms are ( at - the - of - the )

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020
TR
6536
points

We do use weak forms in Turkish and they are important because we like to speak fast and stress on the main words of the sentence only


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
20/05/2020 09:02
Turkey
Manchester United
6536

We do use weak forms in Turkish and they are important because we like to speak fast and stress on the main words of the sentence only

haruyuki's picture
haruyuki
25/10/2017
JP
38
points

My answers are below.
1, Do you mind if I watch the results?
2, Shall we go to the match?
3, Have I missed anything?
4, Are you going to watch the game later?
5, We would have won if we had scored that penalty.

This week football phrase is kind of a dark horse or an underdog.
But it's maybe another phrase.
I have no idea.


haruyuki's picture
haruyuki
25/10/2017 02:11
Japan
Liverpool
38

My answers are below.
1, Do you mind if I watch the results?
2, Shall we go to the match?
3, Have I missed anything?
4, Are you going to watch the game later?
5, We would have won if we had scored that penalty.

This week football phrase is kind of a dark horse or an underdog.
But it's maybe another phrase.
I have no idea.

milos
23/10/2017
RS
2663
points

This week football pharase is dark horse.But I think you can also say underdog

Shall we go to the match?
Do you mind if I watch the results?
Have you missed anything?
We would have won if we had scored the penalty.
You are going to watch the game later.


milos
23/10/2017 07:04
Serbia
Manchester United
2663

This week football pharase is dark horse.But I think you can also say underdog

Shall we go to the match?
Do you mind if I watch the results?
Have you missed anything?
We would have won if we had scored the penalty.
You are going to watch the game later.

elghoul's picture
elghoul
22/10/2017
DZ
3988
points

1. Do you mind if I watch the results?

2.Shall we go to the match?

3.Have you missed anything?

4.You are going to watch the game later.

5. We would have won if we had scored the penalty.

football phrase, dark horse.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
22/10/2017 14:05
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

1. Do you mind if I watch the results?

2.Shall we go to the match?

3.Have you missed anything?

4.You are going to watch the game later.

5. We would have won if we had scored the penalty.

football phrase, dark horse.

kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
22/10/2017
GH
4779
points

Correct me
Answers to the task wasn't too sure of number 4 though.
1. Do you mind if i watched the results
2. Shall we go to the match
3. If i missed anything
4. Going to watch the game later
5. Would have won if we had scored that penalty


kwesimanifest's picture
kwesimanifest
22/10/2017 08:05
Ghana
Manchester United
4779

Correct me
Answers to the task wasn't too sure of number 4 though.
1. Do you mind if i watched the results
2. Shall we go to the match
3. If i missed anything
4. Going to watch the game later
5. Would have won if we had scored that penalty

sabanoleg
22/10/2017
UA
2337
points

I think football phrase is"** **** * *****"


sabanoleg
22/10/2017 05:55
Ukraine
Arsenal
2337

I think football phrase is"** **** * *****"

Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
21/10/2017
SD
2903
points

Correct me

We don't use weak forms in our language. However, there's a sort of shortening the words, especially names. For instance, someone might say "Oma" when trying to say Omer. I'm not sure if this is considerd as a weak form in English since the letter "r" is usually unpronounced.

It's vitally important to use weak forms when speaking English because it makes the speaking process VERY smoother and that will allow our tounge to change its position in a more relaxed manner. Native English speakers use weak forms a lot in their speech which makes it extremely important for everyone to use in order to easily undrestand what is being said.

As for for the song, I enjoy listening to Kelly Clarkson's "Catch my breath", nice one with some weak forms, I bet teacher Jack came across it!


Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
21/10/2017 19:28
Sudan
Liverpool
2903

Correct me

We don't use weak forms in our language. However, there's a sort of shortening the words, especially names. For instance, someone might say "Oma" when trying to say Omer. I'm not sure if this is considerd as a weak form in English since the letter "r" is usually unpronounced.

It's vitally important to use weak forms when speaking English because it makes the speaking process VERY smoother and that will allow our tounge to change its position in a more relaxed manner. Native English speakers use weak forms a lot in their speech which makes it extremely important for everyone to use in order to easily undrestand what is being said.

As for for the song, I enjoy listening to Kelly Clarkson's "Catch my breath", nice one with some weak forms, I bet teacher Jack came across it!

Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
21/10/2017
SD
2903
points

Task

Do you mind if I watch the results?

Shall we go to the match?

Have I missed anything?

Do you going to watch the game later?

We would have won if we had scored that penalty!


Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
21/10/2017 18:22
Sudan
Liverpool
2903

Task

Do you mind if I watch the results?

Shall we go to the match?

Have I missed anything?

Do you going to watch the game later?

We would have won if we had scored that penalty!

Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
21/10/2017
SD
2903
points

Football phrase, I love it and it's to be "** **** * *****".

I don't know why my name wasn't mensioned in this week's podcast despite correctly guessing last week's football phrase!


Ahmed Adam Mamado's picture
Ahmed Adam Mamado
21/10/2017 17:27
Sudan
Liverpool
2903

Football phrase, I love it and it's to be "** **** * *****".

I don't know why my name wasn't mensioned in this week's podcast despite correctly guessing last week's football phrase!

lakerwang
20/10/2017
CN
337
points

There're no weak forms In Chinese Mandarin.But in some dialectal accent like Beijing accent,there're lots of weak forms,swallows and links. I think using weak forms makes your spoken english more natural.
Film quote:
'Then they gotta blow, and then I gotta show that' from<Rio 2>


lakerwang
20/10/2017 18:03
China
Chelsea
337

There're no weak forms In Chinese Mandarin.But in some dialectal accent like Beijing accent,there're lots of weak forms,swallows and links. I think using weak forms makes your spoken english more natural.
Film quote:
'Then they gotta blow, and then I gotta show that' from<Rio 2>

lakerwang
20/10/2017
CN
337
points

I guess the football phrase you mentioned in this podcast is 'a dark horse',like last season's Leicester City or FC Kaiserslautern in season 97/98


lakerwang
20/10/2017 17:31
China
Chelsea
337

I guess the football phrase you mentioned in this podcast is 'a dark horse',like last season's Leicester City or FC Kaiserslautern in season 97/98

Khaldoun83's picture
Khaldoun83
20/10/2017
DZ
325
points

Correct me.

1st phrase: Do you mind if I watched the results?

2nd phrase: Shall we go to the match?

3rd phrase: Have missed anything?

4th phrase: Are going to watch the game later?

5th phrase: We would not have won it we would not scored that penalty. 

Foot ball phrase :( I really don't know the answer. 


Khaldoun83's picture
Khaldoun83
20/10/2017 16:45
Algeria
Liverpool
325

Correct me.

1st phrase: Do you mind if I watched the results?

2nd phrase: Shall we go to the match?

3rd phrase: Have missed anything?

4th phrase: Are going to watch the game later?

5th phrase: We would not have won it we would not scored that penalty. 

Foot ball phrase :( I really don't know the answer. 

Violinka
20/10/2017
UA
1859
points

I think the football phrase is "dark horse"


Violinka
20/10/2017 16:04
Ukraine
Chelsea
1859

I think the football phrase is "dark horse"

Violinka
20/10/2017
UA
1859
points

Correct me.
Do you mind if I watch for results?
Shell we go to the match?
**** * missed anything?
You are going to watch the game later?
We would want for if it was scored that penalty.


Violinka
20/10/2017 16:02
Ukraine
Chelsea
1859

Correct me.
Do you mind if I watch for results?
Shell we go to the match?
**** * missed anything?
You are going to watch the game later?
We would want for if it was scored that penalty.

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
20/10/2017
UA
4417
points

The phrase is tricky. I have few suggestions but my first choice would be that the phrase is ‘underdog’.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
20/10/2017 14:41
Ukraine
Watford
4417

The phrase is tricky. I have few suggestions but my first choice would be that the phrase is ‘underdog’.

admin's picture
admin
20/10/2017
GB
560
points

Not quite. It's a phrase this time. I'll give you a clue - to be ** **** * *****.


admin's picture
admin
20/10/2017 15:05
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Not quite. It's a phrase this time. I'll give you a clue - to be ** **** * *****.

kirito2001
20/10/2017
VN
180
points

correct me


kirito2001
20/10/2017 13:46
Vietnam
Manchester United
180

correct me

admin's picture
admin
20/10/2017
GB
560
points

You are correct! 


admin's picture
admin
20/10/2017 15:05
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

You are correct! 

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Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Skills: Listening

Pronunciation: Weak forms

Task: Write a film quote or song lyric that uses weak forms