1. Ms.Lujain -2013
Weak forms
Chapter 10
Week 12
April

2. Outline Why is it important to learn how weak forms are used?
Ms.Lujain -2013
Outline
Why is it important to learn how weak forms are used?
Weak forms Vs. Contracted forms. Are they the same?
Function words
Are both forms used in function words?
When do we use the strong form?
words that are spelled with an initial ‘h’

3. Strong forms VS weak forms
Ms.Lujain -2013
Strong forms VS weak forms
Why is it important to learn how weak forms are used?
1- Most Native speakers of English find an “all-strong form” pronunciation unnatural and foreign-sounding.
2- Speakers who are not familiar with the use of weak forms are likely to have difficulty understanding speakers who do use weak forms.

4. WEAK FORMS VS. CONTRACTED FORMS
Ms.Lujain -2013
WEAK FORMS VS. CONTRACTED FORMS
ARE WEAK FORMS THE SAME AS CONTRACTED FORMS?
NO.

5. Ms.Lujain -2013
Function Words
Almost all words that have both a strong and weak form belong to a category called:
Function Words
Function Words: words that do not have a dictionary meaning in the way that we normally expect nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs to have. Such as auxiliary verbs, prepositions ..etc.

6. Are both forms used or only one?
Ms.Lujain -2013
Are both forms used or only one?
Sometimes the strong form is used and at other times we use the weak form. There are certain contexts in which only the strong form is acceptable and others where the weak form is the normal pronunciation.

7. When do we use the strong form?
Ms.Lujain -2013
When do we use the strong form?
For many weak-form words when they occur at the end of a sentence.
When a weak-form word is being contrasted with another word.
When a weak-form word is given stress for the purpose of emphasis.
When a weak-form word is being “cited” or “quoted”.

8. Words that are spelled with an initial ‘h’
Ms.Lujain -2013
Words that are spelled with an initial ‘h’
When weak-form words whose spelling begins with ‘h’ (e.g. ‘her’, ‘have’) occur at the beginning of a sentence, the pronunciation is with initial /h/, even though this is usually omitted in other contexts.

9. Most common weak-form words:
Ms.Lujain -2013
Most common weak-form words:
The
a , an
and
but
That *
than
His *
Her *
Your
* When used in a specific sense.
Never occur at the end of a sentence

10. Pronouns do occur in their weak forms in their final position She He
Ms.Lujain -2013
Pronouns
She He We
You
Him
Her
Them us
do occur in their weak forms in their final position

11. Some prepositions and other function words:
Ms.Lujain -2013
Some prepositions and other function words: At
For
From Of To As
Some
there
occur in their strong forms when they are final in a sentence

12. Auxiliary verbs: Can – could
Ms.Lujain -2013
Auxiliary verbs:
Can – could
Have – has – had
Shall – should
Must
Do – does
Am – are – was – were
in their negative forms (combined with not) they NEVER have the weak pronunciation.
They also occur in their strong forms when they are final in a sentence.