Connected speech in English
19 concepts in English Pronunciation, in level order. Open one to read how it works and try practice items.
Beginner
- was and were in connected speech Their weak forms, and when they are stressed.
Elementary
- Linking Joining the end of one word to the start of the next.
- The schwa and the consonants /tʃ/, /ʃ/, /dʒ/ The most common vowel, and three easily confused consonants.
- The weak form of to How to almost disappears before a verb.
- Understanding connected speech Hearing where one word ends and the next begins.
Pre-Intermediate
- Contractions 'll and won't Producing and hearing the contracted future forms.
- Linking words together Joining a final consonant to a following vowel in connected speech.
- The weak form of to and linking Reducing to before an infinitive and linking it to the verb.
- Weak forms of was and were Reducing was and were in connected speech, and stressing them in short answers.
Intermediate
- Linking, and the spellings ough and augh Joining words, and two spellings that defeat everyone.
- Sentence rhythm and the weak form of have How have almost disappears in perfect forms.
- The schwa and the two pronunciations of the The most common vowel, and when the changes.
Upper-Intermediate
- Linked phrases Phrases that run together as one unit.
- The weak form of have How have reduces in perfect and past-modal forms.
Advanced
- Auxiliary verbs and to in connected speech How they weaken, and when they do not.
- Linking in short phrases Phrases that run together as a unit.
- The schwa The most common vowel in the language.
Advanced Plus
- Contractions Where English contracts, and where it must not.
Proficiency
- Connected speech at natural speed What happens to words when nobody slows down.