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Lesson 37. Hey, Wait for Me!

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Strong and Weak Forms: Pronouns

Lesson 37; Part A

important.jpgSome words have two different pronunciations - a strong form and a weakform. Normally we use the weak form, but if the word is stressedbecause it is especially important, or because we want to show acontrast, we use the strong form. Most pronouns have strong and weakforms.

 weak     
strong    
you
me
he
she
him
her 
we
us
them     
/j∂/
/mi/
/i/
/∫i/
/im/
/∂/ or /h∂/
/wi/
/∂s/
/ð∂m/
/ju:/
/mi:/
/hi:/
/∫i:/
/him/
/hз:/
/wi:/
/Λs/
/ðem/

Lesson 37; Part B

Listen to the difference, and repeat.37.1.jpg
A: Will you be at the meeting on Friday? (you is weak)
B: Yes. Will you be there? (you is strong)

Can you help me carry this suitcase? (me is weak)

Hey, wait for me! (me is strong)

A: Is he there? (he is weak)
B: Who?
A: The boss.
B: No. Everybody else is working, but he's gone home! (he is strong)

A: She doesn't smoke or drink! (she is strong)
B: Ah, that's what she told you! (she is weak)

A: Look - it's him! (him is strong)
B: Where? I can't see him. (him is weak)

A: Do you know thar woman?
B: Her? No, I don't recognise her. (first her is strong, second her is weak)

A: I'm afraid we can't stay any longer. (we is weak)
B: What do you mean, "we"? I've got plenty of time. (we is strong)

A: They told us to go this way. (us is weak)
B: Well, they didn't tell us! (us is strong)

When I said, "Give them a drink" I didn't mean them, I meant the people (first them is weak, second them is strong)



Exercises


wizard.jpgListen and mark the underlined words w (weak) or s (strong).
Key1    A: Are you(w) going to talk to him(w)? B: No, I think he(s) should talk to me(s) first.
2    A: Shall I phone her(w)? B: Yes, I think you(w) should.
3    A: You(w) see those people over there? Do you(w) know them(w)? B: I know her(s), but I don't know him(s).
4    A: What are you(w) going to give him(w)? B: I think I'll give him(w) a shirt. What about you(s)?
5    Let him(w) come in and ask him(w) what he(w) wants.
6    She(w) says she'll(w) bring her(w) money tomorrow.
7    I'm tired ... shall we(w) go now?
8    Everybody's leaving. What about us(s)? Shall we(s) go, too?
9    Tell us(w) when you're(w) ready.
10  A: Who broke that window? B: He(s) did! C: No, I didn't, she(s) did!

1    A: Are you(w) going to talk to him(w)? B: No, I think he should talk to me first.
2    A: Shall I phone her? B: Yes, I think you should.
3    A: You see those people over there? Do you know them? B: I know her, but I don't know him.
4    A: What are you going to give him? B: I think I'll give him a shirt. What about you?
5    Let him come in and ask him what he wants.
6    She says she'll bring her money tomorrow.
7    I'm tired ... shall we go now?
8    Everybody's leaving. What about us? Shall we go, too?
9    Tell us when you're ready.
10  A: Who broke that window? B: He did! C: No, I didn't, she did!

Check with the Key. Then listen again and repeat.

 

     


pencil.jpgListen and complete the sentences.
Example:
What  did she  say?
1    What _______do youthink about it?
2    Where _______shall we go tonight?
3    _______He's ready _______for you now.
4    Where _______is he?
5    _______Tell them to come in.
6    _______Are you feeling all right?
7    Tell _______me the news.
8    I _______know her phone number but not _______her address.

Check with the Key. Then listen again and repeat.

wizard.jpgListen and repeat this poem. Be careful to speak with the correctrhythm. Stress the words in bold, and use weak forms of the pronounsbetween them.37.4.jpg
Comings and goings.

Don't          







Shall we

Tell me,   
What       
send
Give
Ask
Give
What
Ask
Tell
What
wait
Please
what

did she     
her
her a  
her to 
us a
do you
them to
them it's
shall we
here for
don't
do you
say?
away
chance
dance
drink
think?
wait
late
do?
you?
delay
say?


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Lesson 36        Lesson 37     Lesson 38 forward.jpg