Pronouns in sentences are usually unstressed. Look at this sentence: I met him. The first and third words arc pronouns. So this sentence has the stress pattern oOo.
Important for listening! Listen to these sentences. You will hear each one twice: first in careful speech and then in fast speech. Notice that in fast speech:
the speaker doesn't pronounce the letter H in he, her, him, his unless it is at the beginning of the sentence.
the vowel sound in the pronouns and his, her, their, our is very short.
oOo I met him. You know her. They saw you. She phoned me. He likes them. We found it.
oOoO I met his wife. They read my book. He knows their son. We called their friends. She hates her job. You eed our help.
Note:You don't need to copy the fast speech pronunciation. People willunderstand you if you use careful speech. But you need to be able tounderstand fast speech.
Pronouns are often joined to auxiliary verbs (is, have, will, etc.) in contractions. For example, when we speak, we join the I and will together to form I'll. In the sentence I'll ask herthere are four words but only three syllables. This is because thepronoun and contraction are pronounced as one syllable. This sentencetherefore has the stress pattern oOo (the pronouns and contractions I'll and her are unstressed). In fast speech, it may be pronounced the same as Alaska. Listen to these examples.
(like Alaska) (like am coming) (like his finished) (like the hungry) (like wivseen im) (like shiz angry)
Note: You do not join the pronoun to an auxiliary verb at the end of a sentence. For example, say Yes, I will, don't say Yes, I'll. Note: You only put stress on pronouns if you want to emphasise orcontrast something. It is like underlining with your voice. Forexample: You don't need him, but he needs you! (See Unit 49.)
Write the sentences below again. Change the people to pronouns, and make the auxiliary verbs (has / is / areetc.) into contractions. Then underline the stressed syllables in yoursentences. There should be two in each sentence. Then listen, check andrepeat. Key.1. He's buying presents for them. 2. They're opening their presents. 3. They'll thank him for the presents. 4. He'll thank her for the money. Example: Helen has given Robert some money. She's given him some money. 1 Robert is buying presents for the children. ____________________________ 2 Bonnie and Max are opening their presents. ____________________________ 3 Bonnie and Max will thank Robert for the presents. ____________________________ 4 Robert will thank Helen for the money. ____________________________
Think of a computer which people speak into and it writes what theysay. This computer wrote the underlined parts of these conversationsincorrectly. (You can read what the computer heard in phonemicletters.) Write the correct words. Key.1 We've done it 2 I'll ask him 3 I'll see you 4 He's gone to 5 I'll tell her Example: - Do you know Mike? - Yes. Ametim /æ'metιm/ yesterday. I met him. 1 - Come on kids, do your homework! - Wivdunit /wιv'dΛnιt/already! _____________ 2 - What's his name? - I don't know. Alaskim /æ'læskιm/. _____________ 3 - Goodbye. - Goodbye. Alseeya /æl'si:j∂/ tomorrow! _____________ 4 - Why isn't Neil here? - Hisgonra /hιz'gont∂/ Paris for the weekend. _____________ 5 - Have you told Maria yet? - No. Altella /æl'tel∂/ tomorrow. _____________