Lesson 37. Hey, Wait for Me! Strong and Weak Forms: Pronouns Some 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:/ /Λ s/ /ðem/
Listen to the difference, and repeat. 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 Listen and mark the underlined words w (weak) or s (strong).Key 1 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.
Listen and repeat this poem. Be careful to speak with the correctrhythm. Stress the words in bold, and use weak forms of the pronounsbetween them. 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?