Warm-UpIf You’re Happy

If you're happy and you know it clap your handsIf you're happy and you know it clap your handsIf you're happy and you know itnever be afraid to show itIf you're happy and you know it clap your hands

stomp your feet/wink your eyes

Word class pairs, Strong form and weak form

Contructors : Nguyễn Thị Lan Anh

Vũ Thị Tú Anh

Nguyễn Thị Diệu

Nguyễn Việt Hưng

Nguyễn Quang Thịnh

Noun or adjective / verb pairsThere are several dozen pairs of two-

syllable words with identical spelling which differ from each other in :

stress placement apparently according to word class

(noun, verb or adjective). All appear to consist of prefix +

stem.

Word class pairs

Rules : Noun or adjective: 'O o

Verb: o 'O

Strong and weak forms

1. The strong form:

- Used when the word is said in isolation- In connected speech- Used in certain cases.

Strong Forms

used in the following cases: When the word is stressed • They don’t believe, do they? /ðei 'dәunt bi'li:v 'du:ðei/• You must choose us or them. /ju: mәst 'ʧu:z 'Λs ɔ: 'ðem/

The word at the end of a sense group or a sentence:

• Who is on duty today? I am. /'ai æm/• Where did you get it from? /'wεә did ju: 'get it frɔm/• Who is a teacher? You are. /'ju: a:/

Prepositions when they are followed by an unstressed personal pronoun at the end of a sense group or a sentence. However, in this position the weak form may also be used.

E.g: I am waiting for you. /aim 'weitiŋ fɔ: ju:/ or /aim 'weitiŋ fә ju:/

The indefinite pronoun “some” in the meaning of “a certain quantity” is always stressed and therefore pronounced as /sΛm/.

E.g:•some of us / 'sΛm әv әs/

•The adjective “some” in the meaning of “certain” always use its strong form, even when it is unstressed.

E.g: For some reason she is absent today.

/'fɔ: sΛm 'ri:zn ʃiz 'æbsnәt tә'dei/

•As an adjective in contrast to “others” it is always stressed and therefore pronounced as /sΛm/.

E.g: Some people like it, but others don’t.

/'sΛm pi:pl 'laik it bәt 'Λðәz 'dәunt/

2. The weak form:

- Used only in unstressed positions

Weak Forms distinguished from a strong

form• by the difference in vowel-

sounds,• by the absence of a sound

(vowel or consonant),• by the difference in the length

of a vowel.

For example:•are /a:/ /ә/ • them /ðem/ /ðәm/•and /ænd/ /әn/ & /n/ •am /æm/ /m/•been /bi:n/ /bin/ •were /wә:/ /wә/

Very often the weak form has schwa sound /ә/ in it whereas the strong form contains some other vowels.

• E.g. was /wɔz/, for/fɔ:/

• E.g: “It was too difficult for them to read.”

/it wәz 'tu: 'difikәlt fә ðәm tә 'ri:d/

A few words with /i:/ in the strong form have a weak form with /i/,

• e.g. the /ði:/ • but “the other end” /ði 'Λðәr 'end/.

which words have weak and strong forms?

prepositionsauxiliary verbsmodal verbspronounspossessive adjectivespossessive pronounsconjunctionsarticles

which words only have strong forms?

nounsmain verbsadjectivesadverbs

Situations where weak forms become strong

Exercise 1: How many weak forms

can you find?

• Ladies and Gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. First, the good news. The dive that you just watched in Olympic Diving event was the winning dive. Now, the bad news. The swimming pool was empty.

• Ladies and Gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. First, the good news. The dive that you just watched in Olympic Diving event was the winning dive. Now, the bad news. The swimming pool was empty.

•We have an old musical instrument. It is called a clavichord. It was made in Germany in 1681. Our clavichord is kept in the living room. It has belonged to our family for a long time. The instrument was bought by my grandfather many years ago.

•We have an old musical instrument. It is called a clavichord. It was made in Germany in 1681. Our clavichord is kept in the living room. It has belonged to our family for a long time. The instrument was bought by my grandfather many years ago.

Exercise 1: Look at the words below and decide where in the word the schwa sound occurs.Underline and/or write the schwa symbol over the correct part of the word. The first one has been done for you.

doctor bananatomorrow difficultsummer levelprotect survivepupil theatremeasure wizard

Hint: One word has two examples of schwa. All the others have only one.

ANSWERS Ex.1 :

doctor bananatomorrow difficultsummer levelprotect survivepupil

theatremeasure wizard

Exercise 2: In this exercise, look at these sentences and decide where the schwa sound occurs. It may occur more than once /ә/ in each sentence.

1 . It’s for you

2 . It takes a lot of time3 . How about a cup of tea?4 . What are you doing tonight?5 . What time will you arrive at Victoria?

Ex2:•1 . It’s for you•2 . It takes a lot of time•3 . How about a cup of tea?•4 . What are you doing tonight?•5 . What time will you arrive at Victoria?