Unit 10 Strong Forms Unit 10 Strong Forms & Weak Forms& Weak Forms

Strong forms & Weak formsStrong forms & Weak forms

Strong forms: stressed forms Weak forms: unstressed forms (//),e.g.

Words Strong Vowels Weak Vowels

at // // has // // she /:/ // could // //

Some English words only have strong forms, but other words have both strong forms and weak forms. These words are called st

ructural words. They include many thousands in English , but among them 45 are important to English learners, including the following 5 groups :

1)determiners 2)pronouns ; 3)connectives ; 4)auxiliary verbs; 5) prepositions. 1.The factors that influence the usage of strong form or weak form of a structural word : 1) the position of a word in a sentence; 2) the degree of stress of a word ; and 3) other factors . When they bear stress , no change in sound quality takes place and so the strong forms are used . Otherwise, weak forms are used.

2. Signs which a weak form of a w2. Signs which a weak form of a word may be noted by:ord may be noted by:

(1) a shortening in the length of a vowel,e.g. /i:/------/i/ as in we, he , been. /u:/ -----/u/ as in to, who, you. //-----/ as in sir, were, per. (2)a change in a vowel sound, e.g. was /w/ ------ / , us / by /bai (3) the absence of a sound, e.g. and//-------/ , them//-------/ her/:/-------//.

3. The rules for the uses of strong 3. The rules for the uses of strong forms:forms:

1) Strong forms are used when structural words occur at the end of a sense group or a sentence. e.g.

Music is what I fond of ./ What are you looking at ? What is he waiting for ?/ Where did you get from ? 2) Strong forms are used when such words are in contrast. e.g. I have a letter for him ,not from him.3) Strong forms are used when such words are used for emphasis. I think maybe ``you know it .4) Strong forms are used when they are being used as nouns. e.g. Did you say ``“he”? “A”, “an ”,and “the” are articles. Note : Negative contract forms do not take weak forms, such a

s haven’t, can’t, etc