FUNCTION WORDS: STRONG & WEAK FORMS

Strong form Weak form

The /ðiː/ /ðə/ /ði/
A /eɪ/ /ə/
An /æn/ /ən/

FUNCTION WORDS: STRONG & WEAK FORMS

Strong form Weak form

And /ænd/ /ən/, syllabic /n/
But /bʌt/ /bət/
That (**) /ðæt/ /ðət/
Than /ðæn/ /ðən/
His (**) /hɪz/ /ɪz/
Her (**) /hɜː/ /ə/ /ər/ *her own
FUNCTION WORDS: STRONG & WEAK FORMS

Strong form Weak form

Your (**) /jɔː/ /jə/ /jər/ e.g. your/jər/own
BUT, your /jə/ son
She /ʃiː/ /ʃi/
He /hiː/ /hi/ /i/
We /wiː/ /wi/
You /juː/ /ju/
Him /hɪm/ /ɪm/
Them /ðem/ /ðəm/

FUNCTION WORDS: STRONG & WEAK FORMS

Strong form Weak form

Us /ʌs/ /əs/
At /æt/ /ət/
For (**) /fɔː/ e.g. What is it for? /fə/ /fər/ e.g. for us
From /frɒm/ /frəm/
Of /ɒv/ /əv/
To /tuː/ /tə/ e.g. to stop vs. /tu/ e.g. to eat
As /æz/ /əz/
FUNCTION WORDS: STRONG & WEAK FORMS

Strong form Weak form

Some (**) /sʌm/ e.g. some ideas (Count N) /səm/ e.g some knowledge (NC)
There (**) /ðeə/ /ðeər/ e.g. I like it there. /ðə/ /ðər/ e.g There is…
Can /kæn/ /kən/
Could /kʊd/ /kəd/
Have /hæv/ /həv/ /əv/
Has /hæz/ /həz/ /əz/
Had /hæd/ /həd/ /əd/

FUNCTION WORDS: STRONG & WEAK FORMS

Strong form Weak form

Shall /ʃæl/ /ʃəl/
Should /ʃʊd/ /ʃəd/
Must /mʌst/ /məst/ /məs/
Do (**) /duː/ e.g., I do. /də/ consonant
/du/ vowel e.g. do end
Does /dʌz/ /dəz/
Am /æm/ /əm/
Are /ɑː/ /ə/
FUNCTION WORDS: STRONG & WEAK FORMS

Strong form Weak form

Was /wɒz/ /wəz/
Were /wɜː/ /wə/
Is /ɪz/ /z/ /s/
FINAL TEST (SAMPLE)

A. Choose the best way to divide each of the following words into syllables according to the principle of maximal onsets.
1. Containing
A. kən.teɪ.nɪŋ B. kən.teɪn.ɪŋ C. kə.nteɪ.nɪŋ

2. Substances
A. sʌbs.tn̩.sɪz B. sʌb.stn̩s.ɪz C. sʌb.stn̩.sɪz

3. Interpreted
A. ɪnt.ɜːp.rɪ.tɪd B. ɪn.tɜː.prɪt.ɪd C. ɪn.tɜː.prɪ.tɪd
FINAL TEST (SAMPLE)

B. Choose a mispronunciation or a misapplication of stress in each of the following utterances spoken by a learner of British
English.
1. ðə rɪˈzʌlts əv ðə njuː rɪˈsɜːʧ wəd siːm tə ˈkɒnflɪkt wɪð ɪgˈzɪstɪŋ ˈθɪəriz
A. B. C.
2. ˈgrædjʊəli ˈɪnkriːs ðə ˈtemprəʧə tə ˈbɔɪlɪŋ pɔɪnt
A. B. C.
3. aɪ spent tuː mʌʧ taɪm ət maɪ kəmˈpjuːtə kɒnˈsəʊl ˈjestədeɪ
A. B. C.
4. ðə mæn wəz əˈrestɪd ɒn ə ʧɑːʤ əv əˈtemptɪŋ tə ˈpɜːvɜːt ðə kɔːs əv ˈʤʌstɪs
A. B. C.

FINAL TEST (SAMPLE

C. Use the syllables in the word ‘alphabetical’ /ælfəbetɪkl̩ / to describe the characteristics of
strong and weak syllables.
Answer:
The first syllable /æl/ is a strong syllable because it is made up of short vowel /æ/ and a
coda /l/. Since the syllable is strong it is uttered with a (secondary) stress.