How to improve pronunciation with contractions?
English pronunciation can be a real challenge, especially when it comes to using contractions common to everyday speech. Contractions not only help you sound more natural in conversations, but they also soften and speed up dialogue. In this module, we will explore contractions of three fundamental English verbs: to be, will, and have. Observe, imitate, and build your confidence in using these contractions. Let's get down to business!
How do you use contractions of the verb to be?
The verb to be is essential for speaking in the present tense and contractions make speech sound more fluent. Here are some key examples:
- I am becomes I'm and the nasal sound stands out.
- You are becomes you're.
- She is and he is can be contracted into she's and he's respectively, with a characteristic fricative sound.
- It is is simplified to it's.
- We are, you are and they are become we're, you're and they're respectively.
By adding "not" to generate a negation, to be is also contracted:
- I am not → I'm not
- You are not → you're not or you aren't
- She is not → she's not → she's not or she isn't
What about will in contractions?
Will is used to talk about the future and its contractions are essential to sound more informal and natural. Here are some examples:
- I will becomes I'll.
- You will becomes you'll, it is important to block the air in the center of the mouth when pronouncing it.
- She will and he will become she'll and he'll respectively.
- It will contracts into it'll.
- We will, you will and they will simplify to we'll, you'll and they'll.
When we include "not", the change is radical and noticeable:
- I will not becomes I won't.
- You will not becomes you won't
- She will not and he will not are simplified to she won't and he won't.
How are contractions of the verb have handled?
Have is common when talking about the past in the indefinite past and its contractions facilitate the flow of the language:
- I have simplifies to I've, and the vibrant fricative sound is crucial.
- You have, she has, and he has become you've, she's, and he's.
The negation in this verb has its own set of contractions:
- I have not becomes I haven't.
- You have not becomes you haven't
- She has not and he has not are expressed as she hasn't and he hasn't.
These changes in the use of contractions not only improve your pronunciation, but also enrich your English listening comprehension by familiarizing you with common speech patterns. Keep practicing and feel free to share your recordings for feedback!
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