Basic English Pronunciation
Native speakers (basically and generally) stress content words and don’t stress structure words.
Content Words
= they are the most important words.
= we need them to understand.
= they are nouns, main verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
= stress these! That means, say them more loudly and more clearly.
Structure Words
= they are less important words.
= we don't need them to understand.
= they are prepositions, articles, conjunctions, and auxiliary verbs.
= don't stress these. That means, say them more softly.
Conversation
Here’s a conversation at a coffee shop.
The content words are in bold.
Remember: stress the content words, because they’re the most important words in the sentence. They have most of the meaning.
You stress them by saying them more loudly and more clearly.
A: Hi! May I help you?
B: Yes, thanks. I’d like a grande cappuccino with soy milk and a bagel with peanut butter and jam.
A: OK. Would you like anything else?
B: Umm, no thanks. That’s everything.
Pronunciation Websites
Tongue Twister Websites
To sound more natural, speak and read like a river!
Rhyming in Songs and Poetry
Often in songs and poetry, the last words in two or more lines will rhyme. In other words, they will have the same or very similar final sounds.
E.G.
But girl tonight you look so pretty, yes you do
Times Square can't shine as bright as you, I swear it's true
Final "-ed" Pronunciation
1. /id/ = adds another syllable.
= used after words that end in “d” or “t”.
needed
wanted
exploded
persuaded
2. /d/
= used after words that end with a voiced sound (but NOT “D”), such as “v”, “r”, “l”, “b” etc.
loved
moved
cared
transformed
3. /t/
= used after words that end in an unvoiced sound (but NOT “t”) such as “p”, “sh”, “s” etc.
flapped
slapped
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