English Contractions - Improve Your Pronunciation of Contractions in English

英语口语 - 发音 - 缩读

Hi, I’m Maria. Welcome to Oxford Online English! In this lesson, you can learn about

嗨，我是Maria，欢迎来到Oxford Online English ！这节课里，您可以学到

the pronunciation of contractions. You’ll see how to make contractions, how to pronounce

关于简缩的发音规则，您会了解到 怎样去简缩，他们又是如何

them, and when to use contractions in English.

发音的，以及在英语中什么时候需要简缩。

What are contractions?

什么是简缩呢？

Contractions are when we put two words together by making one word shorter.

简缩是将两个单词简化成 一个更短的单词。

For example:

例如：

He is --> He’s They will --> They’ll

He is --> He’s They will --> They’ll

Do not --> Don’t

Do not --> Don’t

But which words can you make contractions from?

但哪些词是可以简化成一个 更短的单词呢？

Here are the words that can make contractions in English:

下面这些单词在英语中可以简缩：

am, are,

am, are,

is, will,

is, will,

would, have,

would, have

has, had.

has, had.

Let’s see an example in a sentence:

我们来看一个例句：

You are the nicest person I have ever met.

您是我见过的最好的人了。

We can make two contractions here. Can you see where?

这句话中我们有两处可以简缩。 您知道是那两处吗？

You can contract you are to you’re, and I have to I’ve.

我们可以把you are 简缩为you're， 把I have简缩为I've。

You’re the nicest person I’ve ever met. The pronunciation of contractions can change depending

You’re the nicest person I’ve ever met. 简缩的发音速度可以根据

on how fast you’re speaking. The pronunciation can be quite clear and ‘textbook’:

您说得多快而改变。您可以读得像课本一样准确和清晰：

You’re the nicest person I’ve met.

You’re the nicest person I’ve met.

Or, the pronunciation can be faster and weaker:

或者简缩部分可以读得更快、更弱：

You’re the nicest person I’ve met.

You’re the nicest person I’ve met。

This fast, weak pronunciation is very common.

这种速度和弱音很常见。

Let’s do another example:

我们再来看一个例子：

They will think he has gone completely mad!

他们会认为他已经彻底疯了！

Can you see where we can make contractions? Here’s the answer:

您能看出句子中哪里可以简缩吗？ 答案就是：

They’ll think he’s gone completely mad! Many English learners find contractions with

They’ll think he’s gone completely mad! 许多学习英语的人会觉得简缩

will difficult to pronounce.

很难发音。

Let’s practice quickly: say they’ll.

那我们现在就开始练习：跟我读 they'll。

As you pronounce the vowel, /eɪ/, slide your tongue forward to add the /l/ sound.

当您发元音/eɪ/时， 向前滑动舌头多发一个/l/的音。

They’ll They’ll Now, try the full sentence:

They’ll, They’ll. 现在试着读整个句子：

They’ll think he’s gone completely mad! Let’s try one more time: they’ll think he’s

They’ll think he’s gone completely mad! 我们再读一次：they’ll think he’s

gone completely mad! Again, this time at natural speed: they’ll think he’s gone completely

gone completely mad! 这次，我们再用自然语速读一次: they’ll think he’s gone completely

mad! Let’s do one more example:

mad! 我们再做一个练习：

I am sure she would call if anything had happened.

I am sure she would call if anything had happened.

Here, you can make three contractions. Can you see them?

这个句子中有三处可以简缩。您找到了吗？

We can make contractions with am, would and had:

它们是am, would 和 had:

I’m sure she’d call if anything’d happened. Try saying the sentence. Let’s do it together,

I’m sure she’d call if anything’d happened. 我们一起慢速读一遍：

slowly: I’m sure she’d call if anything’d happened. Let’s try it once more, at natural

I’m sure she’d call if anything’d happened. 我们再用自然语速读一遍：

speed: I’m sure she’d call if anything’d happened. Do you notice anything here? There

I’m sure she’d call if anything’d happened. 您是否注意到什么？

are two things which we need to pay attention to.

这个句子中有两点需要我们关注：

Firstly, different words (had and would), can have the same contraction: ‘d.

首先，两个不同的词（had和would）都可以简缩成：'d

Secondly, the pronunciation of the ‘d contraction is different in she’d and anything’d.

其次，'d 在she'd和anything'd中发音是不一样的。

Do you know why?

这是为什么呢？

Let’s find out!

我们来看看！

Most contractions have two different pronunciations.

大多数简缩形式都有两种不同的发音。

The only contractions which never change are will and am. Contractions of will are always

但will和am 例外，它们的发音永远只有一种。 所以，will简缩后读’ll

pronounced ‘ll. Am is always ‘m.

am简缩后读'm。

Contractions of are, is, would, have, has and had can have different pronunciations.

像are, is, would, have, has 和 had 这些词的简缩就会有不同的发音。

Why does the pronunciation change? It mostly depends on the sound before the contraction.

为什么发音会变呢？ 这大部分取决于简缩形式前的单词发音。

Sometimes, it depends on the sound after the contraction.

有些时候，也取决于简缩形式后的单词发音。

For would, have, and had, it depends whether the sound before the contraction is a vowel

would, have, 和 had这几个词，它们的发音 就要看简缩前面的音是元音

or a consonant.

还是辅音。

The contraction of have is pronounced /v/ after a vowel sound:

当have在元音后简缩时，‘ve发/v/音：

I’ve, we’ve,

I’ve, we’ve,

they’ve.

they’ve。

After a consonant, the contraction of have is pronounced /əv/:

如果它在辅音后面，'ve发/əv/音：

could’ve, would’ve,

could’ve, would’ve,

might’ve.

might've。

The same rule is true for would and had. The contraction is pronounced /d/ after a vowel,

这个规则同样适用于would和had. 它们的简缩在元音后，’d发/d/音，

and /əd/ after a consonant:

在辅音后，发/əd/音：

I’d, she’d,

I’d, she’d,

But:

但是,

it’d, Tom’d.

像it’d, Tom’d

There’s one exception to this: if someone’s name ends with a vowel sound, we usually treat

有一个例外：如某人的名字最后一个音 是元音，我们通常

it like a consonant for contractions. So, if you want to say:

会把它视为简缩形式前面的辅音。所以，当您想说：

Sophie’d help you if you asked her. Even though Sophie ends with a vowel sound,

Sophie’d help you if you asked her 时， 因为Sophie是人名，所以即使它

we generally pronounce the contraction as /əd/, because it’s a name.

最后一个音是元音， 我们一般会将简缩读作/əd/。

Notice how I said ‘usually’ and ‘generally’? It’s because this isn’t exactly a rule.

请注意我说的是“通常”和“一般”情况下， 因为这准确的说不算是一种规则。

It’s more common, and I advise you to follow it, but not all native speakers speak this

这种发音很常用，我建议您这样做， 但同时要知道不是所有母语人士

way all the time.

都会一直这样去说。

Next, let’s look at is and has.

接下来，让我们看一下is和has。

The contraction of is and has is pronounced /z/ after most sounds:

大多数情况下，is和has的简缩形式 都会发/z/音。

he’s, there’s,

he’s, there’s,

Dave’s.

Dave's。

However, after /t/, /p/, /k/, /f/ or /θ/, the contraction of is or has is pronounced

但在/t/, /p/, /k/, /f/ 或/θ/音后， 其简缩形式的发音

/s/.

为/s/。

it’s, Seth’s,

it’s, Seth’s,

top’s.

top’s。

We don’t contract is or has after the sounds /tʃ/, /ʃ/, /dʒ/, /ʒ/, /s/ or /z/, because

另外，is 和has在/tʃ/, /ʃ/, /dʒ/, /ʒ/, /s/ 或 /z/这些音后不做简缩。

the contraction would be impossible to pronounce clearly.

因为简缩之后，单词根本无法清晰发音。

That leaves are. Are is a bit different, because the pronunciation depends on the sound after,

最后一个——are。are有些不同，它的 简缩形式发音取决于其后面的音，

not before. Look at an example:

而不是前面的音。我们来看一个例子：

We’re a good team. We’re the best team.

我们是个出色的团队，我们是最好的团队。

Before a vowel sound, the contraction of are has a /r/ sound. Before a consonant sound,

在元音前，其简缩发音为/r/。

the contraction is pronounced as a schwa sound: /ə/.

在辅音前，发音为schwa音/ə/。

Now, you’ve seen common contractions and how to pronounce them.

现在，您学习了一些常用的简缩形式以及怎样发音。

Next, let’s look at the pronunciation of negative contractions.

接下来，我们学习一下否定简缩形式的发音。

If you have an auxiliary verb plus not, you can put the words together and contract not

如果助动词+not，您可以合并放在助动词后，

to n’t.

并简缩为n't。

For example:

例如：

do not --> don’t is not --> isn’t

do not --> don’t is not --> isn’t

have not --> haven’t would not --> wouldn’t

have not --> haven’t would not --> wouldn’t

This isn’t a full list.

这里没有一一列出全部的清单。

There’s one which is a bit strange: will not contracts to won’t.

另外，还有一个词是比较奇怪的： will not 的简缩形式为won’t.

Also, you can’t make a negative contraction with am not. You can’t say amn’t. Why

还有，am not没有简缩，您不能说amn't。

not? I can’t even say amn’t. Saying amn’t is really difficult. That’s why.

为什么呢？那是因为amn't 这个形式非常 难发音，甚至读不出来。

Let’s try a few examples. Look at this sentence. Where can you make contractions?

下面，我们做一些练习。请看下面这个句子，哪个部分是可以简缩的？

He does not understand why they did not help him.

He does not understand why they did not help him.

We can contract this to:

我们可以简缩成这样：

He doesn’t understand why they didn’t help him.

He doesn’t understand why they didn’t help him.

Let’s practice together. Say the sentence after me, slowly: He doesn’t understand

下面，请大家跟我一起慢速朗读： He doesn’t understand

why they didn’t help him. Now, let’s try again, at natural speed: He doesn’t understand

why they didn’t help him. 现在，我们试着用 自然语速再朗读一次： He doesn’t

why they didn’t help him. Let’s do another:

understand why they didn’t help him.

They are not happy that the company has not told them anything.

They are not happy that the company has not told them anything.

There are two contractions here. Can you see them?

这里有两处简缩，您找到了吗？

They aren’t happy that the company hasn’t told them anything. Repeat the sentence after

They aren’t happy that the company hasn’t told them anything.请大家

me: They aren’t happy that the company hasn’t told them anything. Try once more: They aren’t

跟我读：They aren’t happy that the company hasn’t told them anything.再来一次：

happy that the company hasn’t told them anything.

They aren’t happy that the company hasn’t told them anything.

We’ll do one more example:

我们再做个句子练习：

You should not have said yes if you could not do it.

You should not have said yes if you could not do it.

Where are the possible contractions here?

这个句子中简缩的部分在哪儿呢？

You shouldn’t have said yes if you couldn’t do it.

You shouldn’t have said yes if you couldn’t do it.

Repeat the sentence after me: You shouldn’t have said yes if you couldn’t do it.

请跟我重复一次：You shouldn’t have said yes if you couldn’t do it.

Try once more: You shouldn’t have said yes if you couldn’t do it. Sometimes with negative

多试一次：You shouldn’t have said yes if you couldn’t do it.有时，

contractions, there are two possible contractions. For example:

否定含义的简缩有两种形式。

They are not here yet.

例如：他们还没到这儿呢。

You could contract this to:

您可以简缩成：

They aren’t here yet.

They aren’t here yet.

Or:

或者是：

They’re not here yet.

They’re not here yet.

In most places, the first option is more common. That means you contract not.

在很多地方，第一种是很常用的， 也就是说您简缩not。

However, both are correct, and it doesn’t matter which one you use.

但这两种形式都是正确的， 您用哪一个都可以。

So now you know how to form and pronounce common contractions, but when should you use them?

现在您已经知道如何简缩以及如何发音， 但是您什么时候用他们呢？

Generally, you should use contractions when

一般来说，您说英语的时候就应该用了。

you speak. Using contractions sounds more natural in spoken English.

在英语口语中使用简缩形式会更加自然。

Look at an example from earlier:

我们看之前的一个例子：

He does not understand why they did not help him.

He does not understand why they did not help him.

If you’re speaking to someone, and you say this sentence without the contractions, it

如果您跟别人说这句话的时候不用简缩，

sounds a bit robotic and unnatural. Try it—say the sentence out loud with no contractions.

听起来会有点机械，不自然。 您可以尝试用这种形式大声的读出来。

Doesn’t it sound a bit strange? Pronouncing the contractions makes it sound

有没有一点奇怪？所以， 用简缩形式则会使句子听起来

much more natural:

更自然。

He doesn’t understand why they didn’t help him.

He doesn’t understand why they didn’t help him.

So, are there any cases where you shouldn’t use contractions?

那么，有哪些情况您不能用简缩形式？

If you’re speaking more formally, you might use fewer contractions.

在正式场合，我们尽量少用。

If you want to emphasise something, you shouldn’t use contractions. For example:

当您想强调某个事物，不用简缩。

That is not what I said. He is the best player.

例如：我不是那么说的。他是最棒的球员。

I have called several times.

我已经打过许多次电话了。

You need to use the full, uncontracted form if you need to emphasise the verb or negative.

如果您想强调某个动词或否定含义时， 就需要用完整的无简缩的形式。

There’s one more case where you can’t use contractions: don’t use positive contractions

还有一种您不能简缩的情况：从句或句末，

at the end of a sentence or clause.

不要用肯定含义的简缩。

For example, if someone asks you:

例如，有人问您：

Is he ready?

Is he ready?

You should answer:

您应该回答：

Yes, he is.

Yes, he is.

And not:

而不是：

Yes, he’s.

Yes, he’s.

However, negative contractions can go at the end of a sentence or clause, so it’s fine

但是，句尾或从句中可以用否定简缩，

to say:

No, he isn’t.

这样说可以：

No, he isn’t.

What about written English?

那么，在英语写作中又怎样呢？

You can use contractions in informal writing; you probably shouldn’t use contractions

如果非正式的书写，可以使用简缩形式， 但很正式的写作，例如论文，

in formal writing, like an essay.

就不应该使用了。

Also, many contractions are used in speech but not generally in writing. For example,

还有，演说中可以用简缩，但文章中一般不用。例如

you can say:

您可以说：

These’re the chocolates that your friends’ve sent us.

These’re the chocolates that your friends’ve sent us.

This’d be a good time to think about it.

思考这个问题正是时候。

Contractions like these’re, friends’ve and this’d aren’t often used in written

像these're, friends've和this'd这些简缩就不会常出现在

English, even in very informal writing.

英语写作中，甚至是不太正式的 写作中也不会用。

If you’re not sure if you can use a contraction or not when you’re writing, then just use

如果您在写作时不确定是否要用简缩形式，

the full form.

那就不用。

There are some more contractions like this, which are common in spoken language, but which

像这样的简缩还有很多，通常是在口语中，

aren’t written down.

但不会写下来。

Let’s take a look:

让我们看下：

Here’s a sentence:

有这样一个句子：

They would have enjoyed it, but they would not have stayed long.

They would have enjoyed it, but they would not have stayed long.

What contractions can you make here?

什么简缩您可以在这用？

Well, would contracts to ‘d, and have contracts to ‘ve. What does that give us? In the first

好，would简缩成'd，have简缩成've。我们得到了什么？

part, you should say:

在第一部分，您要说：

They’d’ve enjoyed it… Listen once more: They’d’ve enjoyed it...

They’d’ve enjoyed it…听多一次： They’d’ve enjoyed it…

Try one more time, a little faster: They’d’ve

再听一次，这次快一点： They’d’ve enjoyed it…

enjoyed it… What about the second part of the sentence?

那后面的部分呢？

Not contracts to n’t. Have contracts to ‘ve. So, you say:

这里not简缩成n't，have简缩成‘ve。 所以，您会说：

…but they wouldn’t’ve stayed long. Try saying the whole sentence with the contractions:

…but they wouldn’t’ve stayed long. 试着说一下有简缩的整句话：

They’d’ve enjoyed it, but they wouldn’t’ve stayed long. Try once more, at natural speed:

They’d’ve enjoyed it, but they wouldn’t’ve stayed long. 自然语速再来一次：

They’d’ve enjoyed it, but they wouldn’t’ve stayed long. Do these contractions look weird?

They’d’ve enjoyed it, but they wouldn’t’ve stayed long. 觉得这些简缩奇怪吗？

If so, it’s because we almost never write them.

如果觉得奇怪，那是因为我们从来不会这样写。

What other contractions are like this?

还有哪些其他类似的简缩？

You can contract did to ‘d in speaking, but not in writing:

您能在口语里简缩did成’d，但是写作中不可以：

Why did you tell her? --> Why’d you tell her?

Why did you tell her? --> Why’d you tell her?(您为什么告诉她了？)

When did you get here? --> When’d you get here?

When did you get here? --> When’d you get here?（您什么时候到这的？）

How did you like it? --> How’d you like it?

How did you like it? --> How’d you like it?（您觉得怎么样？）

You can contract will have to ‘ll’ve and would have to ‘d’ve:

您可以把will have简缩成'll've， would have 简缩成‘d've：

They will have left by now. --> They’ll’ve left by now.

They will have left by now. --> They’ll’ve left by now.（他们现在应该已经离开了。）

We would have been late anyway. --> We’d’ve been late anyway.

We would have been late anyway. --> We’d’ve been late anyway.（我们无论如何都会迟到的。）

You can contract not have after a modal verb to n’t’ve:

您可以把一个情态动词后的not have 简缩成'n't've：

They could not have helped. --> They couldn’t’ve helped.

They could not have helped. --> They couldn’t’ve helped.（他们不可能帮过忙。）

I would not have said anything. --> I wouldn’t’ve said anything.

I would not have said anything. --> I wouldn’t’ve said anything.（我什么都没说。）

Remember: use these contractions when you speak, but not in writing!

记住：您只能在口语中使用这些简缩，在写作中不可以！

You can find more free English lessons on our site: Oxford Online English dot com.

您可以在我们的Oxford Online English dot com中找到更多的免费课程。

Thanks for watching!

谢谢观看！

See you next time!

再见！