Weak Forms - How to Pronounce Weak Forms in English

Hi I'm Oli.

您好，我是Oli。

Welcome to Oxford Online English.

歡迎來到Oxford Online English。

In this lesson you can learn about weak forms in English.

在本節課，您可以學習英文的輕讀音。

Weak forms are a really important pronunciation point.

輕讀音是很重要的發音要點。

Learning about weak forms can help your speaking, of course, but if can also make a big difference

學習輕讀音會對您的口說有幫助，當然， 但是否英文聽力

to your English listening.

會有很大提高。

Let's see how.

我們來看會怎樣。

Listen to a sentence:

聽一句話：

I gave her a box of chocolates for her birthday.

因為她生日，我給了她一盒巧克力。

So, what are weak forms?

有哪些輕讀音？

Some words have two possible pronunciations.

有些字彙有兩種可能的發音。

For example, think about the word for in this sentence.

例如，想想這個句子或這個句子的字彙。

If you just read the word by itself, you’ll probably say /fɔː/.

如果自己僅讀字彙，您可能說/fɔː/。

However, in the sentence, its pronunciation is different.

但是，在句子裡，它的發音是不同的。

It becomes /fə/.

會是/fə/。

So, the word for has a weak form.

所以，字彙有輕讀音。

Its pronunciation changes.

它的發音改變了。

This isn’t just because we’re saying it very fast.

這不僅僅是因為我們說的很快。

It has a different sound: /ə/ instead of /ɔː/.

它有不同的聲音：/ə/取代了/ɔː/。

Can you see any other weak forms in our sentence?

您還可以在我們的句子裡看到其他的輕讀音嗎？

Her, a and of are also weak.

在這，a和of也是輕讀音。

Try it!

試試吧！

Read the sentence.

讀下句子。

Try to pronounce the weak forms:

試一下發輕讀音：

I gave /hərə/ box /əv/chocolates /fəhə/ birthday.

I gave /hərə/ box /əv/chocolates /fəhə/ birthday.

So, do all words have weak forms?

那麼，所有字彙是不是都有輕讀音？

No, there are many words which have weak forms, but not all words do.

不是的，有很多字彙有輕讀音， 但並非所有字彙都有輕讀音。

In this lesson, you’ll see which words have weak forms, when to use them, and how to pronounce

在本節課裡，您會看到有輕讀音的字彙， 什麼時候用他們，以及怎樣正確地

them correctly.

發他們的輕讀音。

Words which have weak forms are often ‘grammar’ words.

有輕讀音的字彙常常是“語法”字彙。

Words which carry the main meaning of a sentence don’t usually have weak forms.

表達句子主要含義的字彙， 通常沒有輕讀音。

That means most nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs don’t have weak forms.

這意味著大多數的名詞、動詞、 形容詞和副詞都沒有輕讀音。

Prepositions like to, for, as, of or at have weak forms.

介詞，如to、for、as、of或at有輕讀音。

Pronouns like you, your, that or there can have weak forms.

代詞，像是you、your、that或是there 可以有輕讀音。

Some conjunctions like and or but can also have weak forms.

某些連接詞，例如and或but也可能有輕讀音。

Also, auxiliary verbs often have weak forms.

同樣，助動詞通常有輕讀音。

That means words like do, does, was, would, can, are, and so on.

這意味著像是do、does、was、 would、can、are 諸如此類的字彙。

Lots of information, I know!

資訊太多了，我知道！

Let’s do some examples.

我們來用一些例子。

Look at a sentence:

看一個句子：

Are you coming to the cinema with us tomorrow?

您明天會和我們一起去電影院嗎？

There are five weak forms in this sentence.

這句話有五個輕讀音。

Can you find them? Listen one more time.

您可以找到嗎？再聽一遍。

Are you coming to the cinema with us tomorrow?

您明天會和我們一起去電影院嗎？

Can you hear where the weak forms are?

您可以聽出輕讀音在哪裡嗎？

The weak forms are:

輕讀音是：

Are, which is pronounced /ə/.

Are，發音是/ə/。

You, which becomes /jə/.

You，發音是/jə/。

To, which is pronounced /tə/.

To，發音是/tə/。

The.

The。

The is almost always weak, but it is technically a weak form: /ðə/.

The幾乎總是輕讀音， 但是他是一個技術上的輕讀音/ðə/。

Finally, us is weak; it becomes /əs/.

最後，us是輕讀音；他發音是 /əs/。

So you can see that the weak forms are the auxiliary verb (are), the pronouns (you, us),

這樣，您可以看到輕讀音是助動詞（are）、 代詞（you、us）、

and the preposition (to).

和介詞（to）。

Also, do you notice anything about the pronunciation of the weak forms?

此外，您有沒有注意到有關輕讀音發音的 任何事情嗎？

In all of the weak forms, you can see this sound: /ə/.

在所有輕讀音裡，您都可以看到這個音：/ə/。

This sound, the schwa, is common in weak forms.

這個音，schwa在輕讀音裡很常見。

Almost all weak forms have a schwa sound.

幾乎所有的輕讀音都有一個schwa音。

Let’s do one more example, for practice.

我們再用一個例子來練習。

Listen to another sentence:

聽另外一句話：

What does he do at the weekends?

週末他做什麼？

Can you hear the weak forms?

您可以聽到輕讀音？

If not, can you guess which words are weak here? Listen one more time.

如果不可以，那您可以猜出在這裡哪些字彙 是輕讀音嗎？再聽一遍

What does he do at the weekends?

週末他做什麼？

Does is weak.

Does是輕讀音。

It’s pronounced /dəz/.

發音是/dəz/。

At is also weak.

At也是輕讀音。

It becomes /ət/.

發/ət/音。

The is weak, as before: /ðə/.

The是輕讀音，像之前一樣： /ðə/。

So, here’s a question: why is does weak but do is not?

這樣，有一個問題：為什麼Does是輕讀音？ 但do不是？

It’s because does is an auxiliary verb.

那是因為does是一個助動詞。

It’s just there to make a question; it doesn’t add any meaning to the sentence.

這就有一個問題；他在句子裡沒有任何含義。

Do is the main verb.

Do是主要的動詞。

It carries meaning.

帶有含義。

Words which carry meaning have their full pronunciation, and won’t be weak.

有含義的字彙發音完整，不會發輕音。

Again, you can see that all of the weak forms have the schwa sound: /ə/.

再次，您可以看到所有輕讀音都有schwa音：/ə/。

There are many more weak forms, but the number of words with weak forms is limited.

輕讀音有很多，但是輕讀音的字彙數量 是有限的。

Depending on how you define ‘weak form’, there are maybe 30-60 words which have weak

依據您定義“輕讀音”的方式， 大約30-60個字彙是有

pronunciations.

輕讀音發音。

For now, remember the general idea: ‘grammar’ words like prepositions, pronouns and auxiliary

現在，記住一般的觀念：“語法”字彙， 像是介詞、代詞和

verbs often have weak forms.

助動詞通常有輕讀音。

Okay, so now you know a bit about weak forms, but when should you use them?

好了，現在您對輕讀音有了一點了解， 但是什麼時候要用他們呢？

In an English sentence, some words are pronounced with more stress than others.

在英文句子裡，某些字彙的發音 比其他的更重。

Generally, the words which carry the main meaning are stressed, while ‘grammar’

通常，有主要含義的字彙 發音是重的，同時“語法”

words like prepositions, pronouns and so on are not stressed.

字彙，類似介詞、代詞之類的 不會重讀。

Words which are not stressed can be weak forms.

不是重讀的字彙可以輕讀。

For example:

例如：

How long have you been waiting here?

您在這裡等了多久？

Can you hear which words are stressed?

您可以聽到那些字彙是重讀音嗎？

The words how, long and waiting are stressed:

how、long和waiting是重讀音：

HOW LONG have you been WAITING here?

HOW LONG have you been WAITING here?

The unstressed words can be weak.

不是重讀音的字彙可以輕讀。

Have and you have weak forms.

Have和you有輕讀音。

They’re pronounced together.

他們合併發音。

You say: /əvjə/.

您說：/əvjə/。

Been and here aren’t stressed, but these words don’t have weak forms, so the pronunciation

Been和here不是重讀的，但是這些字彙 沒有輕讀音，所以發音

stays the same.

保持不變。

Let’s do one more example:

我們再用一個例子：

I could have done more if I’d had more time.

如果我有更多的時間， 我可以做得更多。

Which words are stressed here, and which words do you think are weak?

您認為在這裡哪些字彙是重讀的，哪些是輕讀的？

Listen one more time.

再聽一遍

I could have done more if I’d had more time.

如果我有更多的時間， 我可以做得更多。

The stressed words are done, more, had, more and time.

重讀的字彙是done、more、had、more和time。

The weak forms are could and have.

輕讀的是could和have。

Had is also weak in the contraction I’d; a contraction like I’d is really just a

Had在他的縮寫形式I'd也是輕讀的； 一個縮寫形式像是I'd真的只是

weak form which is written.

像寫的那樣輕讀。

So, could have is pronounced /kədəv/.

所以，他可以發/kədəv/。

The other unstressed words, like if and I, don’t have weak forms, so their pronunciation

其他的非重讀的字彙，像是if和I， 沒有輕讀音，所以他們的發音

doesn’t change.

不變。

Okay, so now you know that weak forms are words with two possible pronunciations, and

好吧，現在您知道輕讀音的是那些有 兩種可能的發音的字彙，並且

you know when to use the weak pronunciation of a word.

您知道什麼時候用一個字彙的輕讀音。

But, if there are two possible pronunciations, what about the other one?

但是，如果有兩個可能的發音，那麼另一個呢？

The opposite of a weak form is a strong form.

輕讀音的反義詞是重讀音。

You know that weak forms depend on sentence stress.

您知道輕讀取決於句子的重讀。

However, sentence stress is not fixed.

但是，句子的重讀不是固定的。

Sentence stress depends on the situation, and the exact ideas you’re trying to express.

句子重讀取決於語境和您想要表達的確切想法。

Let’s look at an example we saw before:

我們再看下之前的示例：

How long have you been waiting here?

您在這等了多久？

We said that in this sentence, the stressed words would normally be how, long and waiting.

我們說過，在這句話裡， 重讀的字彙通常來說是how、long和waiting。

However, imagine you’re talking to several people.

但是，您想像一下，您正在和幾個人交談。

You ask the question to one person, but a different person answers.

您問其中一個人一個問題，但是另一個人卻回答了。

You ask person A, but person B thinks you’re talking to him, and he answers instead.

您問A，但B認為您在和他說話，他來回答了。

So, you ask the question again to person A. This time, it sounds different:

所以，您再問A一次。這次看起來有點不一樣：

How long have YOU been waiting here?

How long have YOU been waiting here?

Why does it sound different?

為什麼看起來不一樣？

And what’s the difference?

有什麼區別？

This time, you’re emphasising the word you, because you want to make it clear who you’re

這次，您強調了you這個字彙， 因為您清楚地表達了您在

talking to.

和誰說話。

That means that you is pronounced with its full pronunciation: /jʊː/.

這就是說您會發完整的音：/jʊː/。

Let’s do one more example.

我們再用一個例句。

We’ll look at another sentence from before:

我們看下之前的另一句話：

Are you coming to the cinema with us tomorrow?

明天您會和我們一起去電影院嗎？

Normally, the stressed words would be coming, cinema and tomorrow.

通常來說，重讀的字彙會是 coming、cinema和tomorrow。

However, imagine that you thought your friend wasn’t coming.

但是，假設您認為您的朋友不會去。

Someone had told you that she was busy, and couldn’t come with you.

有人告訴您她很忙，不能和您一起去。

So now, when you ask the question, it sounds different:

所以，當您問她問題時，看起來有點不一樣了：

ARE you coming to the cinema with us tomorrow?

ARE you coming to the cinema with us tomorrow?

This time, you emphasise the word are, because you thought your friend couldn’t come, and

這次，您強調一個字彙are，因為 您認為您的朋友不會來，並也

you’re showing surprise.

顯得很吃驚。

So, if you want to emphasise a word, you should use the strong form.

所以，如果您強調一個字彙， 您必須用強讀。

Strong forms have the full pronunciation.

強讀有完整的發音。

Emphasis depends on meaning, so the same word in the same sentence can be pronounced differently

強調取決於意思，因此在不同語境下， 同一個句子裡

in different situations.

相同的字彙的發音可能不同。

There’s one more rule: the last word of a sentence can never be weak.

還有另一個規則：句子的最後一個 字彙重來都不是輕讀的。

For example:

例如：

What are you looking at?

您在看什麼？

The stressed words here are what and looking.

重讀的字彙是在這您要找的。

Are and you are weak; they’re pronounced /əjə/.

Are和you是輕讀；他們發/əjə/音。

At has a weak form, and it’s not stressed in this sentence.

At有一個輕讀， 在這句話裡不重讀。

However, the last word of a sentence can’t be weak.

但是，句子最後一個字彙是不能輕讀的。

That means at gets its full pronunciation, /æt/.

這就是說要完整發音，/æt/。

Now, hopefully you understand what weak forms are, when to use them, and when not to use

現在，我們希望您了解什麼是輕讀， 什麼時候用他們，什麼時候

them.

不用他們。

So, let’s do some practice!

這樣，我們做一些練習！

First, look at three sentences:

首先，看三個例句：

Think about which words will be stressed, and which words will be weak forms.

考慮哪些字彙要重讀， 以及哪些字彙要輕讀。

Pause the video and think about it if you need more time.

如果您需要更多時間， 暫停影片，考慮一下。

Next, I’ll read the sentences.

接下來，我會唸這些例句。

Listen for stressed words and weak forms.

聽一下重讀的字彙和輕讀的字彙。

Were your ideas right?

您覺得是對的嗎？

Does she really think she should do it?

她真的以為她應該這樣做？

What did you do to your hair?

您的頭髮怎麼了？

What were you doing when she called you?

她打給您時，您在做什麼？

Let's look together.

我們一起看下。

Does she really think she should do it?

她真的以為她應該這樣做？

Here, really, think and do are stressed.

在這裡，really、think和do要重讀。

Does and should are weak.

Does和should要輕讀。

Try saying the sentence with the stress and weak forms.

試著用重讀和輕讀唸例句。

Repeat after me:

跟我重複一遍：

Does she really think she should do it?

Does she really think she should do it?

Try once more, a little faster:

再試一次，唸快一點：

Does she really think she should do it?

Does she really think she should do it?

How was that?

怎樣？

Can you pronounce the weak forms correctly?

您可以正確地發輕讀音嗎？

One important point: weak forms are always connected to the words before and after.

要點一：輕讀始終和前後的字彙相連接。

So does needs to be joined to she: /dəsʃi/

所以，does要和she連起來：/dəsʃi/

Should needs to be pronounced together with she and do: /ʃiʃəd.dʊː/

Should要和she及do一起發音：/ʃəiʃəd.dʊː/

Let’s look at our next sentence:

我們看下個例句：

What did you do to your hair?

您的頭髮怎麼了？

Here, what, do and hair are stressed.

Here、what、do和hair要重讀。

You, to and your are weak.

You、to和your要輕讀。

Try saying the sentence with the stress and weak forms.

試著用重讀和輕讀唸例句。

Repeat after me:

跟我重複：

What did you do to your hair?

What did you do to your hair?

Let’s try again, at natural speed:

我們再試一次，用自然速度：

What did you do to your hair?

What did you do to your hair?

Okay, let’s look at our last sentence:

好了，我們看下最後一句：

What were you doing when she called you?

她打給您時，您在做什麼？

Here, what, doing and called are stressed.

Here、what、doing和called要重讀。

Were and you are weak.

Were和you要輕讀。

The you on the end is not stressed, but not weak, either, because it’s the last word

那個在句末的you不重讀， 但也不要輕讀，因為它是

of the sentence.

句子的最後一個字彙。

Try saying the sentence with the stress and weak forms.

試著用重讀和輕讀來唸例句。

Repeat after me:

跟我重複：

What were you doing when she called you?

What were you doing when she called you?

Let’s try again, at natural speed:

再試一次，用自然速度：

What were you doing when she called you?

What were you doing when she called you?

Remember, if you want more practice, you can review this section and try as many times

請記住，如果您想多練習， 您可以複習本節課並根據您的需要

as you need to!

多試幾次！

Okay, hopefully you've learned something new about weak forms and English pronunciation.

好吧，我們希望您會了解輕讀和 英語發音的新知識。

Check out our website for more free lessons like this:

請訪問我們的網站來得到 更多類似的免費課程：

Oxford Online English.com.

Oxford Online English.com.

Thanks for watching, see you next time!

感謝收看，下次見！