Weak and Strong Forms : Redux

To achieve the correct rhythm and flow when speaking, it is vital to know and use weak forms. It is important to note the weak forms are never used at the end of sentences. They may be used at the beginning as well as in the middle of sentences, or in fact, anywhere in a sentence but the end.

Examples :

At the beginning of sentences :

 Were you there?                                            Are you ready?
(wi you there/ wəju:ðeə )                               (i you ready/ ə ju: redI )

In the middle of sentences :

 I was there.                                                    You were there.
(I wiz there/ aI wəz ðeə )                             (You wi there/ ju: wə ðeə )

Here is an example of a word with a weak and a strong form in different parts of a sentence (note the word ‘of’):

I am thinking of (iv/ əv ) leaving—that is what I’m thinking of (ov/ ɒv ).
           [Weak form]                                         [Strong form]

Below is a list of the weak and strong forms of the MSBE accent (other English dialects and accents may have different or additional interpretations). Two transcriptions are offered: one phonetic and one alternative respelling for readers unfamiliar with phonetic symbols.

Please note the ‘i’ occasionally seen in both transcriptions below is pronounced like the /i/ sound in words such as ‘tip,’ ‘devour,’ and ‘information’ (short /i/ sound).

Word	Phonetic	Pronounced	Example
a	ə	i	Give me a break
am	əm	im	Am I supposed to do it
an	ən	in	They made me an offer
and	ən(d)	in(d)	Me and you
are	ə	i	The people are there
as	əz	iz	This is not as good as that
at	ət	it	Meet me at the club
be	bə	bi	It’s important to be punctual
been	bən	bin	I’ve been there
but	bət	bit	But why should I
can	kən	kin	We can do it
could	kəd	kid	I could do it later
do	də	di	Do you like it
for	fə	fi	It’s for me
from	frəm	frim	From me to you
had	(h)əd	(h)id	The film had already begun
has	(h)əz	(h)iz	Has she ever been there
have	(h)əv	(h)iv	Have you ever been there
he	(h)i	(h)i	He doesn’t like it
her	(h)ə	(h)i	Her father is waiting
him	(h)im	(h)im	This is for him and her
his	(h)əz	(h)iz	The gate to his house was locked
if	əf	if	Keep it if you like it
I	ə	i	I think so
in	ən	in	I’m not in the mood
must	məs(t)	mis(t)	We must do it right away
not	n(ə)t	n(i)t	It’s vital not to miss the appointment
of*	əv	iv	The owner of the restaurant
or	ə(r)	i(r)	It’s either you or me
our	a:(r)	ah(r)	Our meeting is cancelled
Saint (St)	sənt	sint	St George’s Day
shall	ʃəl	shil	Shall I come over
she	ʃi	shi	She loves*it
should	ʃəd	shid	Should I phone you
Sir	sə	si	Sir John’s mansion
some	səm	sim	Would you like some coffee
than	ðən	thin	That’s better than that
that	ðət	thit	I was told that I should wait
the	ðə	thi	What’s the problem
them	ðəm	thim	Have you told them where to go
there	ðə	thi	There’s somebody waiting for you
to	tə	ti	From me to you
us	əs	is	Can you give us more time
was	wəz	wiz	I was there
we	wi	wi	We were there
were	wə	wi	Were you there
who	hə	hi	That’s them an who won the race
with	wəth	with	You can come with me
would	wəd	wid	Walking would take too long
will	wəl	wil	Nobody will see it
you	jə	yi	You have to be here by nine
your**	jə(r)	yi	This is your letter

*Note the difference between ‘of’ and ‘off’:
Adjective ‘off’ is not to be confused with preposition ‘of’;
‘off’ is always given full value and does not have a weak form, ‘of’ has a weak and a
strong form (as listed above).

**Note the difference in pronunciation in ‘your’ and ‘you’re’ (you are):
Your car                 versus                   Your’e a nice guy
(yohr/jə(r))                                              (yueri/jʊərə)