Weak forms in connected English speech
Small grammar words often lose their full vowel in fluent speech; written examples reveal where stress and a relaxed vowel make a difference.
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Linking final consonants to vowels
A final consonant can flow into the next word when that word starts with a vowel sound, making connected speech smoother.
Read and practiseContent words and sentence stress
In a neutral English sentence, important meaning words usually stand out while small grammatical words are less prominent.
Read and practisePitch patterns in English questions
A rising or falling pitch can signal a question type; practise common yes-no and information questions through written examples.
Read and practiseTheir, there and they’re: homophones
Three common spellings share a sound, but context tells you whether the meaning is possession, place or a shortened clause.
Read and practiseContrastive stress in English sentences
A different stressed word can correct a colour, a day or a person while the sentence itself stays the same.
Read and practiseEnglish intonation for uncertainty
A tentative pitch can accompany doubt: explore how context and wording shape uncertain statements in English.
Read and practiseWeak and strong forms of can
A small auxiliary changes its vowel with stress; context and a following verb help distinguish ability from a negative.
Read and practiseHearing consonant changes between English words
In fluent English, a consonant can change before the next word; identify common changes using spelling and mouth position.
Read and practiseElision between English consonants
In quick conversation, a consonant can disappear between its neighbours; written phrases help you notice this optional change.
Read and practiseGlides between English vowels
Adjacent vowel sounds often flow together in fluent speech; notice the small transitions made by the tongue and lips across word boundaries.
Read and practisePitch and length for English emphasis
A change in pitch and a longer stressed vowel can highlight the word that corrects a misunderstanding in a sentence.
Read and practisePitch in lists and choices
A continuing list often rises while its final item falls; explore how pitch can mark alternatives in a choice.
Read and practiseThought groups and pauses in English
Long spoken messages become easier to follow when meaningful phrases have clear boundaries, with pauses and changes in pitch.
Read and practiseSuffixes and shifting word stress
A familiar root can sound different when a suffix changes its stress; compare word families and locate the strongest syllable.
Read and practiseNoun and verb stress shifts
The same spelling can name a thing or an action, with stress moving between syllables; compare common pairs in context.
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English subject pronouns: I, you, she and they
Use English subject pronouns to refer to the speaker, listener, other people and things, with examples and guided practice.
Read and practiseThe present of be: am, is and are
Choose am, is or are with a subject, make negative statements and ask simple questions using the present forms of be.
Read and practiseIndefinite articles: a and an
Choose a or an before a singular countable noun by listening to the next sound, including useful exceptions such as an hour.
Read and practiseThe definite article the in English
Use the to refer to a specific or identifiable thing, and compare it with a when introducing one item.
Read and practiseEnglish plural nouns: books, boxes and children
Form common English plural nouns with -s and -es, learn a spelling change and recognise irregular plurals.
Read and practiseThis, that, these and those
Point to one or several things with this, that, these and those, and compare nearby and more distant objects.
Read and practiseHave and has: possession in the present
Choose have or has in affirmative present simple sentences about possessions, relationships and characteristics.
Read and practisePossessive determiners: my, your, his and her
Use my, your, his, her, its, our and their before a noun to express ownership and relationships in English.
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