– Compare the pronunciations of the word ‘from’ in this dialogue:

Many function words have 2 possible pronunciations, a weak pronunciation and a strong pronunciation:

The weak pronunciation is normally used in connected speech:

“I’m from London.” /frəm/
“We’ll manage for now.” /fə/

The strong pronunciation is normally used for one of the following three reasons:

i) the function word is at the end of a unit/sentence

“Where are you from?” /frɒm/ 
“I don’t know what it is for.” /fɔː/ 

ii) the function word is emphasised 

“Where are you from?” /frɒm/ 
“I don’t know what it is for.” /fɔː/ 

iii) the function word is in isolation

“From.” /frɒm/
“For.” /fɔː/

– Decide if the underlined word has its weak or strong pronunciation:

1.

A) Can we go to the shops now?      weak

B) You can. I’m staying in.                strong

2.

A) I don’t know who these clothes are for.

B) They’re not for me.

3.

A) That is some building. 

B) It needs some work on the roof though. 

4.

A) Your shirt’s dirty!

B) Well your trousers are torn.

5.  

A) Shall we go to the cinema?

B) I don’t really want to. 

6. 

A) Ask them if they’d like to join us. 

B) Them? No way. 

7. 

A) What are you doing?

B) Are you sure you want to know?

8.

A) Look, I’ve got money and nice clothes. 

B) And? I’m not going to go out with you.

Related Lessons

– How many schwa sounds /ə/ can you hear in the sentence?

Many small grammatical words like ‘for’, ‘of’ & ‘the’ are normally pronounced with /ə/
in connected speech. 

These words are called function words. 

Function words include prepositions, auxiliary verbs, pronouns, conjunctions & articles.

– Complete the sentences with a word from the box below:

her    than   some   can   to
from   your   should   are   the

1.  /kən/ we go now?    can

2.  It’s more /ðən/  30 degrees outside!

3.   Let’s go /tə/ Thailand this summer. 

4.  I met /ðə/ Smiths last night. 

5.  Why /ə/ you looking at me like that?

6.  We /ʃəd/ meet up soon. 

7.  I’d like /səm/ more coffee please. 

8.  Is that /jə/ wedding ring?

9.  /hə/ first husband is a designer.

10.  He’s originally /frəm/ Greece.

Related Lessons