ELI80
Y. Seong
Reduced Structure Words
English learners often complain that “native speakers talk too fast!” It is partly because students
are not familiar with so-called reduced forms in spoken English. In conversational or informal
speech many linking and reductions can be heard.
Reduced forms involve unstressed vowels, omitted sounds, linking, and so on.
Using reduced forms is normal English: it is not sloppy or “incorrect.” Being familiar with
reduced forms can (i) greatly improve your rhythm in spoken English, and (ii) improve your
listening comprehension skill.
Structure words usually become reduced forms in spoken English. Unstressed structure words
such as ‘you’ and ‘or’ are not usually pronounced the way they are spelled. Vowels are reduced
to schwa. Sometimes consonants are dropped.
Now! What is a schwa?
**SCHWA [ə] in weak syllables
Stressed vowels are full and clear. Unstressed syllables sound weaker than stressed syllables. They are
harder to hear clearly because unstressed vowels are low in pitch and short. The vowel sound that
native speakers say in most weak syllables is called schwa. The symbol for schwa is ‘ə’ Schwa is the
most common vowel sound in English because any vowel can be reduced to “unclear”
To say a schwa, start by relaxing your mouth. Open your lips a little and say uh. The sound is short and low.
Clear Vowels
Unclear vowels (schwa)
Full (long)
Can be stressed
Reduced
Cannot be stressed
Schwa with words
The stressed syllables have clear vowels while the unstressed vowels are all schwas.
Clear vowel
Clear vowel + unclear vowel [ə]
Tom
Man
stage
face
fin
pro
Atom
Woman
Hostage
Surface
Muffin
Productive
ELI80
Y. Seong
More Examples with Structure Words
Reduced forms
Pronouns
him /hɪm/  /əm/
her /hər/ /ər/
you /yu/  /yə/
Examples
Tell him.
Leave her alone.
Where did you go?
Give them a book.
them /ðɛm/  /əm/
Auxiliary verbs
can /kæn/  /kən/
has /hæz/  /əz/
have /hæv/  /əv/
I can wait.
It has been very helpful.
You should have told me.
I will do it.
will /wɪl/  /əl/
Articles (e.g., a, the, some), prepositions (e.g., at, for, from, of), and conjunctions
(e.g., and, as, or, than, but) are also function words, and therefore become reduced forms.
*HOWEVER!
Full forms (as opposed to reduced forms) are used in the negative, at the end of a
sentence, and when they are used as main verbs instead of auxiliaries.
Examples
They can’t wait.
Yes, I have.
He has a problem.
/kænt/
/hæv/
/hæz/
Listen and compare some structure words said alone and in phrases or sentences.
Practice reading the sentences with the reduced forms.
Structure words
Sentence with Reductions
1. Your
WHAT’s yər FAVorite STORY?
2. You
Are yə REAdy?
3. and
FUN ən GAMES
4. are, than
ComPUters ər FASter thən EVer.
5. an
I WANT ən ORange.
6. a, of
HAVE ə GLASS əf JUICE
7. at
Let’s LEAVE ət NOON.
8. to, the
They WENT tə thə MOVies.
9. from, to
It’s frəm FOUR tə FIVE
10. or, a
ONE ər TWO TIMES ə DAY
ELI80
Y. Seong
Listen to the underlined phrases that , when reduced, sound like other phrases. What you see in
print is not what you hear in native speech.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
black and blue -> blacken blue
day to day -> data day
short or tall -> shorter tall
off and on -> often on
care at home -> carrot home
box is full-> boxes full
would he -> Woody
docked her pay -> doctor pay
LINKED and REDUCED PRONOUNS
Pronouns are usually reduced so much that words like “he” “him” her” and “them” lose the
beginning sound, except at the beginning of the sentences. Pronouns such as “you” and “your”
is said with a schwa.
Slow, full
Fast, reduced
He
Is he?
Her What’s her name?
His
When’s his appointment
Them Ask them what they want
Him I gave him a ride
You Do you like it?
Your Do you have your passport?
Exercise 1
Practice linking verb endings with reduced pronouns.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
I blamed him for the accident
I checked them out of the library.
I dropped her off at eight.
She always hands them in on time.
Her new job keeps her busy.
He looked him in the eye.
Her roommate called her to the phone.
I interviewed him for a job.
He asked her for change.
The company pays them twice a month.
ELI80
Y. Seong
CAN or CAN’T
Can’t is usually said with a full clear vowel. Can is usually said with a schwa. The vowel in
“can” is reduced, but the vowel in “can’t is full and clear.
Example
We cən do it.
They can’t do it.
John cən write very well.
John can’t write very well.
Listening Activity
Listen to the teacher’s pronunciation and identify whether the teacher said can or can’t. Circle
the happy face for can and the unhappy face for can’t.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Partner Practice
Student 1 says sentence (a) or (b). Student 2 answers. Switch roles and do it again.
1. a. John can write very well.
Yes, I agree
b. John can’t write very well.
That’s unfortunate.
2. a. Can you go tonight?
Yes, I finished my work.
b. Can’t you go tonight?
Unfortunately, no.
3. a. The audience can hear the speaker.
That’s good.
b. The audience can’t hear the speaker. That’s terrible
4. a. We can always eat before class.
Yes, I prefer it.
b. We can’t always eat before class.
No, sometimes not.
5. a. Did you say they can come?
Yes, it’s possible
b. Did you say they can’t come?
It’s impossible.
6. a. The Johnsons can afford the trip.
Oh, good
b. The Johnsons can’t afford the trip.
That’s too bad