English Pronunciation & Rules - Virtual
English Pronunciation & Rules - Virtual
English Pronunciation & Rules - Virtual
Informal English
Da = do. Ya = you
Wanna = want to (wána)
Got = have (gat)
Gotta = got to = have to (gád’a)
Outta = out of (áuda)
Gonna = going to (gána)
Ridda = rid of (ríd’a)
Oughtta = ought to (ád’a)
INTONACION RULES
English and Spanish intonation are exactly the same thing. A good intonation is based on
a right grouping of words expressing an idea in a sentence. As we speak, we express the
message by grouping words making ideas.
For intonation purposes a sentence can have one, two, three or four groups of words.
Each group must sound without a pause between the words.
Phrasal verbs (made up by two or more words) must sound as if only a single word in total.
I mean without a pause between the words making up the verb. For example: Put off
(p’udáf), Get up (gedáp) Take off (t’eigáf), in front of (enfrónda), across from (agrósfrom).
Phrases composed by a verb and a final it must sound with no pause in between: Forget it
(Forguédet), Read it (rídet), Eat it (ídet), Fixe it (fíxet), Put it (Púdet), Paint it (péindet), Clean
it (clínet), Erase it (iréiset).
The noun (subject or object) with its corresponding adjective must sound as if only one
word. I mean without a pause between them. Examples: good cook (Gudk’úk), New car
(Niucár), Big house (Bigjáus) black dog (Blágdág) The best one (The bestuán), big brother
(bigbráda)
The subject and its verb make up a group of words, except verb be which sometimes
makes up a group with the object of the sentence and all the words concerning it, which
make up a different group; all the words telling about the place make up another group,
and finally; all the words telling about the time make up another group.
When expressing a group of words, mostly we speak starting slowly and then we speed as
we are expressing the group to then stop at its ending just before starting the next one.
The words and, but, or, in, at, on, etc. are links not making up any group of words. They are
pauses that could sound very short or very long meanwhile the speaker decides on what
to say next, or they could make part of a group, freely .
Examples of good intonation: I am going to work and listen to music in Mary´s house
tomorrow night (Amgointowérk - and...lisentumiúsec - in...Mery’sjáus - tumárownait) We have
here a four-word-group sentence, on intonation purposes.
I refuse to believe that you will leave us when we need you the most (Ayrifuístubilív
thatyulivás wenwinídyu demóust)
I want to know if you could cover me for the next two days
(I wantunów ifyucudcávermi fordenéxtudeys)
The books to read and materials to listen must be about modern, up to date English, because
old materials speak old fashioned English, many times useless nowadays. Police stories are
the best ones.
If you want a sample on how to pronounce a good native accented English, come to the base
of PRINCETON INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN ENGLISH CENTER. You will be given a sample
on it for free.