By using weak forms you will sound more native and it will help with your English rhythm. Being aware of weak forms will also improve your listening skills because native speakers use these forms all the time.
You may think that it is better to use the strong form because you are pronouncing all the letters in the word and so it is more understandable. This is not true. If you don’t use weak forms in the appropriate contexts, your speech will sound particularly foreign or overly formal.
If you always use strong forms, you can unintentionally place emphasis on a word and change the meaning of the sentence: Weak Form
Strong Form them can I’ve already told them/ðəm/ = usual pronunciation I can write the report /kən/ = usual pronunciation I’ve already told them/ðԑm/ = I’ve told them, but not other people I can write the report /kan/ = someone said that I can’t, but I know I can
Using the wrong form could possibly lead to misunderstandings. Here are some examples: Weak Form
for for to to He’s known about it formonths /fə/ The electrician left for Leeds yesterday /fə liːdz/ She’s going to fast /tə/
Strong Form He’s known about it fourmonths /fɔː/ The electrician left four leads yesterday /fɔː liːdz/ She’s going too fast /tuː/ Which flight are you on? The five to eight /tu/ (= the flight at 7:55am) Which flight are you on? The five two eight /tuː/ (= flight number 528)
Remember that weak forms are more common than strong forms. Even if you are reading a text out loud it is best to use weak forms. For example: we have scheduled the meeting for 9am should be pronounced we’ve /wiv/. What is the best way of solving this? should be what’s /wɒts/.
