Author name: Tirs

Final consonants are crucial in English for meaning and grammar. Spanish speakers may drop, devoice, or add vowels to them. Correct Word Common Error Issue Type bad /bæd/ ba dropped dog /dɔg/ dock devoiced cab /kæb/ cap devoiced need /niːd/ neat devoiced walked /wɔkt/ walk dropped -ed dogs /dɔgz/ dog dropped -s bags /bægz/ bag […]

Emphatic Stress (to highlight or clarify meaning) Contrastive Stress (to correct or distinguish ideas)

1. Who 2. What 3. Where 4. When 5. Why 6. How Variations of “How”: These are more specific forms of “how”: Yes/No Questions – Rising Intonation (↗) These questions typically end with a rising pitch, signaling uncertainty or a request for confirmation. Wh- Questions – Falling Intonation (↘) These questions usually end with a falling pitch,

Omission of a sound (often /t/, /d/, or /h/) in rapid or casual speech to maintain rhythm. Written Form Natural Pronunciation Elided Sound Explanation Friends /frɛnz/ /d/ /d/ dropped between /n/ and /z/ Next day /nɛks deɪ/ /t/ /t/ dropped between /k/ and /d/ Old man /oʊl mæn/ /d/ /d/ dropped between /l/ and /m/

Written Form Linked Pronunciation Linking Sound Explanation I am /aɪjæm/ /j/ /aɪ/ ends in a front vowel, /æ/ starts the next word He is /hiːjɪz/ /j/ /iː/ links to /ɪ/ with /j/ She is /ʃiːjɪz/ /j/ /iː/ links to /ɪ/ We are /wiːjɑr/ /j/ /iː/ links to /ɑ/ They are /ðeɪjɑr/ /j/ /eɪ/ links to

Written Form Linked Pronunciation Explanation Pick it up /ˈpɪkɪtʌp/ /k/ links to /ɪ/ Turn it off /ˈtɜrnɪtɔf/ /n/ links to /ɪ/ Take a look /ˈteɪkəˈlʊk/ /k/ links to /ə/ Put it in /ˈpʊtɪtɪn/ /t/ links to /ɪ/ Check it out /ˈʧɛkɪtaʊt/ /k/ links to /ɪ/ Leave it alone /ˈliːvɪtəˈloʊn/ /v/ links to /ɪ/ Pass it

Schwa vs. Full Vowel: Noun vs. Verb Pairs These word pairs change meaning depending on stress and vowel quality: Noun (Schwa) Verb (Full Vowel) 1. record /ˈrek.ərd/ record /rɪˈkɔːrd/ 2. present /ˈprez.ənt/ present /prɪˈzent/ 3. permit /ˈpɜː.mɪt/ permit /pərˈmɪt/ 4. object /ˈɒb.dʒɪkt/ object /əbˈdʒɛkt/ 5. contract /ˈkɒn.trækt/ contract /kənˈtrækt/ 6. suspect /ˈsʌs.pɛkt/ suspect /səˈspɛkt/ 7.

Function Words with Schwa Reduction 1. Articles 2. Conjunctions 3. Prepositions 4. Pronouns & Auxiliaries

Schwa in Prefixes These words begin with a prefix where the vowel is reduced to /ə/: Schwa in Suffixes These words end in a suffix where the vowel is reduced to /ə/:

1. Develop a Stress-Timed Rhythm (Like Native Speakers) Definition: In a stress-timed language like English, the rhythm of speech is based on regular intervals between stressed syllables, regardless of how many unstressed syllables are in between. This contrasts with syllable-timed languages like Spanish, where each syllable is given roughly equal time. 🗣️ Example: Sentence: “She’s going to the store.”Natural Rhythm: /ʃiːz ˈɡoʊɪŋ tə