What are strong and weak forms in the English language?

Answer 1

Some common words in the English language have two forms, a strong form and a weak form.

The strong form is used when the word is stressed, the weak form is used when it is not.

Compare:

-I've been /bin/ to Cyprus, Hong Kong and Hawaii, and next year we are going to Alaska. (weak form)

-Where have you been /been/ ?(strong form)

Most words with two forms are articles, auxiliary verbs, conjunctions, prepositions, and pronouns; therefore they are not normally stressed and usually take the weak form.

Compare:

• It was /wz/ very easy.
• Yes it was.

• Guns 'n Roses
• Fortnum and Mason

• I'm not very hungry, thank you.
• I am very angry.

There are about forty words that have strong and weak forms, but the difference is often very slight.

Here are a few of the more common words with strong and weak forms:

• a - Ay, uh
• at - At, ut
• been - BEEn, bin
• can - CAn, cn
• have - HAv, hv
• to - TOO, tuh

[Regional accents differ]

Native English speakers use the weak and strong forms without realising it. They think they are pronouncing all the words the same way all the time. But learners of English should learn and use the two forms in their speech, as appropriate. If they do not, they will sound overly precise and their speech will not sound natural.

LEARNING THE WEAK AND STRONG FORMS

The easiest way to learn the correct forms is to listen carefully to how a native English speaker speaks. Then mimic how they speak. Copy the whole sentences. With practice you will soon be using the correct forms automatically, without even thinking about it!