To be successful in Listening and Speaking, you need to know how grammar words are pronounced. Grammar words (prepositions, pronouns, modal verbs, etc.) are REDUCED in the flow of speech because they don’t carry much meaning (unlike function words – verbs, nouns, adjectives – that carry most meaning).

Articles (a, the)

‘a’ is linked to other words:

I bought a bag. –>  I bought abag.

He greeted me with a smile. –> He greeted me withasmile.

Pronouns (he, him, her, it, you, etc.)

‘h’ is often omitted:     I’ll ask him. –> I’ll askim.

‘it’ is linked to other words:   I found it. –> I foundit.

‘you’ changes the sound: Did you like it? –> Diju like it? –> Didju likeit?

Conjunctions (and, but, since, when, etc)

‘and’ often becomes ‘an’: black and white –> black an white –> blackanwhite

Conjunctions link with other words: When I find it, I’ll call you. –> WhenI findit, I’ll call you.

Prepositions (to, of, at, etc.)

‘to’ becomes ‘te’ or ‘t’ :  He promised to come. –> He promised t’come.

‘to’ becomes ‘ta’ : I have to change it. –> I havta change it. –> I havta changit.

‘of’ becomes ‘ev’ : I saw five of them. –> I saw fiv’ev them.

‘of’ becomes ‘a’ : It’s kind of noisy in here. –> It’s kinda noisy in here.

‘at’ links to other words: I don’t mind it at all. –> I don’t mindit atall.

Helping Verbs (have, has, do, does, is, are, etc)

‘do’ becomes ‘d’ : Do you like the new bag? –> D’ju like the new bag?

‘is’ becomes ‘z’ : How is it going? –> How’z it going? –> How’zit going?

‘have’ becomes ‘ev’ : He could have done it. –> He could’ev done it. –> He could’ev donit.

Past Tense Forms of Regular Verbs:

‘ed’ sounds like ‘id’: He wanted to leave. –> He wantid to leave.

‘ed’ sounds like ‘t’ : She stopped talking. –> He stoppt talking.

Phrasal Verbs: 

The two parts are linked: You can always count on me. –> You can always counton me.

For more examples of phrasal verbs commonly used in Canada and their meanings, click here.

Modal Verbs (can, can’t, could, must, might)

‘can’ becomes ‘ken’ : My sister can read. –> My sister ken read.

‘can’t’ becomes ‘can’ : My brother can’t sing. –> My brother can’ sing.

‘could’ becomes ‘ked’ : She could help you. –> She ked help you.

‘must’ loses ‘t’ : We must leave now. –> We mus leave now.

‘might’ loses ‘t’ : You might like it. –> You migh likeit.

Other commonly reduced forms (Informal Contractions): 

let me –> lemme

give me –> gimme

used to –> useta

What are you doing? –> Whatcha doin?

don’t know –> dunno

want to –> wanna

going to –> gonna

a lot of –> alotta