Pronunciation Lessons

Center for Language Education HKUST

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Lesson 7 - Linking words together

When a vowel at the beginning of a word follows a final consonant, the two words are run together:

e.g., Is_it_a boy?

If you learn to do this, your English will sound smooth and natural.

Mark the links between these words as in the example above. Then say them aloud.

1 talk about it

2 move it across

3 pick up a pen

4 fight it out

5 turn it off

6 give it away

7 walk along a road

8 drink it all up

Now mark the links and the stressed syllables in this verse in the same way. How many beats are there in each line?

A:	What're you going to talk about?
B:	Talk about? Well ... I'll talk about a problem.
A:	What kind of problem?
B:	I don't really know. I have to give it some thought!
A:	Think about it?
B:	Yes! I'll think about it now. I'm thinking. Thinking. I know what to talk about! I'll talk about a problem!
A:	But what kind of problem?
B:	I don't really know!