COMMON WORDS WITH STRONG AND WEAK FORMS IN RP ENGLISH

Word Strong
form
Weak
form
Comments and
restrictions on use
Determiners
a
an
the
some
eI
n
Di:
sVm

n
D
sm
/Di:/ before vowels
Link words

and
as
than
that
nd
z
Dn
Dt
n
z
Dn
Dt
Always /Dt/ if
demonstrative
Prepositions
at
for
from
of
to
t
fO:
frQm
Qv
tu:
t
f
frm
v
t
/fr/ before vowels
// before /D/
/tu:/before vowels
Note that prepositions
take strong form at
the end of a sentence.
Verb be
am (m)
are
is (s)
was
were
m
A:
Iz
wQz
w:
m

z
wz
w


/s/ after fortis
consonants
Verb have
has (s)
have (ve)
had (d)
hz
hv
hd
hz z
hv v
hd d
/s/ after fortis
consonants
/h/ is retained at the
beginning of sentences
Modal verbs
can
will (ll)
shall (ll)
would (d)
should (d)
kn
wIl
Sl
wUd
SUd
kn
l l
Sl Sl
wd d d
Sd
/l/ after vowels
/d/ after vowels
Pronouns
them
our
he
his
him
her
Dem
aU
hi:
hIz
hIm
h:
Dm
A:
(h)i:
(h)Iz
(h)Im
(h)
Can be stressed
All these pronouns can
lose /h/ as optional
weak forms; note that
/h/ is retained at the
beginning of sentences.