Strong and Weak forms

Miscellaneous
and - but
STRONG FORM WEAK FORM
and / ænd / / ənd / + vowels or diphthongs
/bʌt/ (final /d/ can be omitted [as is normally the case]
but - in isolation if the next word begins with a consonant)
- reference /bət/
But is a conjunction. -- And is a conjunction.
/bʌt/ /ænd/ - when there is no contrast or emphasis, we use the weak
- in contrast: form
I didn’t say exercise 1 or 2; I said exercise 1 AND 2.
/ænd/ They painted it black and white.
- before a pause (it is not so frequent to make a pause /ən/
before AND or BUT) It is yellow and orange.
I saw Jack, Paul and …, and Emma. /ənd/
/ænd/ /ənd/
before a pause, then the sentence continues, so we use the weak He will go, but I won’t.
form /bət/
- when BUT means except for
I saw everyone, but Jack.
/bʌt/
- when BUT functions as a noun
There are too many buts. /bʌts/
some
STRONG FORM WEAK FORM
some /sʌm/ / səm /
- in isolation
- reference - when it is followed immediately by an uncountable
Some is not an article. noun or by a countable plural noun.
/sʌm/

- when it is NOT followed immediately by a noun: There is some juice in the fridge.
Give me some. /səm/
/sʌm/
Some will be good.
/sʌm/ Some boys came late.
/səm/
- when it is followed by the preposition OF
Some of them will be here tomorrow.
/sʌm/

- when it is followed by a countable singular noun, and

it means “a certain”
Some silly boy has broken it.
/sʌm/
as - than
STRONG FORM WEAK FORM
as /æz/ / əz /
- in isolation
- reference - usually used in the weak form.
As is a conjunction.
/æz/ I like it as much as he does.
/əz/ /əz/
- in a subordinating clause in initial position in the
sentence: Do as I told you.
As it got dark, the temperature began to fall. /əz/
/æz/

STRONG FORM WEAK FORM

than /ðæn/ / ðən /
- in isolation
- reference - usually used in the weak form.
Than is used after an adjective in the comparative form.
/ðæn/ He’s taller than his wife.
/ðən/
that - there
STRONG FORM WEAK FORM
that /ðæt/
- in isolation
/ ðət /
- reference - when it is used as a conjunction:
That is a demonstrative.
/ðæt/ They told me that he was leaving.
- when it is used as a demonstrative adjective or as a / ðət /
demonstrative pronoun.
That isn’t my car. That book is mine.
/ðæt/ /ðæt/

STRONG FORM WEAK FORM

there /ðeəʳ/ / ðəʳ /
- in isolation
- reference - in rapid speech as an anticipatory subject:
There is an adverb.
/ðeəʳ/ There is some juice in the fridge.
/ðər ɪz / or / ðəz /
- when it is used as an adverb of place.
I put it there.
/ðeəʳ/
who
STRONG FORM WEAK FORM
who /hu:/ /hʊ/
- in isolation - as a relative pronoun, in mid position:
- reference
Who is an interrogative pronoun. The man who gave you the book is my uncle.
/hu:/ /hʊ/

- in wh-questions.
Who is at the door?
/hu:/

- when it is a relative pronoun, and it is followed by a

contracted verb form
The man who’ll give you the book is coming at 9.
/hu:l/