English Pronunciation - vowel changes in stressed and unstressed syllables

How to link words that begin with H: drop the H and link to the word before in unaccented words

How to pronounce the word ARE

The word 'are' can be reduced simply to the schwa/R sound, er, er, er. So in this sentence, What are you doing?, you may very well hear whater, whater, whater you doing? Whater you doing? With the er very low in pitch and very fast. What are you doing? What are, what are, it sounds like the word 'butter'. Butter, what are, what are you doing?  

Let's look at a few more sentences where the word 'are' can be reduced. My cousins are coming tomorrow. My cousins are, my cousins are, My cousins are coming tomorrow. My cousins are coming tomorrow. The cookies are good. The cookies are, are, the cookies are good. Where are the girls? Now here the word before ends in the schwa/R sound, er, where er the girls? I would explain it as a re-emphasizing of the er sound: Where er the girls? But in fast speech, it actually all blends together. Where are the girls? Where are the girls? So it sounds like the word ARE is being dropped. Where are the girls? - See more at: http://www.rachelsenglish.com/videos/word-are#sthash.80P4TZV4.dpuf

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English Pronunciation Study: What did you do Today?

3 tips for sounding like a native speaker

Be patient and practice, practice, practice

1.    black coffee

2.    not at all

3.    what do?

4.    comfortable

5.    interesting

6.    every

7.    country

8.    tree

9.    hundred

10. did you?

1.

Reduction: the word FOR

I got it for you. I got it for you, fer, fer, fer you. I got it for you.

More examples: Can I have this cake? No, it's for tonight.

Fer, fer, it's for tonight. I bike for transportation, not for fitness. Fer, fer. One more time: I bike for transportation, not for fitness. Let's eat out, just for fun. For fun, for fun, let's eat out just for fun. This medicine is for headaches. For headaches. This medicine is for headaches. These flowers are for the wedding. Notice here the word 'are', before 'for', is also reduced. Rr fer, rr fer, these flowers are for the wedding. You can use these folders for organizing. For organizing. You can use these folders for organizing. This is for my parents' anniversary. For my, for my. This is for my parents' anniversary. That cabinet is for linens. For linens, fer, fer, that cabinet is for linens. The software is for accounting. The software is for accounting, fer accounting.

See more at: http://www.rachelsenglish.com/videos/word-0#sthash.lC4gl0EQ.dpuf

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Watch the video:

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3.

Pronunciation Exercise: Breakfast (Ben Franklin Exercise)

1.

How to Pronounce -ed verb endings:

2.

American English Imitation Exercise: Don't Keep a Secret

Transcript - Don't keep a secret – Imitation exercise

- I can’t…

- What? You never say no. Don’t you need money for the piece?

- I do, but…

- Since when you play so close to the vest? I don’t like secrets. I’m the only one who gets to have secrets. Sit down.

- I…I have another job…

- Oh, you’re not writing for Antrem at GQ, are you?

- No, no, no…I would never do that to you. Do you really wanna know the truth?

- Yes, I do as long as it’s not boring.

- Well… I have a second job as a private detective. I wanted to tell you but I thought you would think it was strange

- If you’re gonna lie, you need to make it more believable. Throw an element of truth that is what I do.

- But I’m not lying. I have an ad on Craigslist advertising myself as an unlicensed private detective. And tonight in New Jersey, I’m meeting this woman – a blackmailer.

- I still don’t believe you. What kind of blackmailer?

- She targets married men…

New Year

I come nameless. You give me a name!

I come empty! You give in me fruit!

I will be such as you 

will carve me

in your life!

Happy New Year called me

those, who don’t know

that I’m an empty vessel.

I’m an empty field, which only labour

can turn into a flower garden!

Joy await from me those

who have their hearts

into the destiny deceitful

I’m a sweeping stream and golden sand

is hidden in my bed,

golden sand for brave hands

I take and give.  Raise and take down!

I lead to God and drag to hell.

I clean the souls and cover them with the mud of sin

I drown and bathe – a miracle river!

I come nameless. You give me a name!

I come faceless amidst you in the world.

I will be such as you, people

will send me into the eternity!

Translated by Dimita