Home phonetic exercises I

E x. 1. Read the following according to the models.

Model 1.

1 . The boy is fifteen, but he is too small for his age. 2. The Browns are nice people and I like them very much. 3. I read the article yesterday, but I want to look it through again. 4. College opens in two weeks, and I shall be glad to begin work again. 5. I haven’t enough time to do it now, so I’ll leave it till tomorrow.

Model 2.

The rising tone is used if the meaning of the first clause is incom­plete or when the clauses of the compound sentence denote a succes­sion of facts or actions.

1. The rain stopped and we were out in the street again. 2. It was too noisy and I couldn’t sleep. 3. The girl looked into the faces of the people but nobody spoke. 4. I haven’t the time to read it but I can look it through. 5. He stayed for dinner but he left soon after.

Ex. 2. Study the strong and weak forms of auxiliary verbs.

Ex. 3. Learn the following dialogues. Mind the strong and weak forms of auxiliary verbs.

I .

II.

III.

Ex. 4. Practice the following stress patterns.

E x. 5. Learn the following by heart. Mind the stresses and rhythm.

Ex, 6. Read the following. Mind the shifting of logical stress.

HOME PHONETIC EXERCISES II

E x. 1. Read the following according to the models.

Model 1.

1. As she went down the street she stopped at every shop- window. 2. If he doesn’t come exactly at eight we shan’t wait for him. 3. When you speak so fast it’s -hard to understand you. 4. When he woke up it was raining. 5. While you were away the stranger called several times. 6. If you work hard enough you will know the subject well. 7. As soon as the train was out of the station he took a book and started reading. 8. If you take a taxi you’ll get there by midday. 9. While I was talking to my neigh­bour the postman brought me a letter. 10. As the train started somebody called out my name.

M odel 2.

1. She had many friends when she lived there. 2. We were very tired when we got there. 3. I saw her only once when she came to have tea with us. 4. We had a good time when I was there for the winter holidays. 5. He worked at a factory after he finished school. 6. They knew nothing about it until somebody told them. 7. I’ll send you a copy of the book if you want to read it. 8. Emily Bronte was quite young when she wrote her famous book. 9. The weather was lovely when they were passing the lake. 10. The sun was shining brightly when the tourists left the camp.

Ex. 2. Practice the following stress patterns.

The principal clause may also be pronounced with a rising tone if the main idea is expressed in the subordinate clause.

Ex. 3. Practise the strong and weak forms of pronouns.

Ex. 4. Learn the following dialogue. Mind the weak forms.

L ong vowels in strong forms shorten (become short) in weak forms; short vowels in strong forms become in weak forms.

In initial positions the strong forms of he, his, her are used. The tendency in modern English is to drop [h] in the weak forms of he, his, him, her.

The weak form of us [s] is used only in Let’s.

HOME PHONETIC EXERCISES III

Ex. 1. Read the following according to the models.

Model 1.

1 . She has forgotten to tell us when he will be calling again. 2. We didn’t exactly understand what he was trying to say. 3.1 saw from the address that she was still at college. 4. He looked at the clock and asked whether they had time for a cup of coffee. 5. I wanted to ask him if he had seen you there. 6. Now she saw that he was a true friend. 7. We hadn’t yet decided how long we shall be staying there. 8. He knew quite well whom she would ask for help.

Model 2.

1. Nobody knew how the fire had started. 2. We hoped they would catch the six o’clock train. 3. I don’t think she really knows the truth. 4. I wonder if they will arrive before Monday. 5. He didn’t understand what he had done. 6. We knew what kind of person he was. 7.1 am sure they will like the arrangement. 8. Ask her to repeat what she has said.

Ex. 2. Practice the following stress patterns.