Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.
In textbooks every word sounds clear and separate. In real speech, and in exam recordings, three things change the sound of English:
The good news is that exam answers are almost always content words: nouns, numbers, names, main verbs and adjectives. These words are stressed, so they are louder and longer even in fast speech. Your job is to catch the stressed words and let the small words fill themselves in from the grammar.
| Word | Often sounds like | Example in fast speech |
|---|---|---|
| to | tuh | I want to go → “I wanna go” / “I want tuh go” |
| of | uh / uv | a lot of people → “a lotta people” |
| for | fuh | wait for me → “wait fuh me” |
| and | un / n | fish and chips → “fish n chips” |
| can | kun | you can park here → “you kun park here” |
| have | uv | should have called → “should uv called” / “should've called” |
| was | wuz | it was late → “it wuz late” |
You don't need to speak like this, but you need to recognise it. When you see the transcript after listening, read it aloud quickly and notice which sounds disappear.
| Meaning | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| home in a building | flat | apartment |
| the floor at street level | ground floor | first floor |
| machine that carries people up | lift | elevator |
| phone you carry | mobile | cell phone / cell |
| people waiting in a row | queue | line |
| place to leave cars | car park | parking lot |
| two weeks | a fortnight | two weeks |
| 7.30 | half past seven / half seven | seven thirty |
| 150 | a hundred and fifty | a hundred fifty |
| dates | the first of September | September first |
| university term (autumn) | autumn term | fall semester |
Choose the best answer.
| Information | Fiona (British) | Jordan (American) | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of home | flat | apartment | the same thing |
| Floor | ground floor | first floor | both are at street level |
| Parking | car park at the back | parking lot behind the building | the same thing |
| Rent | seven hundred and fifty pounds | one thousand two hundred fifty dollars | Americans often leave out “and” in numbers |
| Date | the first of September | September first | the same date |
| Viewing time | half past five | five thirty | both are 5.30 |
| Phone | my mobile | my cell | the same thing |
The two messages sound different, but the information is almost the same. A listener who knows only one set of words might think Jordan's apartment is upstairs, or might not know what “my cell” means.
Notice also where the stress falls. In both messages the important words (flat, ground floor, seven hundred and fifty, Thursday, five thirty) are the ones that carry the information, and they are also the answers an exam would test. Small words like on, the, at and for are short in both accents, and you can understand the messages without hearing every one of them clearly.
Listen and type each sentence exactly as you hear it. The answers are full of small grammar words that are usually weak in natural speech. If you miss one, use grammar to work out what it must be.
Listen to the update. Write the ONE small word that is missing from each gap. These words are usually weak in fast speech, so use grammar as well as your ears.
Listen to the message and choose the best answer. Some options use American or neutral words for what the speaker says.
Listen to the talk and choose the best answer. Some options use British or neutral words for what the speaker says.
Save words to review them later with flashcards.
“In fast speech, “for” often has a weak form.”
“Linking makes “turn it off” sound like one word.”
“The second speaker had an American accent.”
“The rent is paid every fortnight.”
“The flat is on the ground floor, so there are no stairs.”
“You shouldn't have to queue for the bathroom.”
“There's a car park behind the building.”
“Call the front desk from your cell.”
“Fiona works for a lettings agency.”
“Collect your keys from the porter's lodge.”
“There's a mandatory floor meeting on Sunday.”
“Tonight dinner is on us.”
