Read the theory, then read sentences 1–4 and say which words you don't expect to be stressed. Listen and check, then listen again and repeat. Weak forms: We put emphasis on the words that are the most important for a message to be understood (usually nouns, main verbs, adjectives). These words are the stressed forms, while the ones that are less important are weak forms that are not stressed (usually articles, prepositions, auxiliary verbs, pronouns & conjunctions). Compare the examples: We had a picnic in the park. (with stressed words) We had a picnic in the park. (with no stressed words) Can you understand the message as easily when there are no stressed words? 1 The sea was so rough that day that many boats got into trouble. 2 When the man set out to climb the mountain, he had no idea that the weather would change so fast. 3 It was Jane who left last. 4 There is a man lying in the road unconscious.
По правилу weak forms артикли, предлоги, местоимения, вспомогательные глаголы и союзы обычно не получают ударения. В первом предложении смысл несут sea, rough, day, boats, trouble. Во втором — man, set out, climb, mountain, idea, weather, change, fast. В третьем контрастное выделение Jane и left last важнее служебных it, was, who. В четвёртом главная информация — man lying road unconscious. Без записи можно указать ожидаемое обычное ударение; в аудио возможны небольшие смысловые изменения.
