Pronounce Contractions in American English with Stress and Reductions

Want to learn how to say contractions naturally in American English? Learn how to pronounce contractions with correct stress and reduced forms. Remember, contractions are reductions, and that's why they're essential for English rhythm and melody. Using contractions the right way will help you speak more clearly and be more easily understood.
You'll also learn the difference between affirmative and negative contractions, why your speech can sound "off" if you don't use contractions, and why you shouldn't use informal contractions if you're not regularly including standard contractions in your speech!
Find Your Flow When Speaking English: • Find Your Flow When Sp...
Sentence Stress in American English: • Sentence Stress in Ame...
Fast Speech - Shortcuts English Speakers Use: • Fast Speech - Shortcut...
How to Pronounce Informal Contractions: • Pronounce and Stress I...
Find the transcript and more practice here: englishwithkim.com/pronounce-...
0:00 Introduction
0:38 What Are Contractions and Why Do We Use Them?
2:26 Informal Contractions are Different Than Standard Contractions
2:56 How to Stress Contractions For Natural Pronunciation
4:11 Practice Affirmative Contractions with the Right Pronunciation
6:14 Practice Negative Contractions with the Right Stress
9:01 Contractions Help You Sound Natural
10:07 Practice Sentence Stress with Informal Contractions
In the video, you may notice that I don't use contractions a few times. This is what we call emphatic speech. I am separating my words to make my point extra clear. We'll talk about this more in another video!
🤗 I’m Kim, and I’m here to help you express your meaning and your message through stress, intonation, and how you you use your voice and breath.
In other words, you’ll learn how to communicate clearly and confidently in American English so that people will definitely understand (and listen to) what you have to say.
📢 Want to improve how you sound, but not sure where to start?
These videos will help you find your voice in English:
• Find Your Voice in Ame...
👩‍💻 Learn all about courses and coaching right here:
englishwithkim.com/work-with-me/

[@michmbolingaba7310]

Hi there. I have discovered your KZbin channel and after watching 2 of your lessons, I have subscribed to it. Keep up the great work and keep those videos coming. Much love from Johannesburg in South Africa 🇿🇦. 🔥🔥💖💖💖🙏🤝

[@ahme585]

Someone give her a medal love from Egypt

[@Englishwithkim]

Thanks 🏅

[@paguiarfilho]

I love the way you teach. I'm learning a Lot. Thaks a lot.

[@Englishwithkim]

That's awesome to hear - and I appreciate that!

[@nesimergun5039]

You deserve hundred times viewing than you've already got. Very good content you have in your channel. Keep up the good work, thanks a lot.

[@Englishwithkim]

Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad my resources are helping you.

[@michaelalves-englishlearne5392]

Thank you

[@user-rw1xm4xg3p]

Very hepful

[@joelmasamba6762]

Oh my gosh!!!! Before i would not understand yet i can

[@Englishwithkim]

Glad it helped!

[@aurorarodriguez5758]

I learned more today. usually. I don't practice contractions.

[@Englishwithkim]

Glad this helped you. Contractions often seem less important, but stressing them right can help you express yourself better.

[@john-hermannbignon9840]

Thank u so much for your videos. You're definitely making it easier for me to sound more like a native.

[@markviana4960]

Such a great video! Thank you, Kim.

[@CarlosHenrique-lq5qh]

Hey Kim. It's an awesome and helpful video. Thank you so much.

[@vijaysir1452]

I liked this video very much . I am highly obliged to you for teaching so well .

[@luigi5326]

Wow! You are simply amazing ¡¡¡ Keep it up¡ congrats.

[@Englishwithkim]

That's kind of you to say! Glad it helped.

[@aim2975]

Thank you for your efforts. Welcome back. lucky back.

[@pandeynandofficial3403]

Lovely.. Thanks for this very special vedio...

[@horaciosalazargomez9488]

Hey Kim! :) Great lesson! Have an excellent day! Blessings!! :D

[@longnguyen9638]

Thanks Kim!

[@marydc6147]

I'm glad to watch another good video.

[@travelerbruno5280]

I love all your videos Kim! You're amaizing. Thank you for uploading so many videos so that we can reduce our accents! Greetings from Argentina :)

[@Englishwithkim]

Thanks for the kind words, Bruno! I'm happy to hear these videos are helping you achieve your accent goals.

[@chandrathapa9964]

Great

[@vijaysir1452]

Good morning ma'am ! You are one of the best teachers .

[@Englishwithkim]

That's so kind of you to say!

[@victoriousseraphim5142]

What a gripping video lesson, loved it. Thank you, Kim.

[@Englishwithkim]

I'm so glad it helped you!

[@etddong]

Still It’s hard to recognize exactly when can or can’t pronounced.

[@Englishwithkim]

Besides pitch and syllable length, a big clue is the pronunciation of "can" and "can't." Because "can" is reduced, it should sound like /kən/, with the schwa sound. You can hear the very American /æ/ sound in the negative "can't" /kænt/. You may want to do focused listening trying to identify reductions (even though usually I encourage you to listen for stressed syllables instead). The contrast video may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKa0pqqdmrCrkJo along with the train your ear video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmm2YmqkpMSaabs

[@mohsenqassim]

Thank you very much

[@Englishwithkim]

You're welcome!

[@dmitriyfedorov5907]

you're really perfect in explanations. Please make a video explaining Present Perfect tense because the majority of its formal criterias are stupid. E.g. In a sentence "I can't open this door because I lost my keys 1 min ago" there are almost all Present Perfect Criterias 1) Result 2) Connection to NOW 3) Recent event and only time marker "1 min ago" says that it's not PP to be used. And what if I don't say "1 min ago" but mean it? So all these criterias are not valid and about nothing.

[@Englishwithkim]

In American English, we use the simple past instead of the present perfect for the indefinite past (your example without the time marker). The Brits would say "I've lost my keys" whereas Americans would say "I lost my keys." With the time marker, it would be the example you've given for both varieties of English. Why? Because that's how the grammar structure has evolved over time. 🤷‍♀️ While I don't have videos on grammar topics, check out the articles and podcasts on my website for other grammar topics: englishwithkim.com/category/use-grammar-naturally/

[@gagahow5543]

Yes I can 💪

[@leokhandrorami6828]

Really you are doing great efforts kim, could you upload more videos like this video ?

[@Englishwithkim]

Definitely! Be sure to check my videos on pronouncing phrasal verbs and informal contractions - they're also very helpful!

[@leokhandrorami6828]

@@Englishwithkim I will thanks again and over again

[@wilsonvargas9072]

Holaaaaa, my name is Wilson and I am from the Dominican Republic, I want to say thank you for your hard work in helping us better pronounce English effortlessly. I would love to ask you a big favor and it’s that I am not quite confident pronouncing this reduction in fast speech (aren’t ) and I do not know the right rhythm within a sentence, so I really want to know what to say and how to say it and Which sounds I should and should not drop. Thank you so much in advance. Have a great day!

[@Englishwithkim]

Hi Wilson! Thank you for the kind words! "Aren't" is a tricky word for sure: /ɑrnt/ The first thing to remember is that this word is pronounced as one syllable (unlike "isn't" and "wasn't"). You will hear a few regional accents add the schwa sound at times, but for fast, natural speech, say it as one syllable. I pronounce the "ar" exactly like I would say the consonant "r" when spelling it out loud. The -nt cluster is the same as words like "want." Your mouth is going to close down to the "t" sound as I mention in my latest video on how to sound more American, ending in the "t" position without releasing air. Hope that helps!

[@dodocode6216]

Is there a TO in the sentence between 0’32”-0’37? If you’re interested in learning how to use English rhythm and melody TO sound more natural in English, be sure to hit subscribe.

[@Englishwithkim]

Yes, it's there. Remember, "to" is a function word, and that means it is reduced in fast, natural speech. The vowel sounds like the schwa (ə). This is the same concept behind standard contractions and informal contractions - we drop sounds in words we use a lot when the word itself doesn't express key meaning.

[@dodocode6216]

Got it. Thank you for your quick reply.

[@kaburis7280]

hi kim, this is mr kostas from 🇬🇷greece. I'm thinking of going to us some day to improve my english joining to a class. by the way, where do you live? i haven't decided yet in what part of us to go.

[@Englishwithkim]

There are lots of language programs, but remember the best practice is simply having the opportunity to interact in English all day long. I live in the Boston area, which is a great place for students, but a lot of people also like California for a language exchange.

[@user-yd3qs6fr8m]

I want you to teach me private lesson im an Arabic person whoes learn english in collage to Be A teacher.,,, Thank you for yours videos

[@Englishwithkim]

That's awesome that you plan to be a teacher! Although I do not offer private lessons at the moment, I have a lot of videos that can help you. Be sure to check out the playlists!

[@pssilva3973]

I was waiting for the contraction of "I will" but "I'll" is missing. What a pity!

[@Englishwithkim]

It's always a balance between giving a lot of examples and making sure the video isn't too long. "I'll" is pretty similar to "he'll."

[@pssilva3973]

@@Englishwithkim (3:52) Thank you for your feedback. I didn't find out a video about it on your playlist.

[@kaburis7280]

hi kim! kim you know what? i need a teacher for private lessons. can you suggest me someone you know please?

[@Englishwithkim]

What kind of coaching are you looking for?

[@kaburis7280]

@@Englishwithkim well, i need training about sounds,meaning, pronunciations, intonations and all of these vocal things and lastly, essays. by the way ,do you run any school or something?

[@Englishwithkim]

I offer online courses based on my one-to-one coaching programs, if that's what you mean by a school. You can learn more here: englishwithkim.com/work-with-me/ I have a detailed program on word and sentence stress, an introductory course on intonation, and I'll have an in-depth program on intonation coming in December. I focus specifically on stress and intonation because I think they're more important than precise pronunciation of sounds. I explain my philosophy in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJ3IhYp8drpkoa8 I do offer one-to-one coaching but recommend people start with the courses with so many practice exercises and drills. For help with academic essays, I recommend my friend Sam at English for Study.

[@kaburis7280]

@@Englishwithkim thank you so much.i m going to find it out.gimme some information please about on how i can join with sam

[@dhurbaacharya5261]

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