Instructions. Click on the gaps to play the line and type in what you hear. If you can't catch an expression, don't worry: we will analyze the problematic expressions in the later tasks.
When you can't catch an expression, this is probably because it sounds different from what you expect. In this section we will look at some examples so that you could learn to change your expectations.
Disappearing sounds
Instructions. Click on the lines with highlighted words. What sound has disappeared from the highlighted words?
Disappearing sounds: troubleshooting
Instructions. In fast speech the sounds /t/ and /d/ often disappear from the end of a word. In the following quiz, all missing words end in t or d. Listen and fill the gaps.
Instructions. Because the sound /t/ often disappears, don't might sound as don, can't as can and so on. In the following quiz, all missing expressions have a negative verb (don't, didn't, can't, wouldn't, and so on). Listen and fill the gaps.
Expressions with 'of'
Instructions. Click on the lines with highlighted words. What does 'of' sound like?
Expressions with 'of': troubleshooting
Instructions. 'Of' often 'loses' the 'o' sound and sounds just like 'v'. In the following quiz, all missing expressions contain of. Listen and fill the gaps.
'Like' is often used in speech
- to quote what someone said (e.g. 'I was like, 'Are you coming?')
- to talk about a feeling (e.g. 'I was like, 'what???' - extreme surprise)
- as a 'filler' that doesn't really mean anythign (e.g. 'We need, like, to do something.')
Instructions. Look at highlighter examples in the video and match them with the meanings of 'like'.
Instructions. In the following quiz, all missing expressions contain like for quoting and talking about feelings, e.g. I was like, he's like, and so on. Listen and fill the gaps.