Understanding English Contractions

This video tutorial by Keenan, an American English pronunciation coach, emphasizes the importance of using contractions to sound more natural and native in spoken English. It covers the contraction of 'is', 'are', and 'am' with pronouns and provides practice examples. The tutorial also addresses common mistakes and offers tips for mastering contractions. Viewers are encouraged to download a PDF for further practice and to subscribe for more lessons.

Why is using contractions important in spoken English?

• They are grammatically incorrect.

• They are only used in written English.

• They make sentences longer.

• They help achieve a natural rhythm and flow.

What is a common misconception about using contractions?

• They make you harder to understand.

• They make speech clearer.

• They are only used in British English.

• They make you sound more formal.

Which form of the verb 'to be' is most commonly contracted?

• 'were'

• 'was'

• 'been'

• 'is'

How does 'he is' contract in spoken English?

• He's

• He're

• He'd

• He'll

What sound does the apostrophe 's' make after a voiceless consonant?

• A 'ch' sound

• A 'sh' sound

• A voiceless 's' sound

• A voiced 'z' sound

Which of the following is a correct contraction for 'she is'?

• She're

• She'll

• She's

• She'd

How does 'who is' contract in question forms?

• Who'll

• Who're

• Who'd

• Who's

What is the contracted form of 'you are'?

• You'll

• You'd

• You're

• You's

Why do native speakers often use 'there's' instead of 'there are'?

• It's used in written English only.

• It sounds more formal.

• It's grammatically correct.

• It's easier to say.

What is the contraction for 'I am'?

• I'm

• I're

• I'd

• I's