Can you find a few minutes to study with me?

I got an idea or two to share with you.

Let's start.

English with Jennifer

Small words like AT and AN are function words.

They don't carry a lot of content in a sentence or phrase,

so often we reduce them.

We use weaker vowel sounds.

We use a schwa /ə/.

It's a very relaxed sound.

[uh]

So AT can sound like /ət/.

at noon - /et nun/

AN will sound like /ən/.

an idea - /ən aɪˈdiə/

CAN is also reduced

It's used as a helping verb, and we reduce it

in a question or in a full statement when the main verb is still present.

I asked you, "Can you find a few minutes?"

/kən/...Instead of /kæn/ ... /kən/

Can you find a few minutes?

Note how there's variation when Americans reduce CAN.

Either we use the schwa,

which sounds like "uh." /kən/

Or we use a short I, like in the word "it." /kɪn/

Listen to these examples.

Listen closely.

I'll say a sentence or phrase.

You try to understand.

That's all for now.

Thanks for watching and happy studies!