Contractions & Linking

Contractions shorten two words into one shorter form, usually with an apostrophe. They occur in auxiliary verbs, negatives, and some pronoun-verb combinations. Using contractions makes speech and writing sound more casual and natural.

Some contractions combine more than two words or appear in informal speech. These include contractions with 'cause (because), gonna (going to), and double contractions like I'd've (I would have). They are common in spoken English and casual writing.

Linking connects sounds between words to make speech smooth and natural. Common types are linking consonants, linking vowels, and intrusive sounds. Practicing linking helps listeners understand fast speech.

Linking consonants occur when a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word begins with the same or similar consonant sound. The consonant is pronounced once and joins the two words, making speech faster and smoother.

Linking vowels happen when one word ends in a vowel sound and the next word begins with a vowel sound. Speakers often insert a slight consonant sound like /w/ or /y/ between the vowels to link them smoothly. This prevents a pause and adds fluidity.

Intrusive sounds are extra consonant sounds that speakers add between two vowels even though they are not in the spelling. Common intrusive sounds are /r/, /w/, and /y/. They help connect words smoothly in rapid speech and sound natural to native listeners.

Contractions shorten common word pairs for quicker, more natural speech. Linking sounds connect word-ending and word-beginning sounds to make sentences flow smoothly. Learning typical contractions and practicing linking will improve both speaking fluency and listener comprehension.