Learn About English Article #1 - Linking words in English

This topic can help you improve your English pronunciation and listening skills at the same time!

Linking is the joining of sounds at the end of a word onto the beginning of the next word in a sentence. This is something that is quite unusual for many English learners because linking does not exist in every language. Mandarin Chinese, for example, does not use linking as each word is given space in between. So, how does this work and what does it mean for your English study? Let's learn a couple simple rules and try out some examples!

Before we start... let's take a look at an important detail. When talking about linking, we will need to review consonants (e.g. r,s,t) and vowels (e.g. a,e,i,o,u). For our purposes, we will be using consonant and vowel SOUNDS, not the letters themselves. For example, the word "kite" ends in the vowel "e" but when we are linking, this word ends in the consonant sound /t/.

kite - /kait/

Rule #1

Linking consonants to vowels

The first rule of linking is that we link words ending with consonant sounds onto words beginning with vowel sounds. Here are a few examples:

that's it = that-sit

what's up = what-sup

share it = sha-rit

Rule #2

Linking vowels to vowels

The second rule of linking is that English speakers join words ending with vowel sounds onto words beginning with vowel sounds. This happens in one of two ways.

1. Round lips - these words end with your lips making a circle:

e.g. too, few, know, oh, row

When linking a word ending in round lips onto a word beginning with a vowel sound, we add a /w/ sound in between them. Let's take a closer look at some examples.

too early = tooWearly

clue in = clueWin

so easy = soWeasy

2. Wide lips - these words leave your lips in something more like a smile.

e.g. me, tree, I, why, fly

When it comes time to link a word ending in a wide-mouthed vowel sound to another vowel, we add a /y/ sound in between the two words.

I am = IYam

see it = seeYit

we are = weYare

REVIEW

Okay! Now you have had a look at the rules and some simple examples! Let's have a go with some more challenging cases!

What is going on in here? = Wha-tis goi-ngo-nin here?

How are you this afternoon? = HoWare you thi-safternoon?

I am too early for class, I think. IYam tooWearly for cla-si think.

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That is all for today's article on linking. Please feel free to post any comments, questions, or examples down below! See you next time!

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