Linking in English

Linking

Linking

Patterns
Listen & Practice
Related Topics
More Information

You may have noticed that American English speakers don't separate all their words like in some languages, but instead they connect them together. This is called linking, or liason, and it is important for listening comprehension. It is especially crucial when pronouncing the final sounds on words, for example making the plural or the past tense -ed.

Click on the to hear an example.

What are the patterns?

When linking one word to another, the last sound(s) of the first word should feel like it becomes the first sound of the next word, like this:

He likesssseverything.
She like-dall of it.
answerrrrit
save a lot
rea-doverrrrit
laughfffat

If you're linking the same sound, you should simply hold the sound a little longer:

with the lamp
had difficulties
kiss someone
make coffee

Look out! new dancing vs. nude dancing

If you are linking two vowel sounds together, you need to use y or w. (Sometimes it's present in the spelling.)

[iy, ey, ay, oy]	[aw, ow, uw]
see (y) it	kno(w) everything
sa(y) a lot	amino (w) acids
the bo(y) is	do (w) all

Two uh sounds together don't link with y or w; just hold the uh sound.

data analysis

T, D, S, and Z before a Y sound: These sounds when linked to a y sound change the pronunciation.

t + y = ch	won't you
	not yet
	virtue
d + y = j	did you
	could you
	cordial
s + y = sh	sure!
s + y = sh	sugar
z + y = zh	visual
	where's your
	usually

We don't link across thought groups -- only within them.

By the light of the dawn, / we walked to the bus.
vs. The dawn is beautiful.

Listen and Practice

Listen to these sentences and practice saying them with the speaker. Pay close attention to the sounds that seem to be blended together.

What do you hear? (Click on the sentence you hear.)

Listen
1.	The plane is here.	The play is here.
2.	We arrive at 9.	We arrived at 9.
3.	I'm going to bite it.	I'm going to buy it.
4.	Keep playing.	Key playing.
5.	Did you know?	Do you know?