Sound Advice Book

PART I Understanding the Basics

Chapter 1 Reductions

Syllable Stress

Ellipsis

Function words

More Ellipsis: Dropping Initial Words

going to, want to, have to

Reductions for and/or

Chapter 2 Introduction to Linking

Linking with Vowels

Linking Identical Consonants

Chapter 3 Special Sound Changes

The Flap

-ty/-teen

-nt Reduction

The Glottal Stop

Can/Can’t

of

Linking of with Vowels

Chapter 4 Silent h

Function Words Beginning with h

Questions Beginning with have/has

Pronoun Summary

PART II Building on the Basics

Chapter 5 Advanced Linking

Linking Similar Consonants

Linking with —ed Endings

Assimilation with y

Chapter 6 Focus on Function Words

Listening for Unstressed Words

a/an

our/are/or

Chapter 7 Contractions

Negative Contractions

Common Contractions with Personal Pronouns

Contractions with “wh” Words

Other Contractions with will

The “s” contraction

Contractions with it/that

Chapter 8 Endings and Beginnings

-s/-es Endings

-en Ending

Adjective Endings

Prefixes

Comparative and Superlative Endings

PART III Advanced Listening Concepts

Chapter 9 Grammar Challenges I

Understanding Tag Questions

Infinitives (to + verb) and Gerunds (verb + -ing)

Negative Comparisons

Talking To vs. Talking About

Chapter 10 Grammar Challenges II

Past Tense Modal Reductions

Expressing Conditions with Should and Had

Chapter 11 Special Aspects of Intonation and Stress

Statements as Questions

Tag Endings

Contrastive Stress

Indicating Surprise with Yes/No Questions

Using Rhetorical Questions to Show Sarcasm

PART IV TOEFL Practice

Chapter 12 TOEFL Practice 1

Chapter 13 TOEFL Practice II

Chapter 14 TOEFL Practice III

Appendix

Tapescript

Answer Key