If you have ever struggled to understand fast English, prepositions are likely a big part of the problem. Native speakers almost never pronounce prepositions with their "dictionary" pronunciation. Instead, they use quick, reduced weak forms that blend into the sentence.
Learning these weak forms will not only improve your speaking, it will dramatically improve your listening comprehension. Once you know what to listen for, fast English becomes much easier to understand.
Strong vs. Weak Forms: The Basics
Every common preposition has two pronunciations. The strong form is what you find in the dictionary. The weak form is what native speakers actually use 90% of the time. The key difference is usually the vowel sound, which gets reduced to a schwa /ə/ in the weak form.
| Preposition | Strong Form | Weak Form | Example (Weak) |
|---|---|---|---|
| to | /tuː/ | /tə/ | I want to go /aɪ wɑːnt tə ɡoʊ/ |
| of | /ʌv/ | /əv/ | a lot of people /ə lɑːt əv ˈpiːpəl/ |
| for | /fɔːr/ | /fər/ | It's for you /ɪts fər juː/ |
| from | /frʌm/ | /frəm/ | I'm from Texas /aɪm frəm ˈtɛksəs/ |
| at | /æt/ | /ət/ | Look at me /lʊk ət miː/ |
TO: /tuː/ vs. /tə/
"To" is one of the most commonly reduced words in English. In connected speech, it sounds like "tuh" /tə/. Before vowels, it sometimes becomes /tu/ (without the full length). You should only use the strong form /tuː/ at the end of a sentence or for emphasis.
OF: /ʌv/ vs. /əv/
"Of" is reduced so much in fast speech that it often sounds like just /əv/ or even /ə/. In phrases like "kind of," "sort of," and "a lot of," the word almost disappears. This is perfectly normal native speech.
FOR: /fɔːr/ vs. /fər/
"For" reduces to /fər/ in the middle of sentences. The vowel changes from the open /ɔː/ to a quick schwa. Use the strong form only at the end of a sentence or when emphasizing the word.
FROM: /frʌm/ vs. /frəm/
"From" follows the same pattern. The vowel /ʌ/ reduces to schwa /ə/ in natural speech. The consonant cluster /fr/ stays the same, but the vowel becomes shorter and more relaxed.
AT: /æt/ vs. /ət/
"At" is one of the smallest words in English, and its weak form /ət/ is even smaller. It practically vanishes in fast speech. Pay attention to phrases like "look at," "at home," and "at work" where the weak form is standard.
Bonus: CAN /kæn/ vs. /kən/
While not a preposition, "can" follows the exact same weak form pattern and is worth mentioning. In positive sentences, "can" is almost always reduced to /kən/. The strong form /kæn/ is reserved for emphasis or the negative "can't."
When to Use Strong Forms
Use the strong (full) pronunciation of prepositions in these situations:
- At the end of a sentence: "Where are you going to?" (to = /tuː/)
- For emphasis or contrast: "It's for YOU, not for him." (for = /fɔːr/)
- When speaking slowly or clearly: dictation, giving directions, teaching.
- When the word stands alone: "To." "From." (answering a question)
Listening Practice Tips
To train your ear for weak forms, try these strategies:
- Listen to podcasts or movies and focus specifically on prepositions. Notice how they almost disappear.
- Practice shadowing: repeat after native speakers, matching their rhythm and reductions.
- Record yourself and compare. Are your prepositions short enough?
- Remember: if you pronounce every word with equal stress, you will sound unnatural, even if each word is "correct."
Mastering weak forms is one of the fastest ways to sound more like a native speaker. Start by focusing on one preposition at a time, and soon these reductions will become automatic in your speech.