Say 'Yes, I am' not 'Yes I'm'
2020-12-12
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1Today, we answer a question from our reader Miguel. He writes:
2Why is it wrong to answer a question like this: "Yes, I'm" or "Yes, it's" or "Yes, he's" ?
3Thank you. - from Miguel
4Dear Miguel,
5Thank you for your question.
6Your examples use short answers that include what grammar experts call "weak" forms.
7When a speaker uses a contraction, or shortened word, the sound of the vowel almost disappears.
8An example is the word "I'm."
9In this contraction, the /ae/ sound in "am" is harder to hear.
10This happens because the speaker uses less force to say the vowel sound.
11There are two rules that apply to these forms.
12These rules help explain why you cannot answer "Yes, I'm."
13The first rule has to do with an answer that leaves out part of a thought.
14Here is an example.
15Is that your dog?
16Yes, it is.
17After "it is," we understand that the words needed to make a complete thought are "my dog."
18The speaker does not need to say "my dog" because the listener understands what they are talking about.
19But the speaker cannot reduce this answer to "Yes, it's."
20So the rule is that when something is left out at the end of a statement, you cannot end the statement with a weak form.
21But this is not true when the short answer is "No."
22In that case, the negative word "not" follows directly after the verb.
23So the weak form is not at the end of the statement.
24Here is an example:
25Are you ready?
26No, I'm not.
27There is still something missing at the end of the statement - the word "ready."
28But the statement does not end with the weak form "I'm."
29The second rule has to do with stress, the loudness or force a speaker uses on different sounds in a sentence.
30Listen to the stress pattern here:
31Will we all GO?
32I think we WILL.
33The speaker says the words "go" and "will" with more force or stress.
34If a word is stressed, English does not permit reduced or weak forms.
35So you cannot say *"I think we'll."
36However, a speaker can stress the negative form, "I think we won't."
37I hope this helps you understand, Miguel. Thank you for the question.
38And that's Ask a Teacher.
39What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com
40I'm Jill Robbins.
41And I'm Greg Stachel.
1Today, we answer a question from our reader Miguel. He writes: 2Question: 3Why is it wrong to answer a question like this: "Yes, I'm" or "Yes, it's" or "Yes, he's" ? 4Thank you. - from Miguel 5Answer: 6Dear Miguel, 7Thank you for your question. Your examples use short answers that include what grammar experts call "weak" forms. When a speaker uses a contraction, or shortened word, the sound of the vowel almost disappears. An example is the word "I'm." In this contraction, the /ae/ sound in "am" is harder to hear. This happens because the speaker uses less force to say the vowel sound. There are two rules that apply to these forms. These rules help explain why you cannot answer "Yes, I'm." 8Full forms 9The first rule has to do with an answer that leaves out part of a thought. Here is an example. 10Is that your dog? 11Yes, it is. 12After "it is," we understand that the words needed to make a complete thought are "my dog." The speaker does not need to say "my dog" because the listener understands what they are talking about. But the speaker cannot reduce this answer to "Yes, it's." So the rule is that when something is left out at the end of a statement, you cannot end the statement with a weak form. 13But this is not true when the short answer is "No." In that case, the negative word "not" follows directly after the verb. So the weak form is not at the end of the statement. Here is an example: 14Are you ready? 15No, I'm not. 16There is still something missing at the end of the statement - the word "ready." But the statement does not end with the weak form "I'm." 17Stress 18The second rule has to do with stress, the loudness or force a speaker uses on different sounds in a sentence. Listen to the stress pattern here: 19Will we all GO? 20I think we WILL. 21The speaker says the words "go" and "will" with more force or stress. If a word is stressed, English does not permit reduced or weak forms. So you cannot say *"I think we'll." 22However, a speaker can stress the negative form, "I think we won't." 23I hope this helps you understand, Miguel. Thank you for the question. 24And that's Ask a Teacher. 25What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com 26I'm Jill Robbins. 27And I'm Greg Stachel. 28Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 29_______________________________________________________________ 30Words in This Story 31vowel - n. a sound made with the mouth open, like a, e, i, o or u. 32negative - n. a word or statement that means "no" or that expresses a denial or refusal 33pattern - n. the regular and repeated way in which something happens or is done 34Do you have a question for the teacher? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com.