Grammar and Scary Movies
2021-10-29
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1Halloween is this weekend.
2A holiday with ancient beginnings, the yearly celebration now looks much different than it did in the distant past.
3For example, many Americans now celebrate the holiday by watching scary movies or scary shows at home.
4In today's Everyday Grammar, we will explore some famous words from Scream, a scary movie.
5You will learn about questions, auxiliary verbs and pronunciation.
6In the 1996 film, a killer calls a woman who is alone in her house.
7The killer wants to scare her.
8He asks the following question:
9Do you like scary movies?
10This is what you might call a yes or no question. It is asking for either a yes or a no answer.
11Note that the general structure is this:
12Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + rest of the sentence.
13In our example, do is the auxiliary verb, you is the subject, like is the main verb and the words scary movies make up the rest of the sentence.
14Note that the main verb is in the simple present.
15The simple present does not necessarily express present time.
16It also expresses what is generally true.
17We have explored the line from the movie at the level of grammar.
18But we can also explore the line as a meeting point between grammar and pronunciation.
19Let's listen again:
20Do you like scary movies?
21Did you notice that the word do is difficult to hear?
22That is because Americans often reduce - meaning to say in a softer and shorter way - function words.
23Function words are words that have a grammatical purpose.
24These can include pronouns and auxiliary verbs and other words such as articles and prepositions.
25On the other hand, Americans often stress content words - words that include verbs, nouns, adjectives and so on.
26In our example, the words like scary movies are content words.
27So, if all of the words were spoken clearly, our question would sound like this:
28Do you like scary movies?
29But it sounds like this with the reduced function words:
30D'you like scary movies?
31Some Americans might even reduce the word you even further, and say something like this:
32D'ya like scary movies?
33Today's report explored one line from a scary movie.
34But you can take what you have learned to study any kind of movie or speaking situation.
35Pay careful attention to yes or no questions.
36Note the auxiliary verb and the main verb.
37And then ask yourself which words were stressed or reduced.
38With time and careful study, you will master not only English grammar,
39but also develop a strong understanding of how native speakers produce all kinds of words, statements and questions.
40I'm John Russell.
1Halloween is this weekend. A holiday with ancient beginnings, the yearly celebration now looks much different than it did in the distant past. For example, many Americans now celebrate the holiday by watching scary movies or scary shows at home. 2In today's Everyday Grammar, we will explore some famous words from Scream, a scary movie. You will learn about questions, auxiliary verbs and pronunciation. 3Questions 4In the 1996 film, a killer calls a woman who is alone in her house. The killer wants to scare her. 5He asks the following question: 6Do you like scary movies? 7This is what you might call a yes or no question. It is asking for either a yes or a no answer. 8Note that the general structure is this: 9Auxiliary verb + subject + main verb + rest of the sentence. 10In our example, do is the auxiliary verb, you is the subject, like is the main verb and the words scary movies make up the rest of the sentence. 11Do you like scary movies? 12Note that the main verb is in the simple present. The simple present does not necessarily express present time. It also expresses what is generally true. 13Grammar and pronunciation 14We have explored the line from the movie at the level of grammar. But we can also explore the line as a meeting point between grammar and pronunciation. 15Let's listen again: 16Do you like scary movies? 17Did you notice that the word do is difficult to hear? That is because Americans often reduce - meaning to say in a softer and shorter way - function words. Function words are words that have a grammatical purpose. These can include pronouns and auxiliary verbs and other words such as articles and prepositions. 18On the other hand, Americans often stress content words - words that include verbs, nouns, adjectives and so on. In our example, the words like scary movies are content words. 19So, if all of the words were spoken clearly, our question would sound like this: 20Do you like scary movies? 21But it sounds like this with the reduced function words: 22D'you like scary movies? 23Some Americans might even reduce the word you even further, and say something like this: 24D'ya like scary movies? 25Closing thoughts 26Today's report explored one line from a scary movie. 27But you can take what you have learned to study any kind of movie or speaking situation. Pay careful attention to yes or no questions. Note the auxiliary verb and the main verb. And then ask yourself which words were stressed or reduced. 28With time and careful study, you will master not only English grammar, but also develop a strong understanding of how native speakers produce all kinds of words, statements and questions. 29I'm John Russell. 30John Russell wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 31_____________________________________________________________ 32Words in This Story 33scary - adj. causing fear 34auxiliary verb - n. grammar : a verb (such as have, be, may, do, shall, will, can, or must) that is used with another verb to show the verb's tense, to form a question, etc. 35pronunciation - n. the way in which a word or name is pronounced; a particular person's way of pronouncing a word or the words of a language 36stress - v. to pronounce (a syllable or word) in a louder or more forceful way than other syllables or words 37master - v. to get the knowledge and skill that permits you to do, use, or understand (something) very well