– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Hi. I'm Tim and this is my Pronunciation workshop. Here I'm gonna show you how English is

really spoken. Come on, let's go inside.

Now, if you've been following my adventures in

this workshop, you will know that I've had a bit of bad luck, now and then. But not half

as much bad luck as this chap. Listen to what these people are saying about him.

He looks like he's had an accident. He looks like he's had an accident.

He looks like he's had an accident. He looks like he's had an accident.

Now, they all used the word 'he' twice. But there were two different pronunciations. Listen

out for them both as you watch again.

He looks like he's had an accident. He looks like he's had an accident.

He looks like he's had an accident. He looks like he's had an accident.

In fluent speech, if the word 'he' comes at the beginning of a sentence or clause, then

the 'h' sound /h/ is pronounced. But if it comes in the middle of a sentence or clause

and after a consonant, then the 'h' sound is not usually pronounced. So /hiː/ becomes

/iː/ and 'he looks like he's had an accident' becomes 'he looks like 'e's had an accident'.

Now this change also happens with certain other words beginning with the 'h' sound,

like him, his or her. Here are some more examples.

I really like his cooking. We think he's left the country.

They let him leave early. They offered her a promotion.

Right, so you've heard the examples, and now it's your turn. You know the drill by now.

Listen and repeat.

I really like his cooking.

We think he's left the country.

They let him leave early.

They offered her a promotion.

Well done. Now remember, if you want to learn more about pronunciation, then please visit

our website, bbclearningenglish.com. And that is about it from the pronunciation workshop

for this week. I'll see you soon. Bye bye! Now, that man in the photograph - his head

looked a bit sore - which reminds me. Saw! I love DIY! Actually, I am a bit accident-prone.

But my twin Tom is very good with his hands. I think I'll give him a ring and ask for his

advice. Ow! Every time!

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
workshop /ˈwɜːkʃɒp/ B1	noun - a room or building where work, especially skilled work, is done.
adventures /ədˈventʃərz/ B1	noun - an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience.
luck /lʌk/ A2	noun - success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions.
fluent /ˈfluːənt/ B2	adjective - able to express oneself easily and articulately.
sentence /ˈsentəns/ A2	noun - a set of words that expresses a complete thought.
pronunciation /prəˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃn/ B1	noun - the way in which a word is spoken.
examples /ɪɡˈzɑːmplz/ A2	noun - a thing characteristic of its kind or illustrating a general rule.
repeat /rɪˈpiːt/ A2	verb - say or do something again.
website /ˈwebsaɪt/ B1	noun - a location on the World Wide Web.
photograph /ˈfoʊtəɡræf/ B1	noun - a picture made using a camera.
sore /sɔːr/ A2	adjective - painful or aching.
reminds /rɪˈmaɪndz/ B1	verb - cause (someone) to remember something.
accident /ˈæksɪdənt/ B1	noun - an unforeseen event causing damage or injury.
cooking /ˈkʊkɪŋ/ A2	noun - the practice or skill of preparing food by combining ingredients and subjecting them to heat.
country /ˈkʌntri/ A2	noun - a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory.
promotion /prəˈmoʊʃn/ B1	noun - elevation in rank or position.
advice /ədˈvaɪs/ B1	noun - guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action.

Key Grammar Structures

• Now, if you've been following my adventures in this workshop, you will know that I've had a bit of bad luck, now and then.

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous/Past Simple, Conditional Clause (Type 0)

  ➔ The phrase "you've been following" uses the Present Perfect Continuous to indicate an action that started in the past and continues to the present. "you will know" is a simple future statement. The 'if' clause sets up a condition.

• But not half as much bad luck as this chap.

  ➔ Comparative Adjective (half as much...as)

  ➔ This sentence uses a comparative structure to show a lesser degree of bad luck. "half as much...as" indicates that the 'chap' experienced significantly less bad luck.

• In fluent speech, if the word 'he' comes at the beginning of a sentence or clause, then the 'h' sound /h/ is pronounced.

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Type 1), Gerund as Subject Complement

  ➔ This sentence uses a Type 1 conditional to describe a general rule. "if the word 'he' comes..." is the condition, and "then the 'h' sound is pronounced" is the result. 'Fluent speech' acts as a subject complement.

• They offered her a promotion.

  ➔ Indirect Object Pronoun, Past Simple

  ➔ "her" is an indirect object pronoun, receiving the benefit of the action (the promotion). "offered" is in the past simple tense.