Chunking and pausing in a Part 2 answer

Say each pair aloud. If the two words sound the same when you record yourself, slow down and go back to the steps above.

• The woman who called | said it was urgent./The woman | who called said it was urgent.
• Those who left early | missed the fireworks./Those who left | early missed the fireworks.
• I bought three books | which cost ten pounds each./I bought three books which cost | ten pounds each.
• Whenever I travel abroad | I prefer staying in hostels./Whenever I travel | abroad I prefer staying in hostels.
• My elder brother | who lives in Bristol | visited us./My elder brother who lives | in Bristol visited us.
• Students who study hard | usually pass the exam./Students who study | hard usually pass the exam.

1. 1

   To be completely honest, | I chose this particular course | because of the career prospects.

   pauses after introductory marker and main clause

2. 2

   It happened about three years ago, | when I was spending my summer holiday | in Cornwall.

   natural boundary pauses between time clauses

3. 3

   The main reason I admire her | is that she handles stressful situations | with great composure.

   chunking complex subject clause before the verb

4. 4

   Although it was pouring with rain, | we decided to carry on walking | towards the summit.

   pitch hold and pause after concession clause

5. 5

   I used to live in a shared flat, | but recently I managed to rent | my own place.

   thought groups joined by coordinating conjunction

6. 6

   Every morning before work, | I usually spend twenty minutes | reading the local news.

   chunking time adverbial and activity predicate

7. 7

   One thing that really annoyed me | was the constant noise coming | from the building site.

   pause between long subject noun phrase and predicate

8. 8

   If I had the chance to visit again, | I would definitely spend more time | exploring the old town.

   pause after conditional clause and before participle

9. 9

   My hometown is quite picturesque, | with historic stone cottages | and rolling green hills.

   pausing before descriptive prepositional chunks

10. 10

    I first came across this gadget | while browsing through a local market | last December.

    clean division between action and setting

11. 11

    Even though public transport is reliable, | cycling to the office | saves a lot of money.

    pausing around the gerund subject phrase

12. 12

    At first it felt overwhelming, | but as the weeks went by, | I found my footing.

    three-part narrative rhythm with balanced pauses

• Assimilation (would you, don't you, ten people)
• Contractions in natural speech (I'd, we've, it's)
• Elision: dropping t and d between consonants (next day)
• Linking a consonant to a vowel (pick it up)
• Linking r in British English (far away, more often)
• Linking with /j/ and /w/ sounds (I am, go out)
• All 59 pronunciation sets
• Part 1 topics
• Part 2 cue cards
• Part 3 questions