English Pronunciation · Linking

Linking Techniques: Exercises

Five practical exercises to make your English flow: identify the link, build sentences from the end, read a linked dialogue, play with sound-alike phrases and race through linking chains.

Fünf Übungen zur Bindung im Englischen – für flüssiges, natürliches Sprechen.

She went over it again→She wen‿to‿ve‿ri‿tagain

15-phrase link sorter
Build-up drill
Linked dialogue
Sound-alikes & chains
8-question quiz

Quick Reminder: Five Ways Words Link

Link	Example
Consonant → vowel	pick‿up → pi‿kup
Vowel → vowel: /j/ (after /iː ɪ eɪ aɪ ɔɪ/)	I‿yagree · she‿yis
Vowel → vowel: /w/ (after /uː ʊ əʊ aʊ/)	go‿won · two‿weggs
Linking /r/ (written r + vowel)	far‿raway · more‿rice
Same consonant	black‿coffee · big‿girl

The theory is on Linking Sounds; more sentence practice on Linking in Sentences.

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Exercise 1: Which Link Is It?

Say each phrase smoothly, then choose the type of link.

Score: 0 / 0

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Exercise 2: Build It Up From the End

Long sentences are easier to link if you start with the last word and add one piece at a time (back-chaining). Press Next step and say each line aloud – keep it smooth.

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Exercise 3: A Linked Dialogue

Read the dialogue with a partner – or record both parts yourself. Links are marked ‿; small letters show the glide sounds.

AHi‿yAnna! What‿are you up to this‿evening?

BNot‿a lot. I‿yam‿at home‿all‿evening.

ADo you want‿to go‿wout for‿ra meal?

BThat’s‿a good‿idea. Where‿rare we going?

AThere’s‿an‿Italian place near‿rour office.

BPerfect. See you‿wat‿eight!

Notice: Do you, up to, See you are not marked – you begins with the consonant /j/, and p + t are different consonants. Read it again faster and swap roles.

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Exercise 4: Sound-Alikes

Because of linking, these pairs sound almost the same. Say them aloud – listeners rely on context to tell them apart.

a nice man ≈ an ice man

a name ≈ an aim

a notion ≈ an ocean

ice cream ≈ I scream

that stuff ≈ that’s tough

Now make up a sentence for each that makes the meaning clear: He’s a nice man – he always helps. · I scream when I see spiders!

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Exercise 5: Linking Chains

Each sentence is one long chain of links. Say it slowly as one “word”, then faster – without any stop before the vowels.

Pick‿it‿up‿and‿put‿it‿in‿a box.

Anne‿ate‿an‿apple‿and‿an‿orange.

Is‿it‿easy‿or‿is‿it‿awful?

Tom‿opened‿all‿of‿his‿emails‿at‿eleven.

German speakers: listen for the Knacklaut (a tiny stop in the throat) before up, and, it, in, an, apple. If you hear it, slow down and slide the consonant across: pi‿kit‿u‿pan‿put…

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