Linking Vowel to Vowel

When one word ends with a vowel sound and the next word begins with a vowel sound, we link the words with a sort of Y or W sound. It depends on the shape of our mouth at the end of the first word.

Lips wide When the first word ends in an a, e, i vowel sound [ eɪ / i: / aɪ ], our lips are wide. Then we insert a Y sound at the beginning of the next word:

we write first word ends with we say pay all /eɪ/ payyall the end /i:/ theyend lie on /aɪ/ lieyon

write They all buy at the arcade. say theyyall buyyat theyarcade

Here are some more examples of word pairs that are linked with Y. lay out, may I, say it he ate, she is, we are high up, my arm, why ever

Lip Round o o | o When the first word ends in an o, u vowel sound [ əʊ / u:} our lips are round Then we insert a W sound at the beginning of the next word:

we write first word ends with we say go out /əʊ/ gowout too often /u:/ toowoften

write You all go out too often. say youwall gowout toowoften

Here are some more examples of word pairs that are linked with W. no other, show off, grow up you are, too often, throw it