When we use the present simple we normally use frequency adverbs to show that the action is frequent. In order to use frequency adverbs correctly we need to know their position in the sentence. Click on the picture below and learn about the position of frequency adverbs.
We generally put frequency adverbs after auxiliary verbs (e.g. I am always happy) However, if the speaker wants to give emphasis to the auxiliary verb, the speaker places the frequency adverb before the auxiliary verb and in this case the pronunciation of the auxiliary verb is strong. This is something that the speaker decides in terms of their communicative intention.
I am sometimes worried about my health. (Here the pronunciation of the auxiliary «be» > «am» is weak, that is, /əm/.
I sometimes am worried about my health. In this case the pronunciation of the auxiliary «be» > «am» is strong, that is, /æm/.
In English there are some grammatical words which have a weak pronunciation and a strong pronunciation ( articles, prepositions, conjunctions, auxiliary verbs, etc..)
The frequent pronunciation of these words is the weak pronunciation. The strong form only happens when we pronounce the words alone, or when we emphasize them. Weak forms are very often pronounced with a schwa (ə) (e.g. some > weak form /səm/ strong form /sʌm/
In short (En pocas palabras,), when a speaker decides to use the strong pronunciation of an auxiliary verb is because of a question of emphasis (debido a una cuestión de énfasis) and if that auxiliary is used together with a frequency adverb, that frequency adverb changes its normal position, from «after the auxiliary» to «before the auxiliary».
Hello Pilar; I do not know what that means:
» when the auxiliaries are to be stressed» they are sometimes put after the adverbs.
Thanks
We generally put frequency adverbs after auxiliary verbs (e.g. I am always happy) However, if the speaker wants to give emphasis to the auxiliary verb, the speaker places the frequency adverb before the auxiliary verb and in this case the pronunciation of the auxiliary verb is strong. This is something that the speaker decides in terms of their communicative intention.
I am sometimes worried about my health. (Here the pronunciation of the auxiliary «be» > «am» is weak, that is, /əm/.
I sometimes am worried about my health. In this case the pronunciation of the auxiliary «be» > «am» is strong, that is, /æm/.
In English there are some grammatical words which have a weak pronunciation and a strong pronunciation ( articles, prepositions, conjunctions, auxiliary verbs, etc..)
The frequent pronunciation of these words is the weak pronunciation. The strong form only happens when we pronounce the words alone, or when we emphasize them. Weak forms are very often pronounced with a schwa (ə) (e.g. some > weak form /səm/ strong form /sʌm/
In short (En pocas palabras,), when a speaker decides to use the strong pronunciation of an auxiliary verb is because of a question of emphasis (debido a una cuestión de énfasis) and if that auxiliary is used together with a frequency adverb, that frequency adverb changes its normal position, from «after the auxiliary» to «before the auxiliary».
I hope you understand my explanation.
Regards,
Pilar
then, «before the auxiliary » when we emphasize with the phrase
Is this so?
Thanks
When we emphasize the auxiliary verb, not the phrase (a decision which depends on the speaker).