Pronunciation Can & Can't- Strong and Weak Form نطق مع @ayaranya5551

"Can" is usually pronounced /kən/ (with a schwa sound): as in "I can (/kən/) ride a bike". It is treated as a function word and as such, is unstressed. "Can't" is pronounced /kænʔ/ (with a glottal stop replacing an expected /t/ sound) as in: "But, I can't (/kænʔ/) ride a horse." The distinction for the listener is the unstressed schwa (/ə/) in "can" and the fully stressed /æ/ in "can't". The exception to this is when "can" is at the end of a sentence: "Can (/kən/) you ride a bike?" "Yes, I can." (/kæn/). In this position "can" is stressed and is pronounced: /kæn/. The negative response would be: "No, I can't." (/kænʔ/), pronounced (/kænt/) in careful speech.

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