Today, we answer a question from our reader Miguel. He writes:

今天，我们来回答我们的读者米格尔提出的一个问题v&DWy1Dc9n.。他写道：

Why is it wrong to answer a question like this: "Yes, I'm" or "Yes, it's" or "Yes, he's" ?

为什么像这样回答问题是错误的：“Yes， I’m”或“Yes，it’s”又或者是“Yes，he’s”？

Thank you. – from Miguel

谢谢——米格尔

Dear Miguel,

亲爱的米格尔，

Thank you for your question.

谢谢你的提问I*CIeExCg,J9。

Your examples use short answers that include what grammar experts call "weak" forms.

你所举的例子使用了简略回答，其中包括语法专家所说的“弱读”式|fE*DPip0=Y0y[iV[zkY。

When a speaker uses a contraction, or shortened word, the sound of the vowel almost disappears.

当说话者使用缩写形式或缩约形式时，里面的元音几乎不发音@_wgvMe-Vb][QYtm;Tv。

An example is the word "I'm."

“I’m”就是一个例子yFqoX3edm_66^Bmh5Ab。

In this contraction, the /ae/ sound in "am" is harder to hear.

在这个缩写形式中，“am”里/ae/这个音比较难听出来M4Pi!.EZT[R8v,v01K。

This happens because the speaker uses less force to say the vowel sound.

发生这种情况是因为说话者发元音那个音时用力较小nDstp#PG(7SNT。

There are two rules that apply to these forms. These rules help explain why you cannot answer "Yes, I'm."

有两个规则适用于这些形式j]Diwi]n[,S(u@)=6。这些规则有助于解释为什么你不能回答“Yes，I’myyHYhdl7k+T。”

The first rule has to do with an answer that leaves out part of a thought. Here is an example.

第一个规则是关于省略了部分内容的回答P_^0bir4Fi3e8w;|s3a~。下面是一个例子SFT^~Z7Uy1pr^y。

Is that your dog? Yes, it is.

那是你的狗吗？是的，它是我的狗5~GJ,IY6=V3nYd5。

After "it is," we understand that the words needed to make a complete thought are "my dog."

我们知道要使内容完整，“it is”之后需要加“my dog”^K(RqNX13Xqt。

The speaker does not need to say "my dog" because the listener understands what they are talking about.

说话人不需要说“my dog”，因为听者明白他们在说什么Y&OEteD__J*OLbsZ。

But the speaker cannot reduce this answer to "Yes, it's."

但是说话人不能把这个回答简化为“Yes，it’sIK~xi71|84Ux。”

So the rule is that when something is left out at the end of a statement, you cannot end the statement with a weak form.

所以这个规则就是，当一个陈述句末尾省略了一些内容时，你不能用一个弱读式来结束这个陈述句kbk(QN3aF-TtIl。

But this is not true when the short answer is "No."

但当简略回答是否定时就不适用了]1VzLB&#I*ZP]z3。

In that case, the negative word "not" follows directly after the verb.

在那种情况下，否定词“not”直接跟在动词之后UeJI^dK|SFP35。

So the weak form is not at the end of the statement. Here is an example:

所以弱读式不在陈述句的末尾H|]iwCTjmh73*,C)nc5。以下是一个示例：

Are you ready? No, I'm not.

你准备好了吗？不，没准备好U[.l&S!CU^ti!lAdY0x。

There is still something missing at the end of the statement -- the word "ready." But the statement does not end with the weak form "I'm."

陈述句的末尾仍然省略了一些内容——“ready”这个单词rE4eCF5ZR9。但是这个陈述句并没有以弱读式“I’m”结束s.MO&lvo=gSd,+Oc。

The second rule has to do with stress, the loudness or force a speaker uses on different sounds in a sentence. Listen to the stress pattern here:

第二个规则与重读有关，也就是说话人对句子中不同发音所使用的音量或力度XJT64WjGhnm)w(iwB。听听以下重读形式：

Will we all GO? I think we WILL.

我们都去吗？我想我们都得去iWhHSyf&x0AK!eaAjdc。

The speaker says the words "go" and "will" with more force or stress.

说话人说“go”和“will”这两个单词时力度更大或者说会重读这两个单词Uu~|kd^DKmq@.Hp。

If a word is stressed, English does not permit reduced or weak forms. So you cannot say "I think we'll."

如果有一个单词需要重读，那么英语中就不允许出现缩略形式或弱读式|EDtO--v95^ri,%_t。所以你不能说“I think we’ll .”

However, a speaker can stress the negative form, "I think we won't."

但是，说话者可以重读否定形式，“I think we won’t”(OZU9p;y8||xN__8。

I hope this helps you understand, Miguel. Thank you for the question.

我希望这能帮助你理解，米格尔G2g]0kXBCWlv7。感谢你的提问kVM-#_]i1*exB8pIt^J。

And that's Ask a Teacher.

以上就是本期《名师答疑》的全部内容XS^A0odvTjj+=^(Z。

I'm Jill Robbins.

我是吉尔·罗宾斯Z;YNbb5iBMMmbc1%;A。