Shadowing Practice: American English Pronunciation: I'd... - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hey, what's up?
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It's Alex.
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Today, I'd like to talk about the connected sounds in a couple of really common phrases that all use the word I'd.
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I'd better go, I'd better not, and so on.
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So, the first thing to notice here is that when we have this d sound at the end of a word,
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I'd, it links to the next consonant by reducing the D.
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It's like my mouth wants to say D, but it doesn't finish the sound.
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It blends into the next sound.
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So I'd better, I'd better, I'd better go, I'd better go.
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And so we can mark that here with kind of a mark to show that we're I'm not finishing the sound, it's an unreleased d and it blends right into the next consonant.
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I'd better not.
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I'd better not.
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This T at the end of the word here in not turns into a glottal stop
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when it's at the end of a sentence.
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When we don't have anything else after it, it's a glottal stop.
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It's not not.
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It becomes not.
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Not.
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I'd better not.
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I'd like that.
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I'd like that.
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We have the same T rule here.
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I'd like that.
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And we have the same connected consonant with the D.
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I'd like that.
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I'd like that.
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I'd like to know.
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I'd like to know.
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I'd like to know.
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The same unreleased D here, and then to, the word to, gets reduced to to.
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I'd like to.
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I'd like to.
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We're going to connect the K and the T here as well.
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I'd like to.
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I'd like to know.
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I'd love to go.
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I'd love to go.
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We have the same reduction in the vowel from to down to to.
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I'd love to.
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I'd love to go.
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I'd love to go.
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I'd love to see it.
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I'd love to see it.
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Connect the D and the L, and then we reduce the vowel again in to.
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So when we have to before a verb, we're going to reduce that oo into a.
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I'd love to see it.
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I'd love to see it.
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Now we've got the glottal stop at the end of the sentence.
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We don't say the full t.
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It's just see it.
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I'd love to see it.
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I'd rather not.
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I'd rather not.
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So I'd rather not.
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Here we have a very gentle reduced d sound.
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You can hear the D actually finishes the whole complete D sound.
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I'd rather, drather, drather, I'd rather, I'd rather not, I'd rather not, I'd rather not.
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And then at the end, we have the same glottal stop.
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I'd rather not, I'd rather not.
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It's a very, very gentle tap of the tongue to finish this D sound with rather, but for all the other consonants,
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we really blend that D with the next consonant completely.
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Now let's look at the intonation.
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I'd better go.
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I'd better go.
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Drop on the final word here.
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I'd better go.
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I'd better not.
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I'd better not.
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I'd better not.
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I'd like that.
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So here we're going to stress like.
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Somebody says something to you and you say that you would like it, right?
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I'd like that.
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I'd like that.
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Very low tone on that.
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I'd like that.
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I'd like that.
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I'd like to know.
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I'd like to know.
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I'd like to know.
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So the word to here gets reduced in its vowel and in its intonation.
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I'd like to know.
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I'd like to know.
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I'd love to go.
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I'd love to go.
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I'd love to go.
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I'd love to see it.
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I'd love to see it.
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I'd love to see it.
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I'd love to see it.
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I'd rather not.
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I'd rather not.
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Back to the original here.
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I'd better go.
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I'd rather not.
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One more time all the way through.
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I'd better go.
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I'd better not.
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I'd like that.
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I'd like to know.
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I'd love to go.
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I'd love to see it.
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I'd rather not.
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What other common English sounds and phrases do you want me to talk about next?
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Let me know in the comments.
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I'll see you next time.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will enhance your American English pronunciation by focusing on the nuances of connected sounds, particularly those involving the phrase "I'd." We'll break down various common phrases that incorporate this key verb, such as "I'd better," "I'd like to," and "I'd love to." By understanding how these phrases interconnect and how sounds blend, you will be able to sound more fluent and natural in conversation. This is a crucial skill for those preparing for situations like IELTS speaking practice or everyday communication.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • I'd better go - A common way to express the necessity to leave.
  • I'd like that - A polite way to express preference or desire.
  • I'd love to go - An enthusiastic expression of desire.
  • I'd like to know - A phrase used when seeking information.
  • I'd better not - A phrase indicating caution or disapproval.
  • Glottal stop - A sound made by stopping airflow in the throat, often replacing 't' in casual speech.
  • Connected speech - When words blend together in spoken language.

Practice Tips

To effectively learn English with YouTube videos like this one, consider using a technique called shadowspeak. This involves listening to the phrases and repeating them simultaneously to mimic the natural flow and rhythm of the speaker. Pay close attention to how certain sounds are softened or shortened, particularly the 'd' in "I'd" and how it connects with the following word. For example, practice phrases like "I'd better go" or "I'd love to see it" by saying them out loud. Start at a slow pace, gradually increasing your speed to match the video as you become more comfortable.

Be sure to focus on the reduction of sounds, such as "to" becoming "ta" in natural speech. This shadowing will help you not only with pronunciation but also with your overall fluency. Remember, the goal is to sound natural and to communicate effectively, whether in casual conversation or while preparing for IELTS speaking practice. Consistency is key, so keep practicing these connected sounds until they feel effortless.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.