OK. Let’s compare “a” and “b”.
How many? How many content words does sentence “a” have? How many content words?
One and that is? “do”.
This one? Two. First one: “can’t” and “do” Which one gets more stress. No. “do”. We haven’t actually talked about this yet. The last content word usually gets more stress. First content word, second content word, there is more stress here.
Why is this a content word here? Not. Because of the negative. Whenever you have a negative, it becomes a content word.
So what happens to the vowel here? Reduced, right? So we are going to say I can [aɪ kn̩] . Now is not. Schwa “ə” would be [aɪ kən] but we usually use [aɪ kn̩] I use a syllabic n [kn̩].
I can do it [aɪ kn̩ du ɪt], I can do it [aɪ kn̩ du ɪt], Here? can’t [kænt] I can’t do it. [aɪ kænt du ɪt]
I can’t do it. [aɪ kænt du ɪt]
I can’t do it. [aɪ kænt du ɪt]
.....
You don’t want to say: You can’t do it. [ju ˈkænt du ɪt] if you say: [ju ˈkænt du ɪt] then: We get confused. What do you mean? [ˈkænt ] This one? [kænt] [kænt du ɪt] [ju kænt du ɪt].
You have to say [ju kn̩ du ɪt]
I can ˈswim. [aɪ kn̩ ˈswɪm]
We can ˈhear the ˈnoise. [wi kn̩ ˈhiɹ ðə ˈnɔɪz]
ˈSharon can ˈspeak ˈEnglish. [ˈʃɛɹən kn̩ ˈspik ˈ ɪŋglɪʃ]
[kn̩] OK?
Can you help me? [kæn ju hɛlp mi]
[kæn]
[kæn]
Second one:
Can you help me? [kæn ju hɛlp mi]
Can you help me? [kæn ju hɛlp mi]
Can you help me? [kn̩ ju hɛlp mi] sounds really odd.
Can you help me? [kæn ju hɛlp mi]
Can you help me? [kæn ju hɛlp mi]
Where can we meet? [wɛɹ kæn wi mit]
OK. So, in a question we usually we say [kæn] in a affirmative sentence usually we say [kn̩], OK?
OK. So.
Negative. Not. You have to say [kænt] or [kɛnʔ] use a glottal stop or [kænt] or [kɛnʔ]
And if it comes at the end of a ‘sentence’: you can’t say [kn̩], Yes I can . [jɛs aɪ kæn]. You have to say: Yes I can. [jɛs aɪ kæn].
You can’t say . [jɛs aɪ kn̩], it sounds really funny. OK.
Do you know this movie: Catch me if you can [kæʧ mi ɪf ju kæn]. Catch me if you can [kæʧ mi ɪf ju kæn].
If you say: Catch me if you can [kæʧ mi if you kn̩]. That’s not good. OK.