really spoken. Come on, let's go inside.

Oh dear, excuse me. I'm a bit tired: I was out

late last night, with the lads. I know, yeah, we didn't get back until 9.30. In the evening.

It was a wild night. I know, I know, I am a party animal. Anyway, while I get myself

together a bit, let's ask some other people in London what they got up to last night.

At 9 o'clock last night I was watching a movie.

I was laying in bed. I was invited to a dinner at my friend's house.

I was playing football I was out drinking.

Well well, what interesting lives we all lead.

Now they all used the past form of the verb 'to be' - was. Now the word 'was' is made of

the sounds /w/, /ɔ:/, / z/, isn't it? Or is it? Listen again. What sound can you actually hear?

At 9 o'clock last night I was watching a movie.

I was laying in bed. I was invited to a dinner at my friend's house.

I was playing football I was out drinking.

When the word 'was' is unstressed, as in the

examples we've just heard, then the vowel sound changes to a schwa - /ə/. So 'was' becomes

/wəz/, and also 'were' becomes /wə/. These are called weak forms. Here are some more examples.

I was there when it happened.

We were delighted with the results.

We were having a good time until it rained.

He was feeling much better last night.

Right, now you've heard the examples, and

now it's your turn. Listen and repeat.

I was there when it happened.

We were delighted with the results.

We were having a good time until it rained.

He was feeling much better last night.

Great work. Remember, if you want to learn

more about pronunciation, then please visit our website, bbclearningenglish dot com. And

that is about it from the Pronunciation Workshop for now. I'll see you soon. Bye bye! Now...

oh look! Hey, you know what this is? This is WAS backwards. Get it? WAS backwards...

it's a SAW. Now, I know what you were thinking. You were thinking that I was going to have

some terrible accident. Well don't worry - it's not even switched on - look! Wooahhhhh!!!