英语母语者经常在讲话中进行连读，这是造成英语学习者听力理解障碍的原因之一。
在连贯的说话或朗读时，在同一个意群中，如果相邻的两个词前者以辅音音素结尾，后者以元音音素开头，就要自然地将辅音和元音相拼，构成一个音节，这就是连读。连读时的音节一般不重读，只需要顺其自然地一带而过，不可以加音，也不可读得太重。(本文连读用 ~ 标记)
- “辅音+元音”连读
在同一个意群里，如果相邻两词中的前一个词以辅音结尾，后一个词以元音开头，这时就要将辅音与元音拼起来连读。例如：
- I'm~an~English boy.
- It's~an~old book.
- Let me have~a look~at~it.
- I called~you half~an~hour~ago
- Put~it~on, please.
- Not~at~all.
- Please pick~it~up.
- “r/re + 元音”连读
如果前一个词以-r 或 -re 结尾，后一个词以元音开头，这时的 r 或 re 不但要发 /r/，而且还要和后面的元音拼起来连读。例如：
- They're my father~and mother.
- I looked for~it here~and there.
- There~is a football under~it.
- There~are some books on the desk.
- Here~is a letter for you.
- Here~are four~eggs.
- Where~are your brother~and sister?
- “辅音+半元音”连读
英语语音中的 /j/ 和 /w/ 是半元音。如果前一个词以辅音结尾，后一个词以半元音，特别是/j/ 开头，此时也要连读。例如：
- Thank~you.
- Nice to meet~you.
- Did~you get there late again?
- Would~you like a cup of tea?
- Could~you help me, please?
- “辅音+h(不发音)”连读
如果前一个词以辅音结尾，后一个词以轻辅音/h/开头，语速较快时，会直接穿透/h/ 与后面的元音连读，/h/ 不发音。例如：
- Leave~him. /li:vɪm/
- Must~he go? /mʌstɪ/
- Should~he ... ? /ʃʊdɪ/
- What will~he do? /wɪlɪ/
- Has~he done it before? /hæzɪ/
- Tell~him to ask her the question. /telɪm/
- Why don't you buy a bike for~him? /fɔ:rɪm/
- “元音+元音”连读
如果前一个词以元音结尾，后一个词以元音开头，这两个音往往也要自然而不间断地连读在一起。但是“元音+元音”连读的情况较少，一般是 /ʊ/, /u:/, /ɪ/, /i:/ 与其它元音的连读，同时会伴随音变，即加音现象。加音现象一般包括两种：
- 前一个词以 /ʊ/, /u:/结尾，后一个词以元音开头，那么中间会加上 /w/
- 前一个词一 /ɪ/, /i:/ 结尾，后一个词以元音开头，那么中间会加上 /j/
- Do (w) any.
- Just do (w) it
- Go (w) away
- How (w) and why did you come here?
- The question is too (w) easy for him to answer.
- See (j) us.
- Hurry (j) up.
- She can't carry (j) it.
- He (j)is very friendly to me.
- She wants to study (j) English.
- It'll take you three (j) hours to walk there.
- I (j) am Chinese.
- 不可连读
当短语或从句之间按意群进行停顿时，意群和意群之间即使有两个相邻的辅音与元音出现，也不可以连读。例如：
- Is~it~a hat or a cat? (hat 与 or 之间不可以连读)
- There~is~a good book in my desk. (book 和 in 之间不可以连读)
- Can you speak~English or French? (English 和 or 之间不可以连读)
- Shall we meet at~eight or ten tomorrow morning? (meet 与 at, eight 与 or 之间不可以连读)
- She opened the door and walked~in. (door 与 and 之间不可以连读)