3rd tone pronunciation confusion in a sentence

[Proximity]

Hey Guys,

I am new to Mandarin and had a quick question about the 3rd tone and how its pronunciation changes within a sentence.

From wikipedia:

1.

Before a 1st, 2nd or 4th tone,

the 3rd tone is pronounced as a

low, falling tone

2.

Before another 3rd tone,

the first 3rd tone is changed into a

2nd tone

3.

In final position,

the 3rd tone is most often realised as a

low, falling tone

4.

In isolation,

the 3rd tone is usually pronounced as a

falling-rising tone

So say the sentence is 'wo3 hen3 hao3'. From the list above it would be pronounced 'wo3 hen2 hao(low falling)' as the hen3 changes due to point 2 and the hao3 changes due to point 3.

What I am unsure about is if the sentence was 'wo3 ye3 hen3 hao3'. Would it be pronounced 'wo3 ye2 hen2 hao(low falling)'? as ye3 and hen3 change due to point 2? (and hao3 changes due to point 3).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Luke

[Dorris]

'wo3 hen3 hao3' is definitely correct, but people often say 'wo3 hen2 hao3". the first is for Mandarin test, the second is for daily life.

[edelweis]

wo2 ye3 hen2 hao3.

When there is a succession of 1 character words with the 3rd tone you generally alternate 3 (either low falling or a full 3rd tone) and 2, ending with 3.

(however for some reason I would say wo2 ye2 hao3, not wo3 ye2 hao3 ???)

When characters are grouped by meaning such as in multiple character words, things get complicated. I'd pronunce the first syllable of a 33 word as 2 regardless of what tones are before or after the word.

for instance

you3hao3 => you2hao3

you3hao3 fang3wen4 => you2hao2 fang3wen4

[Proximity]

thanks edelweis, that clears things up a bit.