Liaison issue with être

Lesson 1.8 with être where it states that the only forms of être where you're always unlikely to hear la liaison is the tu form es and the vous form êtes. The recorded voice for “vous êtes” in this example (and another example) does, in fact, have the liaison for “vous”. The recorded voice does not match what the instructions state for this example. In all my years I have never heard “vous êtes” without the liaison (and it does not sound correct without it).

I believe la liaison being referred to relates to the final s in es and êtes, 

eg Vous êtes à l'heure : there is no liaison between the s of êtes and the next word à.

There is always a liaison between vous and êtes.

Have another listen and you'll see what I mean.

Yes, I agree. I misinterpreted the meaning of the sentence. Thanks for clearing it up.

However, in lesson 9.6, the pronounciation of the four forms of vous êtes alle(e/s) does sound like la liaison is being used!

On the other hand, further down that lesson, the liaison between vous and êtes seems to have gone missing! :

“Est-ce que vous êtes allé à la présentation ?”

Bonjour Meriel,

Yeah that is a bit strange that the liaison is not present. It really should be in there.

However, just a note on the side; while the liaison is preferred, it is not always achieved. Sometimes people end up putting the stress elsewhere in the sentence, or they have a mini-pause to gather their thoughts and that can affect the proper flow and liaison in general spoken French.

I'm not excusing this case, because (given that it's read) it really should be there, I just wanted  to note that sometimes for whatever reason liaison might not be achieved.

Happy studies!

   -   Mitchell