ch 1 Common reductions in American English

. Reductions (gonna, wanna, gotta) Guess whaddit says😂 1. [ai•hafta•goh] 2. [ai•needa•leev•nao] 3. [də•yə•wanna•kum] 4. [its•ard•tə•sei] 5. [aim•trai•yinna•elp] 6. [aid•laikda•noh] 7. [ahr•yuh•gonna•eet] 8. [ai•fər•gotta•kawl] 9. [ahl•tawk•tə•yuh•lei•dər] 10. [aim•map•pee•də•elp] Answers on next slide

Perhaps the most reduced English word is “to”. It is usually reduced to “tə”, “də”, “nə” or even just “ə” in spoken English. There isn’t one right way to reduce, it is an option for fast, casual speech. 🔹 Reductions with “to” 1. I have to go.  [ai•hafta•gou] 2. I need to leave now.  [ai•needa•leev•nao] 3. Do you want to come?  [də•yə•wanna•kum] 4. It’s hard to say.  [its•sard•tə•sei] 5. I’m just trying to help. [aim•jus•trai•yin•də•elp] [aim•jus•trai•yin•nə•elp] 6. I’d like to know.  [aid•laik•də•nou] 7. Are you going to eat?  [ahr•yuh•gonna•eet] 8. I forgot to call.  [ai•for•gawt•də•kawl] 9. I’ll talk to you later.  [ahl•tawk•tə•yuh•lei•dər] 10. I’m happy to help.  [aim•map•pee•də•elp] In a dialogue 🗨️ As the sun started to set, Sarah realized it was time to go. “I need to leave now,” she told her friend, Emily. “Do you want to come with me?” Emily paused, not sure what to say. “It’s hard to decide,” she replied. “I just want to help,” Sarah said kindly. Then Sarah heard Emily’s stomach growl. “Are you going to eat anything?” she asked. Emily laughed a little. “I forgot to order the pizza,” she said, feeling embarrassed. “No problem. I’ll call now,” Sarah said, picking up her phone. Later, as they sat together eating, Emily smiled and said, “I’m glad I stayed. I’m happy to help.” Sarah smiled back, thankful for her friend. They enjoyed the meal and started talking about their next plan.

To “to” usually reduces so much that it's like dropping the vowel. Use a t' or tə / ta sound to replace “to”. If to follows a vowel sound, it often becomes d' or də / da. --- Looks Like... 11.today [t'dei] 12.tonight [t'nait] 13.tomorrow [t'morrow] 14.to work [t'werk] 15.to school [t'skool] 16. to the store [t'th•store] 17. We have to go now. [we•hafta•go•now] 18. He went to work. [He•wenta•werk] 19. They hope to find it. [they•houpda•findit] 20. I can't wait to find out. [ai•kan’t•weitda•findout] 21. We don't know what to do. [we•don•no•whatda•do] Practice: today, tonight, tomorrow, to work, to the, have to, went to, hope to, wait to, to do Today, I went to work at the bakery. As I waited to finish my shift today, I thought about all the things I still had to do. I couldn't wait to go home, I hoped to relax and watch my favorite movie. Suddenly, a customer came in and ordered a special cake for a birthday party. I smiled and got to work, excited to create something beautiful for the celebration even though it was late. I felt happy to do it. I love my job and look forward to doing it again tomorrow.

23. Don't jump to conclusions. [doun•jumpda•kn•kloozhənz] 24. To be or not to be... [t•bee•yor•nawtda•bee] 25.He didn't get to go. [He•didn•getda•go] 26. He told me to help. [he•told•meeda•elp] 27. She told you to get it. [she•told•yooda•geddit] 28. I go to work. [ai•godda•werk] 29.The only way to get it is... [thee•yownlee•weidə•geddit•diz] 30.You've got to pay to get it. [yoov•gadda•payda•geddit] 31. We plan to do it. [wee•planda•doowit] 32. Let's go to lunch. [lets•goda•lunch] 33.The score was 4 to 6. [th•scor•wəz•forda•siks] 34. Who's to blame? [hoozda•blame] —- jump to, to be, get to go, me to help, to get it, to do it, to go to, to blame Once when I was a kid, my friend Jack asked me to help him build a treehouse. I was very excited to help him. We worked hard together until the treehouse was finished. Jack immediately wanted to climb up and play in it. But when he went to put his foot on the ladder, he slipped and fell. I ran to him quickly. I felt bad and thought it was my fault because I didn’t check the ladder. Jack told me I didn’t need to worry about it. He was happy that I tried to help. That day, I learned that it’s fun to help others and to always be careful when we play.

With “tonight” 40. What are you doing tonight?  [wadderya•doowin•də•nait] 41. Let’s stay in tonight.  [les•steiyin•də•nait] 42. I’m going out tonight.  [aim•gowin•aut•də•nait] 43. We’ll talk tonight. [wil•tawk•də•nait] 44. Are you busy tonight?  [ahrya•bizzee•də•nait] It was midnight. Julie looked at the clock and sighed. She knew she had a busy day tomorrow. "What time do I work tomorrow?" she said to herself. She didn’t want to think about it. Julie wanted to go out of town tonight, but her boss had a different idea. “You work tomorrow,” he had told her. She had no choice but to stay home. Julie felt stressed, so she called her friend Michelle. “I’m busy tomorrow. Let’s talk tonight, I don’t think I will get to talk at all tomorrow and I don’t want to wait for the weekend. “Sure, what do you want to talk about?” asked Michelle.

If you already know a lot of English, but you have difficulty understanding spoken English, one way to improve is to memorize the sound of how common phrases are reduced in spoken English. Practice listening to how words are linked together and what reductions are commonly made. Do not think about how the Words are spelled. Think about exactly what you hear. For example, tawk•tə•yuh•lei•dr If you say each of these sounds quickly, you will hear. TALK to you LAter. With stress on TALK and LAter. What does the sentence mean? …Talk later. Some reductions make fast pronunciation easier. ai•din•nun•dr•stan I didn't understand t is often dropped or softened to a sound called “flap t”, which is similar to d. In fast speech sounds in consonant clusters especially t/d are often dropped. Consonants at ends of words are linked onto nouns at beginnings of words. Memorizing the sound of common phrases and how they are reduced will train your ear to understand spoken English. Pronouns and words indicating verb tense are often reduced. Nouns introducing new information and most verbs are usually not reduced. Most experts agree that the shadowing technique is the most powerful practice exercise you can do. Listen to a native speaker, match their rhythm, stress, and intonation. Shadow short materials that take only 1-3 minutes to watch or listen to.

At 45.We're at home. [wer•ət•houm] 46.I'll see you at lunch. [ahl•see•yə•ət•lənch] 47.Dinner's at five. [di•ner•zət•faiv] 48.Leave them at the door. [lee•vəm•ət•thə•dor] 49.The meeting's at one. [thə•mee•teeng•zət•wuhn] 50.He's at the post office. [ee•zət•thə•pou•staw•fis] 51.They're at the bank. [thehr•rət•thə•beink] 52.'m at school. [ai•mət•school] 53.I'll see you at eleven. [ahl•see•yuh•ət•ə•lev•ən] 54.He's at a meeting. [eez•ət•ə•mee•ting] Fairy houses are tiny homes often found•at the base of trees or located•at the edge of gardens. Kids love to build them at•the park, at•the beach, or even•at home using materials like leaves, rocks, and tiny toys. You might see one•at the foot of a tree or•at•a quiet corner of a flower garden, carefully decorated to•welcome fairy visitors. Some families build a new fairy house every summer together with their kids. They have fun leaving notes or presents for fairies and watching at•a distance to• see if the fairies come•to claim whatever was left•at their home.

July 8, 2025 Reductions 🔹 With “tomorrow” 35. I’ll see you tomorrow.  [ahl•see•yuh•d•maw•roh] 36. What time is it tomorrow?  [wha•taimizit•d•maw•roh] 37. Let’s do it tomorrow.  [les•doowit•d•maw•roh] 38. I’m working tomorrow.  [aim•wərkeen•d•maw•roh] 39. Are you free tomorrow?  [ahr•yuh•free•d•maw•roh]

tt-”flap t”,lightly tap tongue sounds almost like a d 55.She laughed at his idea. [shee•laf•da•diz•ai•dee•yə] 56.The dog jumped out at us. [thə•dawg•jumpt•ow•də•dus] 57.I was at a friend's house. [ai•wə•zətta•fren•zaus] 58.One at a time. [wuhn•nə•də•taim] 59.We got it at an expensive store. [wee•gaw•dit•ad’n•ək•spen•səv•stor] 60.The show started at eight. [thə•sho•star•di•də•deit] 61. He smiled at•her. [hee•smai•yəl•dah•der] --- “It” and Common Reductions 62.Can you do it? [canya•doo•wit] 63.Give it to me. [givi’•tə•mee] 64.It can wait. [i’kn•weit] 65.Read it twice. [reedi’•twais] 66.Forget about it! [fergedda•bowdit] 67.Buy it tomorrow. [baiyi’•dəmawrou] 68.Give it a try. [gividda•trai] 69.Take it away. [tei•kidda•wei] 70.I got it in London. [ai•gadiddin•luhn•dən] 71.What is it about? [whə•dizidda•baut] 72.Let's try it again. [lets•trai•yidda•gen] 73.Look! There it is! [luk!•ther•riddiz]

Reductions using the word “For” 74. This is for you. [di•siz•fr•yoo] 75. It’s for my friend. [its•fr•mai•fren] 76. A table for four, please. [uh•teibl•fr•for•pleez] 77. We planned it for later. [wee•plan•dit•fr•leidr] 78. For example. For instance. [fr•əg•zam•pl] / [fr•in•stəns] 79. What is this for? (“for” not reduced) [whu•diz•this•for] 80. What did you do it for? (“for” not reduced) [wu•djuh•doowit•for] 81. Who did you get it for? (“for” not reduced) [hoodjuh•geddit•for] From 82. It’s from the IRS. [its•frəm•thee•yai•ar•es] 83. I’m from Armenia. [aim•frəm•mar•mee•nee•yə] 84. There’s a call from Bob. [therzuh•kawl•frəm•Bahb] 85. This letter’s from Alaska! [this•le•derz•frəm•muh•las•kuh] 86. Who’s it from? [hoozit•frəm] 87. Where are you from? [weh•rer•yoo•frəm] In 88. It’s in the bag. [itszin•thə•bag] 89. What’s in it? [whuts•zinnit] 90. I’ll be back in a minute. [ahl•bee•bakinna•minnit] 91. This movie? Who’s in it? [this•moovee…•hoo•zinnit] 92. Come in. [k’min] 93. He’s in America. [heezinna•mehrikuh]

An ** If the a word ends in a consonant and the next word starts in a vowel, we pronounce it with the vowel at the beginning of the second word. 94. He’s an American. [heezənnuh•meh•rə•kən] 95. I got an A in English. [ai•gottanei•yin•een•glish] 96. He got an F in Algebra. [hee•gottan•effin•al•juh•bruh] 97. He had an accident. [hee•haddanak•sə•dnt] 98. We want an orange. [wee•wannən•orənj] 99. He didn’t have an excuse. [hee•didn havannaks•kyoos] 100. I’ll be there in an instant. [ahl•bee•ther•innən•ninstənt] 101. It’s an easy mistake to make. [itzən•neezee•məsteik•təmeik] Here’s a two-person dialogue using your phrases naturally: --- Anna: Hey, guess what? I got an A (grade) in English! [ai•gottanei•yin•een•glish] Ben: Really? That’s great! My brother wasn’t so lucky. He got an F (grade) in Algebra. [hee•gottan•effin•al•juh•bruh] Anna: Ouch. Did (h)e have a reason? Ben: Nope. He didn’t have an excuse. [hee•didn havannaks•kyoos] Anna: Oh no! By the way, who’s the new guy in class? Ben: Oh, that’s Tom. He’s an American. [heezənnuh•meh•rə•kən] Anna: I see. Hey, I’m thirsty. Do you want an orange smoothie? [Djoo•wannən•orənj] Ben: Sure. Oh! Did you hear about Mike? He had an accident yesterday. [hee•haddanak•sə•dnt] Anna: Is he okay? Ben: Yeah, he’s fine. He fell on the broken stairs. The nurse helped him, and I was there in an instant. [ther•innən•ninstənt] Anna: Whew, good to know. You know, stepping on the broken stair is an easy mistake to make. [itzən•neezee•məsteik•təmeik] Ben: True. Next time, I am sure he’ll watch out for it.

And 102. Ham and eggs. [ham•n•negz] 103. Bread and butter. [bred•n•budder] 104. Coffee? With cream and sugar? [kaw•fee?•with•kreem•n•shuh•ger?] 105. No, lemon and sugar. [no…•lemmən•n•shuh•ger] 106. And some more cookies? [an•səmor•kookeez?] 107. They kept going back and forth. [thei•kep•gohwin•bak•n•forth] 108. We watched it again and again. [wee•wahchdit•uhgen•annagen] 109. He did it over and over. [hee•diddit•over•n•over] 110. We learned by trial and error. [wee•lernd•bai•traiyəl•n•ehr•er] Tim: "Hey, do you want noodles n eggs for breakfast?" Joe: "No, I prefer bread n butter." Tim: "How about some tea with milk n sugar?" Joe: "Actually, I would like some coffee with cream n sugar." Tim: "Milk n sugar, n some more cookies?" They kep gowin back n forth, trying to decide on the perfect breakfast menu. Joe watched Tim make the tea again n again, while Tim watched him butter his bread over n over. They learned by trial n error, finally settling on a combination of noodles n eggs, bread n butter, tea with milk n sugar, n coffee with cream n sugar. And of course, they couldn't forget the extra cookies for a sweet treat.

Or 111. Soup or salad? [sooper•salləd] 112. Now or later? [nower•leidr] 113. More or less. [morrer•less] 114. Left or right? [lefder•rait] 115. For here or to go? [fer•heer•ordago] 116. Are you going up or down? [aryuh•gowin•upper•down] Are 117. What are you doing? [wadderya•doowin] 118. Where are you going? [werrer•ya•gowin] 119. What’re you planning on doing? [wadderya•planninon•doowin] 120. How are you? [hower•yoo] 121. Those are no good. [thozer•no•guhd] 122. How are you doing? [hower•ya•doo•win] Your / You're 123. The kids are still asleep. [th’kidzer•stilla•sleep] 124. How’s your family? [howzyer•famlee] 125. Where’re your keys? [wehrer•yer•keez] 126. You’re American, aren’t you? [yer•rəmerrəkn…•arn’t•yoo] 127. Tell me when you’re ready. [telmee•wenyer•rehdee] 128. Is this your car? [iz•thisyer•kar] 129. You’re late again, Bob. [yer•leiduhgen, Bahb] 130. Which one is yours? [wich•wunniz•yerz] 🔹 THE 131. It's the best. [its•th’best] 132. What's the matter? [wuhts•th’madder] 133. What's the problem? [wuhts•th’probləm] 134. I have to go to the bathroom. [ai•hafta•goda•th’bathroom] 135. Who's the boss around here? [hooz•th’bossaround•heer] 136. Give it to the dog. [givvit•t’thə•dawg] 137. Put it in the drawer. [puhddit•inthə•drower]

🔹 A / OF / CAN 138. It's a present. [itsa•prezənt] 139. You need a break. [yoo•needa•breik] 140. Give him a chance. [givvima•chans] 141. Let's get a new pair of shoes. lets•gedda•noo•perrəv•shooz] [les•gedda•noo•perra•shooz] 142. Can I have a Coke, please? [knnai•havva•kouk•pleez] 143. Is that a computer? [iz•thadda•kmpyooder] 145. It's the top of the line. [its•th’toppa•thə•lain] 146. It's a state-of-the-art printer. [itsa•steidətheeyart•printer] 147. As a matter of fact... [azza•madderra•fakt] 148. Get out of here. [geddoudda•heer] 149. Practice all of the time. [praktis•alla•th’taim] 150. Today’s the first of May. [tuhdayz•th’ferstv•mei] 151. What’s the name of that movie? [whas•th’neima•tha•moovee] 152. That’s the best of all! [thas•thə•bestə•vallavəm]

🔹 OF THEM→them reduces to “əm” 153. Some of them. [summa•vm] 154. All of them. [alla•vəm] 155. Most of them. [mostə•vəm] 156. None of them. [nunna•vəm] 157. Any of them. [eh•nee•yə•vəm] 158. The rest of them. [th’restə•vəm] --- 🔹 CAN 159. Can you speak English? [kuhn•yoo•spee•keenglish] 160. I can only do it on Wednesday. [ai•kn•only•doowiddon•wenz•day] 161. A can opener can open cans.* [uh•can•opener•k’nopn•cans] (You don't reduce “can” when you're talking about the noun) 162. Can I help you? [k’nai•help•you] 163. Can you do it? [Can•you•doowit] Not reduced, adds emphasis 164. We can try it later. [wee•kn•traiyit•layder] 165. I hope you can sell it. [ai•hope•you•kn•sellit] 166. No one can fix it. [no•wn•kn•fik•sit] 167. Let me know if you can find it. [lemmee•nohwif•yoo•kn•findit]

🔹 HAD→əd 168. Jack had had enough. [jakkəd•haddanuhf] 169. Bill had forgotten again. [billəd•fergot’n•uhgen] 170. What had he done to deserve it? [wadəddee•dunnta•dizervit] 171. We’d already seen it. [weedalready•seennit] 172. He’d never been there. [heed•never•bin•thehr] 173. Had you ever had one?* [had•yoowever•had•wuhn] **Not reduced at the beginning of the sentence or when it is the main vowel rather than a helping vowel. Reduced Sounds continued Would / Was / What / Some 174. He would have helped, if... [hee•woulddə•helptif] 175. Would he like one? [wouldee•like•w’n] 176. Do you think he'd do it? [dooya•thinkeed•doowit] 177. Why would I tell her? [why•woulddai•teller] 178. We'd see it again, if... [weed•seeyit•əgennif...] 179. He'd never be there on time. [heed•never•be•there•on•time]

180. Would you do it for me? [wuhdya•doowit•fer•me] 181. He was only trying to help. [heewuz•only•tryinna•help] 182. Mark was American. [mark•wuzzuh•meruhkn] 183. Where was it? [where•wuzzit] 184. How was it? [how•wuzzit] 185. That was great! [thawuz•grayt] 186. Who was with you? [hoowuz•with•yoy] 187. She was very clear. [sheewuz•very•clear] 188. When was the War of 1812? [when•wəz•th’warruv•ayteen•twelv] 189. What time is it? [whut•taimizzit] —----------------- 190. What's up? [wussup] 191. What's on your agenda? [whuzzon•yer•ajenda 192. What do you mean? [waddaya•meen] 193. What did you mean? [wadijya•meen] 194. What did you do about it? [wadijyoo•doowa•bowdit] 195. What took so long? [watook•sullong] 196. What do you think of this? [waddaya•thinka•this] 197. What did you do then? [waddud•jyoo•doo•then] 198. I don't know what he wants. [ai•dunno•wuddee•wants]

Some 199. Some are better than others. [summer•bedder•th’nuthers] 200. There are some leftovers. [therer•sum•lefdoverz] 201. Let's buy some ice cream. [les•bysum•aiskreem] 202. Could we get some other ones? [kuhd•wee•get•s’mother•wnz] 203. Take some of mine. [take•summa•mine] 204. Would you like some more? [wuhdya•like•s’more] (very casual) [dy’like•s’more] 205. Do you have some ice? [dyaav•summice] 206. Do you have some mice? [dyaav•summmice] Quote with reductions using "some" and "of" 207. "You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." [yookn•fool•summa•tha•peepl•summa•th’time,•b’choo•kan’t•fool•alla• th’peepl•alla•th’time]

Now you've practiced all the common patterns!!! Here is a reduced paragraph with apostrophes marking common reductions: Hey! Wh't're y'r plans f'r today? Did y’ bring th’ books? I w'z g'nna ask if you h'd s'm 'v 'em with you, 'r if you c'd grab 'em fr'm th’ car. Ben woulda done it, but-he h'd t' leave. Can you do it?* I know it's kind 'valot, but I'd really appreciate th’ help. We c'n meet 't the front 'n ‘n hour. --- This format highlights how reduced vowels disappear or weaken in casual American speech.