| English Online with Speak
Method |
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Americans pronounce these common phrases like this:
| have to |
haftu |
| want to |
wunnu |
| going to* |
gunnu |
| let me |
lemme |
The
"u" is the schwa sound, the simple sound in "up."
*
The phrase "going to" does not always reduce, however. We say
"gunnu"
only when expressing a desire or intention, as in "I'm gunnu
finish the
project tonight." To speak about going to a place, we use the
regular
phrase, though we reduce "to," as in "I'm going t'the store."
Also, you
can just reduce to in the phrases "has to" and "wants to."
Review reducing
"to" in casual speech.
Use
the sentences below to practice. Review all
rules of
casual speech.
|
Written
English |
Spoken English |
|
| I have to stay
home tonight. |
I haftu stay
home tonight. |
|
| They have to
leave by 5:00. |
They haftu leave
by 5:00. |
|
| What do you have
to do? |
Whu'd' you haftu
do? * |
|
| I want to watch
TV. |
I wunnu watch
TV. |
|
| They want to
have a meeting tomorrow. |
They wunnu have
a meeding tomorrow. |
|
| When do you want
to go? |
When do you
wunnu go? |
|
| I'm going to
drive to the store. |
I'm gunnu drive
t'the store. |
|
| He's going to
help with the project. |
He's gunnu help
with the project. |
|
| We're going to
have a good time. |
We're gunnu have
a good time. |
|
| What are you
going to do? |
Wha'dar you
gunnu do? ** |
|
| Let me help you
with that. |
Lemme help you
withat. *** |
|
| I want to help,
but you won't let me try. |
I wunnu help,
bu'choo won't lemme try. **** |
|
| Let me check my
schedule. |
Lemme check my
schedule. |
More English Practice How to Speak Casual English Stress: 5 Steps Word Stress Introduction Syllable Stress |
|
More English Practice The 500 English Words What is a Vowel The American Accent English Course Online |