Learn English Contractions using TO | Grammar and Pronunciation

Hi, everyone.

It’s Lynn.

Welcome back to my video.

Today, we're going to be talking about informal contractions including the word ‘to’.

Now, it's important to remember that these contractions are just for speaking not for writing.

So if you memorize them, and learn how to say them, well you'll be sounding just like a native speaker.

Let's get started.

Okay, here I have my list of contractions including ‘to’.

And these contractions are going to use the ‘schwa’ ‘uh’ sound.

And I have some examples for you that I need you to repeat after me each time.

I will say it slowly first and then at a native speaker speed second.

Make sure you repeat each time.

Here we go.

First one.

‘going to’ = ‘gonna’ ‘I’m not gonna tell you.’

‘I’m not gonna tell you.’

Next. ‘have to’ = ‘hafta’

‘You hafta study English.’

‘You hafta study English.’

‘has to’ = ‘hasta’ ‘She hasta work today.’

‘She hasta work today.’

‘used to’ = ‘usta’ ‘She usta live in London.’

‘She usta live in London.’

‘supposed to’ = ‘supposta’ ‘I’m supposta start a new job.’

‘I’m supposta start a new job.’

‘ought to’ = ‘oughta’ ‘You oughta phone your sister.’

‘You oughta phone your sister.’

‘need to’ = ‘needa’ You needa buy apples at the store.’

You needa buy apples at the store.’

Don't forget, you only want to use these in conversation.

These aren't for writing.

All right, you did it.

Let's move on.

Let's take a look at some dialogues.

And this is really going to help you learn how to make contractions,

and how to use them and say them properly.

Conversation 1.

Which of these can be made into contractions?

Yes, these ones.

“Susan's sick.”

“She oughta take some medicine.”

Conversation 2.

Which of these can be made into contractions?

Yes, these ones.

“They're late.”

“Yes.

They're supposta be here by now.”

Conversation 3.

Which of these can be made into contractions?

Yes, these ones.

“Do you live in London?”

“I usta live there but not anymore.”

Conversation 4.

Which of these can be made into contractions?

Yes, these ones.

“Jack said he won the lottery.”

“He hasta be joking.”

Conversation 5.

Which of these can be made into contractions?

Yes, these ones.

“Let's go to the mall.”

“I can't.

I hafta clean my room.”

Conversation 6.

Which of these can be made into contractions?

Yes, these ones.

“I’m gonna ride the roller coaster.”

“Betcha get sick.”

Great job today, everybody.

Now you know a lot more about contractions.

So I want to encourage you to keep on practicing, keep on studying,

and keep on watching my videos.

And you're going to be sounding like a native speaker before you know it.

Let me know how you're doing in the comments and see you next time.

Bye.