British English Slang [Advanced Pronunciation Practice] - Reductions & Contractions

Summary

In this lesson, Lucy explains common English reductions used in casual conversations, such as 'gimme' for 'give me', 'wanna' for 'want to', and 'gonna' for 'going to'. She covers various types of reductions, including those with 'me', 'have', 'to', and 'of', and emphasizes that while these are essential for understanding native speech, they should not be used in formal writing or exams. Lucy also shares a personal learning tip, introduces Skillshare as a sponsor, and encourages viewers to practice using reductions in sentences to sound more like a native speaker.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reductions, or reduced forms of words, are commonly used in natural spoken English and are essential for understanding and sounding more like a native speaker.
• 😀 Examples of reductions include 'gimme' (give me), 'lemme' (let me), and 'gonna' (going to), which simplify everyday speech.
• 😀 These reductions should not be used in formal writing or exams unless specifically asked for, as they are informal and colloquial in nature.
• 😀 Understanding reductions helps you better follow natural conversations with native speakers and respond appropriately.
• 😀 Common reductions include 'what's up' (what is up), 'what's her' (what is her), and 'what's his' (what is his), all used in casual speech.
• 😀 For phrases with 'have', reductions like 'could've' (could have), 'might've' (might have), and 'should've' (should have) are frequently used in everyday speech.
• 😀 The reduction 'gonna' (going to) is extremely common in informal speech, such as 'I'm gonna go to the shops'.
• 😀 Reductions with 'of' like 'kinda' (kind of), 'lots of' (lotsa), and 'out of' (outer) are used regularly in spoken English to make sentences quicker and easier.
• 😀 Several reductions involve 'you', such as 'betcha' (bet you), 'getcha' (get you), 'see ya' (see you), and 'wanna' (want to). These are mainly used in casual, spoken contexts.
• 😀 It's important to be familiar with these reductions so you can understand native speakers, even if you're not using them in formal situations.

Q & A

What are reductions in the context of this lesson?

Reductions are shortened forms of words or phrases, often used in casual spoken language, to make speech faster and more fluid. For example, 'give me' becomes 'gimme', 'let me' becomes 'lemme', and 'what is up' becomes 'what's up'.

Should reductions be used in formal situations?

No, reductions should never be used in formal situations or in formal writing tasks, such as exams. They are primarily used in informal speech and should be avoided in professional or academic contexts.

What is the difference between 'gimme' and 'lemme'?

'Gimme' is a reduction of 'give me', while 'lemme' is a reduction of 'let me'. Both are commonly used in casual conversations, but should not be used in formal writing or speech.

What does 'what's up' mean and how is it used?

'What's up' is a casual greeting that is a reduction of 'what is up'. It's used informally to ask someone how they are or what they are doing. For example, 'What's up with you?'

What are some examples of reductions using 'have'?

Examples of reductions using 'have' include 'could have' becoming 'CUDA', 'might have' becoming 'miter', and 'must have' becoming 'muster'. These reductions are commonly used in spoken English.

What is the reduction of 'going to'?

'Going to' is commonly reduced to 'gonna' in informal speech. For example, 'I'm gonna go to the shops' instead of 'I am going to go to the shops'.

How does 'got to' change in informal speech?

'Got to' is reduced to 'gotta' in informal speech. For instance, 'I gotta go' instead of 'I have got to go'.

What does 'wanna' mean and when is it used?

'Wanna' is the reduction of 'want to' and is used in casual conversation. For example, 'I wanna go to the cinema' instead of 'I want to go to the cinema'.

Can you explain the reduction 'dunno'?

'Dunno' is the casual reduction of 'I don't know'. It is commonly used in spoken English, especially in informal contexts. For example, 'I dunno where he went'.

What are some reductions involving 'you'?

There are several reductions involving 'you', such as 'bet you' becoming 'betcha', 'get you' becoming 'getcha', and 'want you' becoming 'wanna'. These reductions are used in informal, spoken English.