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Hi! This is Amy with Go Places English and today I want to talk about the linking and reduction of HAVE GOT TO in American English.

HAVE GOT TO is another way to say “have to.”

Notice the pattern is HAVE GOT TO plus a verb.

HAVE GOT TO is often linked and reduced in spoken American English. Typically HAVE is used in the form of a contraction.

For example:

I’ve

You’ve

We’ve

They’ve

GOT TO is linked and reduced to sound like one word. GAH-DUH. The T in GOT is softened to sound like a D, also known as Flap T. GAH-DUH.

Let’s practice the pronunciation together with the pronoun I.

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

Good. Sometimes, the contracted form of HAVE, ‘VE, is further reduced and even eliminated in spoken English. I’ve got to (I’ve gotta) can also be pronounced I’ve got to (I gotta).

Let’s practice this version of the reduction and linking.

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

I’ve got to

Good job. Now let’s practice in some sentences. First we will practice I’ve gotta.

I’ve got to get going.

I’ve got to leave the office now.

I’ve got to finish my work first.

I’ve got to get home by six.

I’ve got to cook dinner.

I’ve got to finish my homework.

I’ve got to go to bed early.

I’ve got to get my beauty rest.

Good, now let’s practice the second pronunciation, I gotta.

I’ve got to take off.

I’ve got to go to the dentist.

I’ve got to have my tooth checked.

I’ve got to figure out what’s wrong with it.

After that I’ve got to meet my friends for coffee.

I’ve got to be at the coffee shop by noon.

We’ve got to get together more often.

Okay, I’ve got to run now.

Nice work. Try using I’VE GOT TO in your own sentences, and write them in the comments.

Now, take out your notebook and a pen or pencil and get ready for a pop quiz! Write the number 1 if you hear me say I’VE GOT TO (I’ve gotta) and write a number 2 if you hear me say I’VE GOT TO (I gotta).

Ready?

1. I’ve got to get ready for work. (2)
2. I’ve got to get my hair cut this week. (1)
3. You’ve got to tell me what happened. (1)
4. I’ve got to practice speaking English more often. (2)
5. You’ve got to come with me to this event. (2)
6. You’ve got to try this new restaurant. (1)

Good. Check your answers in the transcript located in the description of this video. Let me know how many you got right in the comments.

If you learned something new in this video, please tell your friends. Share this video on social media, give it a thumbs up, and subscribe to the Go Places English YouTube channel. Thanks!

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Hi! I’m Amy with Go Places English, and today I want to talk about THOUGHT, THOUGH, THROUGH, THOROUGH & TOUGH in American English.

Many students confuse the pronunciation of these words because they share similar spellings. Let’s spend a little time today practicing the correct pronunciation of these five words.

First let’s look at the word THOUGHT. The TH sound in THOUGHT is unvoiced. TH. TH. To make this sound, place your tongue between your front teeth and breathe out gently. The vowel sound is AH. AH. Thought.

Let’s practice together.

Thought

Thought

Thought

Thought

Thought

Thought

Good. The next word on the list is THOUGH.

The TH sound in this word is voiced. TH. TH. The vowel sound is OH. OH. Though.

Let’s practice.

Though

Though

Though

Though

Though

Though

Nice. Our next word is THROUGH. The TH sound is unvoiced, TH. The vowel sound is EW. EW. Through.

Say it with me.

Through

Through

Through

Through

Through

Through

Great. The next word I want to talk about is THOROUGH. The TH sound is also unvoiced. TH. Notice that THOROUGH is a two syllable word. The first vowel sound is UR. THUR. The second vowel sound is OH. OH. THUR-OH.

Let’s practice.

Thorough

Thorough

Thorough

Thorough

Thorough

Thorough

The final word today is TOUGH. There is no TH sound in this word. So the T is pronounced T. T. The vowel sound in UH. UH. The GH is pronounced as a F sound. Tough. Tough.

Repeat with me.

Tough

Tough

Tough

Tough

Tough

Tough

Nice work. Now, let’s practice a few sentences.

I thought she was very thorough.

Even though the test was tough, we all passed.

Do we need to go through the material again?

No one thought to ask.

Are you through yet?

I thought you were through.

Even though I thought about it, I didn’t do it.

That’s a tough question.

Great. Good job. If this video was helpful, please share it with your friends on social media, give it a thumbs up and subscribe to the Go Places English YouTube channel.

Go Places English.

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Hi! This is Amy with Go Places English, and today I want to talk about the linking and reduction of HAVE TO in American English.

HAVE TO is commonly linked and reduced in spoken English to sound like a single word, HAFTA. The V sound is replaced with an F sound, HAF.

And TO is reduced to T’.

HAFTA.

Say it a few times with me for practice.

have to

have to

have to

have to

have to

have to

Good. Now let’s practice reducing and linking HAVE TO in some sentences.

I have to work early tomorrow morning.

I have to get enough sleep.

I have to meet with the stakeholders first thing in the morning.

We have to do a good job.

We have to prepare for the meeting.

We have to start on time.

They have to understand where we are coming from.

Obviously they don’t have to have the same priorities.

We don’t have to see eye to eye on everything.

However, we all have to agree on a solution.

I have to email everyone after the meeting.

I have to follow up with them next week.

I have to do more research before we can decide.

I have to run, the meeting is about to start.

Nice job! Are there any phrases in the practice sentences that you are unfamiliar with? What does it mean when someone says “We don’t have to see eye to eye on everything?” What do you think that means? Any guesses?

To see eye to eye on something means to agree on something, or share a common perspective or attitude about something. Try writing your own sentence using “see eye to eye on” in the comments.

Another phrase I want to point out is “I have to run.” This is commonly used in speaking to mean, “I have to go” or “I have to leave.” Try using it next time you need to say you have to leave.

Are there any other words or phrases that are new to you in this lesson? Let me know in the comments.

If you learned something in this lesson, tell a friend! Share this video on social media, give it a thumbs up, and subscribe to the Go Places YouTube channel. Thanks.

Go Places English.

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Hi! This is Amy, with Go Places English and today I want to talk about the linking and reduction of NOT A LOT OF in American English.

In our last video I discussed how to say A LOT OF in American English. But what if you want to say NOT A LOT OF?

We also link and reduce NOT A LOT OF to sound like two words. NADA-LADA.

Notice that A and OF sound the same.

NOT links to A, NA-DUH. NA-DUH.

LOT links to OF. LA-DUH. LA-DUH.

Together it sounds like NA-DUH LA-DUH.

Practice out loud with me.

not a lot of

not a lot of

not a lot of

not a lot of

not a lot of

not a lot of

Good. It’s kind of fun to say.

Let’s practice the pronunciation in some sentences. Repeat with me.

There are not a lot of people in the restaurant.

Not a lot of students come to class late.

If it’s not a lot of trouble, I’d like to stop for lunch soon.

There are not a lot of kids at the park.

It’s not a lot of work to make your bed in the morning.

Not a lot of people like that kind of music.

I feel like there are not a lot of options.

There is not a lot of rain in the summer.

Not a lot of scientists came to the meeting.

There are still not a lot of female presidents.

There are not a lot of houses for sale in this neighborhood.

There are not a lot of competitors in the game.

There is not a lot of mail in the mailbox.

There is not a lot of spicy food on the menu.

There are not a lot of colors to choose from.

Not a lot of people support the idea.

Good job. Keep practicing everyday and you will improve your English pronunciation skills.

Leave me your feedback and questions in the comments.

If you learned something in this video, please give it a thumbs up, share it on social media, and subscribe to the YouTube channel for more American English videos.

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Hi! This is Amy, with Go Places English and today I want to talk about the pronunciation of WOMAN & WOMEN in American English.

WOMEN is the irregular plural form of the noun, WOMAN.

The O in these words is pronounced very differently and can sometimes confuse students. So I want to spend some time practicing with you.

In the singular form, WOMAN, the O is a short U sound. U, U.

The A sounds like UN. UN.

Woman.

Say it a few times with me for practice.

woman

woman

woman

woman

woman

Good. Now let’s focus on the plural form, WOMEN.

Both vowels in this word, the O and the E, are pronounced as a short I sound. I, I.

It’s the same short U sound in WITH or IN. WOMEN.

Repeat the word WOMEN with me a few times.

women

women

women

women

women

Good. Now let’s practice WOMAN and WOMEN in some sentences.

Both of the women are smart.

She was the first woman in space.

All we know is that the woman was driving a red sports car.

Many women like to travel.

Nowadays, some women are choosing not to have children.

I know a woman who speaks five languages fluently.

How many women are in the class?

Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

Many women compete in the Olympics.

Is there a woman named Jessica Jones in your department?

Some women were talking about what to do about it in the meeting yesterday.

She is an extraordinary woman and can handle the crisis.

How would you start a conversation with an attractive woman you saw at the bookstore?

Good work! Now take out your notebook and a pen and get ready for a pop quiz! Listen to the following sentences and write down whether you hear me say WOMAN or WOMEN.

Ready?

1. How many women prefer cats to dogs?

2. That woman is very articulate.

3. Where will the women meet next week?

4. That woman was my neighbor many years ago.

5. The woman’s story was made into a movie.

6. That group of women are known for their artistic talent.

Check your answers in the transcript, found in the description of this video. Let me know how many you got right in the comments.

If you learned something in the video, you have the chance to teach your friends! Share this video on social media, give it a thumbs up, and subscribe to the YouTube channel. Thanks!

Go Places English

Where will English take you?

Hi! This is Amy, with Go Places English and today I want to talk about A LOT OF in American English.

A LOT OF is a common adjective used to describe nouns. A LOT OF is another way to say “many” or “a large amount.”

We often reduce and link A LOT OF in speaking to sound like a single word, A-LA-DUH.  A-LA-DUH. The stressed syllable is LA. A-LA-DUH.

Notice the T in LOT sounds more like a /d/. A-LA-DUH.

Repeat a few times with me for practice.

A LOT OF

A LOT OF

A LOT OF
A LOT OF

A LOT OF

Good. Now let’s practice saying A LOT OF in some sentences.

A lot of people speak English.

There are a lot of clouds in the sky.

I don’t have a lot of time.

He likes a lot of sugar in his coffee.

She has a lot of friends on Facebook.

I’ve got a lot of work to do before the weekend.

There can be a lot of crime in big cities.

I take a lot of vacations.

I notice a lot of improvement in your English speaking skills.

You have learned a lot of new things in my class.

Good! Nice work. Keep practicing until your pronunciation sounds like mine. It takes a lot of practice, but you can speak English like a native speaker.

If you have questions or feedback about this video, please let me know in the comments.

If you learned something new in the video, please give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends on social media, and subscribe to the Go Places English YouTube channel. Thanks!

Go Places English.

Where will English take you?

Hi! This is Amy, with Go Places English and today I want to talk about the pronunciation of PRICE & PRIZE in American English.

These two words can sometimes be confused. Although their meanings are quite different, their pronunciation is somewhat similar.

In the word PRICE, there is an /s/ sound. The word PRIZE has a /z/ sound.

S, Z

S, Z

The mouth shape and position of the tongue are the same in both sounds, however, in the Z sound, there is a vibration that creates the distinct Z sound.

Let’s practice these two words together. Listen and repeat.

Price

Prize

Price

Prize

Price

Prize

Price

Prize

Price

Prize

Price

Prize

Another pair of words we can practice with is RICE & RISE.

Rice

Rise

Rice

Rise

Rice

Rise

Rice

Rise

Rice

Rise

Rice

Rise

Let’s practice one final word pair. Ice and Eyes.

Ice

Eyes

Ice

Eyes

Ice

Eyes

Ice

Eyes

Ice

Eyes

Ice

Eyes

Good. Now record yourself saying the practice words and compare your pronunciation to mine. Keep practicing until you get it right.

To test your listening skills, take out your notebook and a pen and write down the words you hear me say.

1. Prize
2. Rice
3. Ice
4. Rise
5. Price
6. Eyes

You can check your answers in the transcript, located in the description of this video. Let me know how many you got right in the comments.

If you learned something from this video, please give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends on social media, and don’t forget to subscribe to get notified when new videos are posted.

If you have questions or feedback about this lesson, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

Go Places English.

Where will English take you?

Hi! This is Amy, with Go Places English and today I want to talk about the reduction and linking of OUT OF in American English.

OF is a preposition, and in many situations it is reduced to sound like UH. UH. UH.

OUT OF is often linked and reduced to sound like a single word. OW-DUH.

The T sound is pronounced kind of like a D. Listen for it. OUT OF. OUT OF. DUH. DUH. OW-DUH.

Practice saying OUT OF with me.

OUT OF

OUT OF

OUT OF

OUT OF

OUT OF

OUT OF

Let’s practice some sentences with OUT OF.

Listen and repeat aloud after me.

Can you get the groceries out of the car?

We need to get out of here.

Please get out of my way.

This ice cream is out of this world!

Don’t let the cat out of the bag.

I want to get out of the office by six.

I hope you get something out of this class.

You’re out of your mind!

The idea came to me out of the blue.

Let’s get out of town this weekend!

Paper is made out of trees.

I can’t get this song out of my head.

Good. Keep practicing. Record yourself saying the practice sentences and compare your pronunciation to mine.

If you learned something from this video, please give it a thumbs up and share it on social media. Please subscribe to the YouTube channel. Thanks!

Go Places English.

Where will English take you?

Hi! This is Amy, with Go Places English and today I want to talk about the linking and reduction of MOST OF in American English.

MOST OF is commonly linked and reduced in conversation to sound like “most’uh.”

In this case, OF sounds like uh. Uh. Uh.

It links with most to sound like most’uh.

For example,

I eat oatmeal for breakfast most of the time.

Let’s practice saying most’uh together. Repeat aloud with me.

Most of.

Most of.

Most of.

Most of.

Most of.

Good. Now let’s practice with some sentences.

Most of the people speak French.

He ate most of the pizza for lunch.

Most of the students do their homework.

I think most of the information is online.

I like most of the series.

She seems happy most of the time.

I forgot most of what he said.

Most of the time I go to bed late.

Good. Now record yourself saying the practice sentences and compare your pronunciation to mine. Keep practicing until you get it right.

If this video was helpful, please give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends on social media, and don’t forget to subscribe to get notified when new videos are posted.

If you have questions or feedback about this lesson, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

Go Places English.

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Hi! This is Amy, with Go Places English and today I want to talk about the linking and reduction of WHAT ARE YOU in American English.

WHAT ARE YOU… is a common question you hear in American English. For example, What are you doing?

In everyday conversation tuh-yahis is often reduced and linked to sound like, Whuduh-ya. Whuduh-ya. Whuduh-ya doing? Whuduh-ya doing? Whuduh-ya doing?

Sometimes it is further reduced to sound like “Whuhcha.” Whuhcha. Whuhcha. Whuhcha doing? Whuhcha doing?

Whuhcha

In both options, the gerund in the sentence is frequently reduced so that the G sound is completely omitted. DOIN’ DOIN’

Whuhcha doin’?

Let’s practice using some example sentences. First we will practice the first pronunciation, Whuduh-ya, and then we will go through the practice sentences again and practice Whuhcha.

Repeat aloud with me.

What are you doing?

What are you thinking?

What are you watching?

What are you studying?

What are you buying?

What are you feeling?

What are you reading?

What are you eating?

What are you drinking?

What are you working on?

What are you hoping for?

What are you waiting for?

Good job!

Now let’s practice the second form of the reduction and linking of What are you…? Whuhcha.

Repeat aloud with me.

What are you doing?

What are you thinking?

What are you watching?

What are you studying?

What are you buying?

What are you feeling?

What are you reading?

What are you eating?

What are you drinking?

What are you working on?

What are you hoping for?

What are you waiting for?

Great!

Remember, reduction and linking is used only in oral English. When writing English, be sure to spell words correctly.

Record yourself asking the”Whuduh-ya” and “Whuhcha” questions in this video, and compare your pronunciation with mine.

If you learned something in video, please give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends on social media, and subscribe to the YouTube channel.

If you have questions or feedback about this lesson, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

Go Places English.

Where will English take you?