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.

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