VOCABULARY – Informal (spoken) Contractions
In English, as in most other languages, there are ways to shorten groups of words that commonly go together. We don’t do this in writing, just when we speak. They are called informal or spoken contractions.
Here are some examples:
- I’ve got to go soon – I’ve gotta go soon.
- I’m going to play tennis – I’m gonna play tennis.
- I need to talk to you – I needa talk to you.
- I want to say something – I wanna say something.
- I have to leave early – I hafta leave early.
- He has to leave early, too – He hasta leave early, too.
- I had to do it – I hadda do it.
- Can you give me a ride? – Can you gimme a ride?
- Let me in, I forgot my key – Lemme in, I forgot my key.
- The movie was kind of sad – The movie was kinda sad.
- Let’s get out of here – Let’s get outta here.
- I’d love a cup of coffee I’d love a cuppa coffee.
- Tell them what you told me – Tellem what you told me.
- I don’t know – I Dunno
- I sort of wish I hadn’t gone -I sorta wish I hadn’t gone.
- What are you going to do? – Whadaya gonna do?