We’ve spoken about contracting words when you speak here. If you don’t do this, English speakers will know immediately that you are foreign.
What do you remember about this?
Do you say you have, or you’ve?
The answer is: when you speak you usually say “you’ve,” unless you need to put extra stress on the “have.”
In the same way, “I would” will sound like “I’d.”
“We are” will sound like “we’re.”
Etcetera.
As we said, you can also shorten with names, like in David is = David’s.
Or with other words that are not pronouns: This day’s lasted too long. = This day has lasted too long.
Here is an example of a dialogue. The second dialogue after that you’re going to shorten yourself. Don’t forget to practise speaking the dialogues!
Dialogue 1 (with contractions)
A: I haven’t seen you for ages!
B: Yeah, I just got back yesterday.
A: How long’ve you been away for?
B: Only for 10 days.
A: Oh, well, lots off things’ve happened while you were away.
B: Really, what?
A: Oh, I’ll tell y’about it over lunch. First tell me about your trip.
B: Would you like to see my photos?
A: I’d love to but I’m busy with this stupid presentation.
B: So see you at lunch?
Dialogue 2 (You need to do the contractions)
A: Madge, it has really been a long time!
B: Hi Bill, I just came back from my honeymoon.
A: You do not say, I did not know you had got married.
B: I did not, we went on our second honeymoon just for fun.
A: Oh, I am glad I did not miss your wedding.
B: No, you did not. You missed it only the first time.
A: And how was your second honeymoon? Where did you go?
B: We flew to the Philippines and sipped from big coconuts all day on the beach.
A: Is that not great! You lucky bastard.
B: It got a bit boring, actually, but only on the last day.
A: I do not think you are being serious, Madge.
B: Hahaha. Well, we had better get back to work now, had we not?
You can find the solution at the bottom of this page.
Solution:
A: Madge, it’s really been a long time!
B: Hi Bill, I just came back from my honeymoon.
A: You don’t say, I didn’t know you’d got married.
B: I didn’t, we went on our second honeymoon just for fun.
A: Oh, I’m glad I didn’t miss your wedding.
B: No, you didn’t. You missed it only the first time.
A: And how was your second honeymoon? Where did you go?
B: We flew to the Philippines and sipped from big coconuts all day on the beach.
A: Isn’t that great! You lucky bastard.
B: It got a bit boring, actually, but only on the last day.
A: I don’t think you’re being serious, Madge.
B: Hahaha. Well, we’d better get back to work now, hadn’t we?
English with a Smile 