American Accent Training

( Word Reduction )

Reductions formed with word + me

gimme
 Formation: gimme = give + me
 Usage: Please gimme the book.
 Meaning: Please give me the book.

lemme

 Formation: lemme = let + me

 Usage: Please lemme go with you.
 Meaning: Please let me go with you.

Study the reductions listed above. For each test question, fill in the blank (________) with the correct
reduction.

Reductions

1. Why do you ________ such a difficult time every day?

A. gimme

B. lemme

2. Because you never ________ do what I want.

A. gimme

B. lemme

3. You don't even ________ a chance to speak.

A. gimme

B. lemme

4. ________ the book on that table and then I will talk to you.

A. Gimme

B. Lemme

5. ________ read a few paragraphs and then I will give you the book.

A. Gimme

B. Lemme

6. You should ________ go out with my friends tonight.

A. gimme

B. lemme

7. ________ know if you want to go with us.

A. Gimme

B. Lemme
Reductions formed with word + have

coulda

 Formation: coulda = could + have

 Usage: I coulda eaten one more donut.
 Meaning: I could have eaten one more donut.

mighta

 Formation: mighta = might + have

 Usage: I mighta gone to the party if she wasn't going.
 Meaning: I might have gone to the party if she wasn't going.

musta

 Formation: musta = must + have

 Usage: She musta been really tired after working so many hours.
 Meaning: She must have been really tired after working so many hours.

shoulda

 Formation: shoulda = should + have

 Usage: You really shoulda come with us.
 Meaning: You really should have come with us.

woulda

 Formation: woulda = would + have

 Usage: I woulda come if I wasn't working.
 Meaning: I would have come if I wasn't working.

Study the reductions listed above. For each test question, fill in the blank (________) with the correct
reduction.

1. She wanted you to pay for her movie ticket. Then she ________ gone.

A. woulda

B. mighta

C. musta

D. shoulda

2. That ________ been a difficult exam. Many students could not pass.

A. coulda

B. mighta

C. musta

D. shoulda

3. You ________ listened more closely to the boss at the office meeting.

A. coulda

B. mighta

C. musta

D. shoulda
 4. They ________ eaten a lot more food.

A. coulda

B. mighta

C. musta

D. shoulda

5. You ________ been really tired. You fell asleep in a few minutes.

A. coulda

B. woulda

C. musta

D. shoulda

6. You ________ received the discount if you had arrived earlier.

A. woulda

B. mighta

C. musta

D. shoulda

7. You ________ received a better grade if you had studied more.

A. coulda

B. mighta

C. musta

D. shoulda

8. You ________ stayed at the party longer. They brought in more food.

A. coulda

B. mighta

C. musta

D. shoulda

9. I think you ________ cleaned your room before going to the park.

A. coulda

B. mighta

C. musta

D. woulda

10. Maybe you ________ bought the other shirt.

A. coulda

B. shoulda

C. musta

D. woulda