| Rules and Patterns of Casual Speech |
| Formal, Careful Speech |
Informal, Relaxed Speech |
Examples |
| you |
ya |
I’ll call ya.
See ya. |
| because |
‘cuz |
I did it ‘cuz I wanted to.
I’m tired ‘cuz I worked all day. |
| I don’t know |
I dunno |
I dunno why.
I dunno what to do. |
| let me |
lemme |
Lemme do it.
Lemme help you.
Lemme talk to him. |
| give me |
gimme |
Gimme a call.
Gimme a break!
Can you gimme a minute? |
| did you...? |
joo |
Joo call me?
Why joo do it?
Joo go out last night? |
| do you want to...? |
wanna...? |
Wanna go out?
Wanna dance?
What do you wanna do? |
| have got to... |
gotta... |
I gotta go.
You gotta do it. |
should’ve
would’ve
could’ve
must’ve |
shoulda
woulda
coulda
musta |
You shoulda told me.
It woulda been nice.
We coulda come.
You musta seen it. |
shouldn’t have
wouldn’t have
couldn’t have |
shouldna
wouldna
couldna |
You shouldna done that.
I woundna known.
It couldna happened. |
| going to |
gonna |
I’m gonna go.
It’s gonna rain.
What are you gonna do? |
| what do you...? |
wadda you...? |
Whadda you want?
Whadda you doing?
Whadda you think? |
