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Fun Easy English Classroom November 17
 

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Learn American
English reduction
shoulda
American English Reduction "shoulda"

Today in the Fun Easy English classroom you are going to learn "shoulda" an American English reduction.
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Reductions: "shoulda"

American English reductions are reduced forms of English words.
  • This American English reduction is formed when you combine and reduce the following words.
  • shoulda = should + have
  • This American English reduction is used in the following way.
  • You really shoulda come with us.
  • This American English reduction has the following meaning.
  • You really should have come with us.
Examples: "shoulda"
  • I shoulda bought everything on the shelf.
  • (Meaning: I should have bought everything on the shelf.)
  • She shoulda known there would not be enough food for the entire team.
  • (Meaning: She should have known there would not be enough food for the entire team.)
  • He shoulda thought before he spoke.
  • (Meaning: He should have thought before he spoke.)
  • I shoulda come over last night.
  • (Meaning: I should have come over last night.)
  • They shoulda practiced more.
  • (Meaning: They should have practiced more.)
Fun Easy English Reductions Lessons
From YOUR Teacher: Shoulda

Shoulda is used when talking about a past action which in retrospect was a good choice. Notice in the following video the American English reductions shoulda, woulda, and coulda are all used.
 
Note: Reductions

Remember the following:
  • Reductions are reduced forms of English words.
  • Reductions, such as shoulda are not real words in English.
  • You need to use reductions in order to sound more natural.
  • You need to know reductions in order to understand conversations between native English speakers.
  • Reductions are used extensively in American TV, movies, music, literature, and in conversations among native English speakers.
Reductions In Music and TV


Hinder - Shoulda

Hinder is an American rock band from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that was formed in 2001 by lead singer Austin Winkler, guitarist Joe "Blower" Garvey, and drummer Cody Hanson with bassist Mike Roden and guitarist Mark King, joining in 2003, solidifying the line-up. The band released four studio albums with Winkler; Extreme Behavior (2005), Take It to the Limit (2008), All American Nightmare (2010) and Welcome to the Freakshow (2012). Cody Hanson, along with former lead singer Austin Winkler, wrote the majority of the band's music on their first four albums. After Winkler left the band in 2013, they looked for a new lead vocalist, and added Marshal Dutton. They have since released: When The Smoke Clears (2015) and The Reign (2017) with their new vocalist. Their seventh studio album is expected in 2020. The band was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

This video is a good example of the usage of "shoulda", "woulda", and "coulda" English language reductions.

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Lyrics

Before I hung up the phone all I could hear
Was the dial tone ring in my ear
If I could go back in time
I'd say those three words
I shoulda, woulda, coulda said it back to you
And this can't be saved if you can't be found
You hung up and left me for dead on the ground
You didn't even say goodbye
I shoulda, woulda, coulda said it back to you
I shoulda, woulda, coulda said it back to you
Now that you're gone I'm wasting away
The life has been siphoned right out of my veins
If I could go back in time
I'd say those three words
I shoulda, woulda, coulda said it back to you
And this can't be saved if you can't be found
You hung up and left me for dead on the ground
You didn't even say goodbye
I shoulda, woulda, coulda said it back to you
I shoulda, woulda, coulda said it back to you
When you said those three words
I kinda freaked out
When you said them first my jaw hit the ground
Shoulda, woulda, coulda said it back to you
Shoulda, woulda, coulda said it back to you
And this can't be saved if you can't be found
You hung up and left me for dead on the ground
You didn't even say goodbye
And this can't be saved
(And this can't be saved)
If you can't be found
(If you can't be found)
And this can't be saved
I shoulda, woulda, coulda said it back to you
I shoulda, woulda, coulda said it back to you
 
 
Additional Information
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