American English reductions are reduced forms of
English words.
This American English
reduction is formed when you combine and reduce
the following words.
betcha = bet + you
This American English reduction is used in the following
way.
Betcha can't eat just
one.
This American English reduction has the following
meaning.
Bet you can't eat just
one.
(Meaning:
I would bet, or think, that you will probably want
to eat more.)
Examples:
"betcha"
I
betcha
she is over 21 years old.
(Meaning:
I think she is over 21 years old.)
Betcha it
will rain today.
(Meaning:
I think it will rain today.)
Betcha I
am going to get the job.
(Meaning:
I think I am going to get the job.)
I betcha
you will fall in love with me.
(Meaning:
I think you will fall in love with me.)
Betcha
you cannot eat the entire sandwich.
(Meaning:
I think you are not going to be able to eat the
entire sandwich.)
From
YOUR Teacher:Betcha
can't eat just one
This reduction was used in a famous potato chip
commercial (advertisement) in America.
Note: Reductions
Remember the following:
Reductions are reduced forms of
English words.
Reductions, such as
betcha 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
Lays Potato Chip Commercial
This is an old Lays potato chip commercial (advertisement) with the
English language reduction "betcha".
Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Lays Potato Chip Commercial
And another Lays potato chip commercial (advertisement) with the
English language reduction "betcha". Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
System Of A Down - Violent Pornography
(audio)
System of a Down (SOAD), or simply System, is an
Armenian-American heavy metal band from Glendale, California, formed
in 1994. The band currently consists of Serj Tankian (lead vocals,
keyboards), Daron Malakian (vocals, guitar), Shavo Odadjian (bass,
backing vocals), and John Dolmayan (drums). The band achieved
commercial success with the release of five studio albums, three of
which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. System of a
Down has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, and their song
"B.Y.O.B." won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in
2006. The band went on hiatus in 2006 and came together again in
2010, embarking on a tour for the following three years. System of a
Down has sold over 40 million records worldwide, and their singles
"Aerials" and "Hypnotize" have both reached number one on
Billboard's Alternative Songs chart.
This video is a good example of the usage of "betcha",
an English language reduction.
Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Lyrics
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody fucks.
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody sucks.
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody cries
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody dies.
It's a non-stop disco
Bet you it's Nabisco Betcha didn't know
It's a non-stop disco
Bet you it's Nabisco Betcha didn't know
It's a non-stop disco Betcha didn't know Betcha didn't know
It's a non-stop disco
Bet you didn't know,
Bet you didn't know,
Bet you didn't know.
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody fucks.
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody sucks.
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody dies,
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody cries.
It's a non-stop disco
Bet you it's Nabisco Betcha didn't know
It's a non-stop disco
Bet you it's Nabisco Betcha didn't know
It's a non-stop disco Betcha didn't know Betcha didn't know
It's a non-stop disco
Bet you didn't know,
Bet you didn't know,
Bet you didn't know
It's a violent pornography!
Choking chicks and sodomy!
The kinda shit you get on your TV!
It's a violent pornography!
Choking chicks and sodomy!
The kinda shit you get on your TV!
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody sucks.
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody fucks.
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody dies.
Everybody, everybody, everybody livin' now.
Everybody, everybody, everybody cries.
It's a non-stop disco
Bet you it's Nabisco Betcha didn't know
It's a non-stop disco
Bet you it's Nabisco Betcha didn't know
It's a non-stop disco Betcha didn't know Betcha didn't know
It's a non-stop disco
Bet you didn't know,
Bet you didn't know,
Bet you didn't know
It's a violent pornography!
Choking chicks and sodomy!
The kinda shit you get on your TV!
It's a violent pornography!
Choking chicks and sodomy!
The kinda shit that's on your TV!
It's a violent pornography!
Choking chicks and sodomy!
The kinda shit that's on your TV!
It's on the TV.
Fuck.
Turn off the TV.
Can you say "brainwashing?"
It's a non-stop disco.
Additional Lessons
About These
Lessons
The following classroom lessons are great for students
who want additional conversation, listening, and reading
practice.
Conversation Lesson -
Beginner Level. Dialogs for everyday use.
Short situational dialogs for students of English as
a Foreign (EFL) or Second (ESL) Language with a
written conversation and a conversation notes
section.
Dialogs for everyday use. Short situational dialogs for
students of English as a Foreign (EFL) or Second (ESL)
Language.
Transportation
Joyce:Shall wetake a taxi or a bus to the meeting?
Bill:We’d better take a bus. It’s almost impossible to find a taxi
during rush hour.
Joyce:Isn’t that a
bus stop over there?
Bill: Yes... Oh, oh!
There’s a bus now. We’ll have to run to catch it.
Joyce: 0.K.… Oh, no!
We just
missed it.
Bill:Never mind. There’ll be another one in ten minutes.
Conversation Notes
Shall we
Do you think we should…? (Will is never used for this
meaning.)
take a taxi or a bus
Note there is a rising intonation on taxi and falling
intonation on bus in this “or” sentence.
We’d better
Meaning is we ought to…; It would be wise to….
rush hour
Meaning is the time of day when most people are going to
or from work and therefore the traffic is heaviest. In most American cities,
rush hour is from seven thirty to nine in the
morning and from about five to six thirty in the evening. Note that Rush hour
is a compound noun, with the principal stress on the first word.
Isn’t that
The negative question expresses an expectation of an
affirmative answer.
bus stop
Is a compound noun, with the principal stress on the
first word.
Oh, oh
An exclamation expressing alarm or sudden caution. Note
there is a high to low intonation.
Oh, no
An exclamation expressing sudden disappointment, shock,
or discouragement. Note the emphatic stress and intonation.
We just missed it
Meaning is we arrived a moment too late to catch the
bus.
Never mind
Meaning is it doesn’t matter; don’t concern yourself.
This is a collection of 36 situational conversations
which focus on spoken American English in a relatively
natural way....these
lessons are for intermediate students.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
Hey Students,
Use this dictionary and reference to look up any words you do not
understand in Fun Easy English.
