American English reductions are reduced forms of
English words.
This American English
reduction is formed when you combine and reduce
the following words.
oughta = ought + to
This American English reduction is used in the following
way.
You
oughta find a better
job.
This American English reduction has the following
meaning.
You
ought to find a better
job.
(Meaning:
You should find a better job.)
Examples:
"oughta" (reading and
reductions)
I
oughta get going.
(Meaning:
I should leave now.)
We
oughta go before it begins
raining.
(Meaning:
We should go before it begins raining.)
They
oughta change the team
uniforms.
(Meaning:
They should change the team uniforms.)
She
oughta study for the college
entrance test.
(Meaning:
She should study for the college entrance test.)
He
oughta think before speaking.
(Meaning:
He should think before speaking.)
From
YOUR Teacher:
Oughta
Yeah this is kind of a strange reduction but it is used
a lot in English conversations.
We oughta get going.
You oughta eat something before you leave.
Note:
Reductions
Remember the following:
Reductions are reduced forms of English
words.
Reductions, such as oughta 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
Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know
Alanis Nadine Morissette (born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian–American
singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and
actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice, Morissette began
her career in Canada in the early 1990s with two mildly successful
dance-pop albums. Afterwards, as part of a recording deal, she moved
to Holmby Hills, Los Angeles and in 1995 released Jagged Little
Pill, a more rock-oriented album which sold more than 33 million
copies globally and is her most critically acclaimed work. Her
follow-up album, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, was released in
1998.
This video is a good example of the usage of "oughta",
and "gonna" English language
reductions.
Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Lyrics
I want you to know, that I am happy for you
I wish nothing but the best for you both
An older version of me
Is she perverted like me?
Would she go down on you in a theater?
Does she speak eloquently
And would she have your baby?
I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother
'Cause the love that you gave that we made
Wasn't able to make it enough for you
To be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me
You'd hold me until you died
'Til you died, but you're still alive
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
You seem very well, things look peaceful
I'm not quite as well, I thought you should know
Did you forget about me, Mr. Duplicity?
I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner
It was a slap in the face
How quickly I was replaced
And are you thinking of me when you fuck her?
'Cause the love that you gave that we made
Wasn't able to make it enough for you
To be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me
You'd hold me until you died
'Til you died, but you're still alive
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
'Cause the joke that you laid in the bed
That was me and I'm not
gonna
fade
As soon as you close your eyes, and you know it
And every time I scratch my nails
Down someone else's back I hope you feel it
Well, can you feel it?
And I'm here, to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair, to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
Additional Lessons
About These
Lessons
The following classroom lessons are great for students
who want additional conversation, listening, and reading
practice.
Conversation Lesson -
Intermediate Level. Let's
Learn English conversation lesson
with a conversation video, a video script, audio
listening practice, and a new
words section.
In this lesson Anna loses her key. When she goes looking
for it, she finds a life coach instead. And that's where
the confusion begins.
Lesson Video
Watch the video and then read the video script.
Video Script
Anna: Hi, Kaveh! Let’s go to lunch!
Kaveh: Ooh, I know a great place. When I first started working here, I would go
every day!
Anna: Great. Oh, no.
Kaveh: What’s wrong?
Anna: I lost my key! I just had it this morning.
Kaveh: You should check the Lost & Found office.
Anna: Great idea. Where is it?
Kaveh: Oh, it used to be across from the cafeteria. But now it’s down in the
basement next to the elevators. It’s really hard to find.
Anna: The Lost & Found is hard to find. That’s funny.
Kaveh: It is.
Professor Bot: I hope Anna can find the Lost & Found office!
Used to and would describe something that happened repeatedly in the past.
Kaveh uses would when he says, “When I first started working here, I would go
every day!
There are two differences between used to and would.
Number 1: We use would only when we say the time period first.
Number 2: For verbs like be, think, feel, see and understand, we can only use
used to.
Kaveh says, "It used to be across from the cafeteria."
Keep listening for more!
(A worker moves the sign for the Lost & Found office. So, Anna walks into the
wrong office without knowing it.)
Serenity: Come in! I am Serenity.
Anna: Hi, Serenity. I’m Anna!
Serenity: Please, sit down. How can I help you?
Anna: I lost something very important.
Serenity: Shh. I already know. You need help.
Anna: Yes. I need help finding the key …
Serenity: Shh. You need to find the key – the key that will give you happiness.
Anna: Yes. Finding this key will make me very happy.
Serenity: First, Anna, let me tell you a little bit about myself.
Anna: Okay.
Serenity: I used to be a very important person with a very important job. I made
a lot of money -- I mean a lot.
Anna: Wow. Good for you!
Serenity: No! No, it was bad for me. I lost the most important thing – the key!
You’ve lost it too, haven’t you, Anna? Haven’t you?
Anna: I guess. So, how does this work? Do I have to fill out a form or
something?
Serenity: No. No forms. Just answer this one question: As a child, what did you
use to do to feel happy?
Anna: When I was little, I used to sing all the time with my family. Those were
good times.
Serenity: Singing is so joyful! I used to sing. But now that I’ve started my
business, I’ve just been too busy. Too busy! Anna, why don’t you sing again?
Anna: I sing everywhere! I sing in the office. I sing on the metro. I sing in
the elevators. I sing on the escalators. I sing in the bathroom. Serenity!
Serenity! I really need to find my key. Yeah!
Serenity: Yes, we need to find the key … the key to happiness.
Anna: No, no. I just need to find the key to my apartment.
Serenity: I used to know. But now I don't! Do you, Anna?
Anna: I don’t know. I think I left it in the ladies’ room. You know, this isn’t
the Lost & Found, is it?
(Anna starts walking out of the room)
Serenity: It could be the Lost & Found. I’m lost! And I used to find joy for
people! I used to find joy!
Anna: You know, this is a bad time for you. I’ll find the Lost & Found myself.
Bye, thanks.
Serenity: I used to find joy. I used to find joy! I used to find joy!
Anna: Ah, I found my key!
Serenity: I used to find joy!
Pofessor Bot: Oh no. Serenity lost her joy. But at least Anna found her key!
Check out our website for more!
Listening
Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation.
Practice
Now, practice the grammar you just learned. Use the Comments section below to
tell us what you used to do to feel happy.
Remember to follow these rules:
Rule # 1: Use would only when you introduce the
time period first.
You can mention the time in the same sentence:
"When I first started working here, I would go every day!"
Or, you can mention the time in the previous sentence:
"When I first started working here, I did not bring lunch from home. I would go
to restaurants every day.
Rule # 2: For stative verbs, only use used to. A
stative verb is a verb used mainly to describe a state or situation rather than
an action.
Two examples from today's lesson:
Serenity: "I used to know. But now I don't"
Kaveh: "It used to be across from the cafeteria.
There are many stative verbs in English. Some examples include: be, know, think,
feel, see, understand, want, like, love, hate, wish, mean, remember, taste,
believe, hear, look and seem.
New Words
basement -
n. the part of a building that is entirely or
partly below the ground
elevator -
n. a machine used for carrying people and
things to different levels in a building
escalator -
n. a machine used for carrying people and
things to different levels in a building
cafeteria -
n. a place where people get food at a counter
and carry it to a table for eating
form -
n. a document with blank spaces for filling in
information
joy -
n. a feeling of great happiness
joyful -
n. full of joy
key -
n. something that provides a solution or
explanation
life coach -
n. a person who counsels and encourages people
on matters about their careers or personal challenges
Lost & Found -
n. a place where lost items are kept to await
reclaiming by their owners (sometimes also written as lost-and-found or lost
and found)
serenity -
n. a feeling of calm and peacefulness
("Serenity" is also the name of the life coach.)
Study all 30 English intermediate conversation lessons.
Let's Learn English conversation lessons each with a
conversation video, a video script, audio listening
practice, and a new
words section.
These lessons are for
intermediate students.
Study all 52 English beginner conversation lessons. Let's Learn
English conversation lessons each with a conversation
video, a video script, audio listening practice, video
speaking practice, video pronunciation practice, a new
words section, and a writing activity.
These
lessons are for beginning 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.
