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Lesson 19 | Should have

In this lesson, you’ll learn to change words “should have,” “would have,” and “could have” for conversation.

Let’s get started.

I wanted a drink.

I got out the milk.

But it was almost empty.

I shoulda bought more milk.

Did you head the change?

I said shoulda.

I shoulda bought more milk.

Here’s another example.

Listen

I shoulda brought more money.

Read

I shoulda brought more money.

play video

Exercise 1

play video

For practice, read these sentences slowly out loud.

I shoulda bought chocolates.

I shoulda bought milk.

I shoulda bought flowers.

I shoulda boughter ice cream.

I shoulda brought more money.

Repeat (Reading)

Now say these sentences quickly.

I shoulda bought chocolates.

I shoulda bought milk.

I shoulda bought flowers.

I shoulda boughter ice cream.

I shoulda brought more money.

Exercise 2

play video

Read and repeat these sentences slowly for practice.

I shoulda eaten dinner.

I shoulda taken a vacation.

I shoulda gone home.

I shoulda bought a ticket earlier.

I shoulda visited sooner.

Repeat (listening)

Now read these sentences quickly.

I shoulda eaten dinner.

I shoulda taken a vacation.

I shoulda gone home.

I shoulda bought a ticket earlier.

I shoulda visited sooner.

Exercise 3

play video

Okay, so you understand the change. Listen to these sentences and see if you can understand them and repeat them slowly.

I shoulda worked harder.

He shoulda come earlier.

She shoulda stayed in bed.

We shoulda bought more food.

They shoulda stayed quiet.

Repeat

Now read these sentences quickly, saying them as you would in a normal conversation.

I shoulda worked harder.

He shoulda come earlier.

She shoulda stayed in bed.

We shoulda bought more food.

They shoulda stayed quiet.

Exercise 4

play video

We sat on a park bench.

The sun was bright.

I didn’t bring my sunglasses.

If I’d know it was so sunny,

I woulda brought my sunglasses.

Did you head the change?

I woulda.

I woulda brought my sunglasses.

I say woulda in informal conversations.

If I wanted to speak slowly and clearly,

I woulda said would have.

Listen

If I’d had bread, I woulda fed the pigeon.

Read

I woulda fed the pigeon.

Exercise 5

play video

For practice, read these sentences using I woulda.

Which do you want, the pineapple or the bananas?

I woulda taken the bananas.

Which do you want?

I woulda taken the apple.

Which do you want?

I woulda taken the money.

I woulda taken the iPhone.

I woulda taken the iPad.

Now read these sentences quickly making the change.

I woulda taken the bananas.

I woulda taken the apple.

I woulda taken the money.

I woulda taken the iPhone.

I woulda taken the iPad.

Exercise 6

play video

Read and repeat these sentences slowly for practice.

If I’d had time, I woulda eaten dinner.

I woulda taken a vacation.

I woulda gone home.

I woulda bought a ticket earlier.

I woulda visited sooner.

Repeat (listening)

Now repeat these sentences quickly.

If I had time, I woulda eaten dinner.

I woulda taken a vacation.

I woulda gone home.

I woulda bought a ticket earlier.

I woulda visited sooner.

Exercise 7

play video

Okay, so you understand the change. Listen to these sentences and see if you can understand them and repeat them slowly.

I wish I woulda worked harder.

I wish he woulda come earlier.

I wish she woulda stayed in bed.

I wish we woulda bought more food.

I wish they woulda stayed quiet.

Repeat

Here are some sentences, read them with the changes for normal conversation.

I wish I woulda worked harder.

I wish he woulda come earlier.

I wish she woulda stayed in bed.

I wish we woulda bought food.

I wish they woulda stayed quiet.

Exercise 8

play video

Yesterday was a nice morning.

I was gunna take a walk.

But then I remembered that I hadda do my taxes.

I coulda taken a walk,

but I did my taxes instead.

Did you hear how I changed “could have” to “coulda”?

I coulda taken a walk.

Listen

I coulda taken a walk, but I hadda do taxes.

Read

I coulda taken a walk.

Exercise 9

play video

Yesterday I put a chair in front of my car.

And I forgot about it.

Later I got in my car.

I didn’t remember the chair.

When I drove off, I heard the chair fall.

I was lucky.

I coulda had an accident.

I coulda run over the chair.

Repeat these sentences slowly for practice.

I coulda had an accident.

I coulda gone surfing.

I coulda played tennis.

I coulda gone skating.

I coulda washed the car.

Repeat (Reading)

Now say these sentences quickly.

I coulda had an accident.

I coulda gone surfing.

I coulda played tennis.

I coulda gone skating.

I coulda washed the car.

Exercise 10

play video

Read and repeat these sentences slowly for practice.

If I’d had more time, I coulda eaten dinner.

I coulda taken a vacation.

I coulda gone home.

I coulda bought a ticket.

I coulda visited longer.

Repeat (listening)

Now read these sentences quickly.

I coulda eaten dinner.

I coulda taken a vacation.

I coulda gone home.

I coulda bought a ticket.

I coulda visited longer.

Final Conversation

play video

Listen to this conversation for the changes you’ve learned.

Hey, where were ya last night?

Sorry, I stayed home. I shoulda called ya.

We had a few people over. Ya didn’t wanna come?

Oh, I woulda come, but I was so tired after work.

You coulda just sat and watched TV with us.

No, I was a zombie. I went ta bed.

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