Lesson 13 | Have you?
In this lesson, you’ll practice asking polite questions. These questions are polite ways of asking about something or asking for something. They use the question forms:
Have you?
Could you?
Would you?
For example, you might ask whether your friend has gone surfing today by saying,
Have you surfed today?
But, when you speak quickly you pronounce it:
Haveya surfed taday?
And you’ll see you also make similar changes to questions that start with “could you?”
Listen
Haveya seen the sunset?
Read
Haveya seen the sunset?
Exercise 1
For practice, read these questions slowly changing “Have you” to “Haveya.”
Haveya seen the sunset?
Haveya seen the wind taday?
Haveya seen the cat anywhere?
Haveya seen my family on the beach?
Haveya had coffee yet?
Repeat (reading)
Now say these questions quickly.
Haveya seen the sunset?
Haveya seen the wind taday?
Haveya seen the cat anywhere?
Haveya seen my family on the beach?
Haveya had coffee yet?
Exercise 2
Now repeat these sentences slowly using “haveya” for practice.
Haveya taken a vacation lately?
Haveya been home yet?
Haveya seen my wallet?
Haveya got a lot a work ta do?
Haveya been sick?
Read and Change
Now read these questions quickly.
Haveya taken a vacation lately?
Haveya been home yet?
Haveya seen my wallet?
Haveya got a lot a work ta do?
Haveya been sick?
Exercise 3
You can also use this change when you ask questions using “Could you.” It's a polite question form. For example, listen to this question asked slowly and then quickly.
Could you wait for me?
Couldya wait fer me?
“Could you” can change to “couldya” when spoken quickly.
Listen
Couldya come over now?
Couldya hand me that book?
Couldya drive slower?
Couldya eat with us tonight?
Couldya help me find my wallet?
Read
Now you try it, say theses questions quickly.
Couldya come over now?
Couldya hand me that book?
Couldya drive slower?
Couldya eat with us tonight?
Couldya help me find my wallet?
Exercise 4
Now, change these sentences using “Couldya.”
Say them quickly for practice.
Couldya have dinner with us?
Couldya stay longer?
Couldya call me later?
Couldya wait a little bit?
Couldya bring me one?
Present: Could you?
Saying “Couldya” when you ask a question is not the fastest way that I say it. I often shorten it to say, “Couldja?” “Couldja?”
Now listen to these questions and say them quickly
Couldja have dinner with us?
Couldja stay longer?
Couldja call me later?
Couldja wait a little bit?
Couldja bring me one?
Exercise 5
Polite questions beginning with “Would” have the same change as “Could.”
Listen to this question.
Would you like to go surfing?
Wouldya like ta go surfing?
‘Would you’ is changed to “Wouldya’
Wouldya like ta go surfing?
Listen
Would you like to take a walk?
Wouldya like ta take a walk?
Would you like to have coffee?
Wouldya like ta have coffee?
Would you like to see the sunset?
Wouldya like ta see the sunset?
Read
Now read these question once slowly, then once quickly using the changes you've learned.
Would you like to go surfing?
Wouldya like ta go surfing?
Would you like to take a walk?
Wouldya like ta take a walk?
Would you like to have coffee?
Wouldya like ta have coffe?
Would you like to see the sunset?
Wouldya like ta see the sunset?
Would you like to own a cat?
Wouldya like ta own a cat?
Exercise 6
You can also shorten “Wouldya” slightly to pronounce it “Wouldja.”
Wouldja like ta come over?
Wouldja like ta come over?
Read and Change
Practice saying Wouldja a little by reading this questions quickly.
Would you have dinner with me?
Would you hand me my book?
Would you take me home now?
Would you call a taxi?
Would you hold my coat?
Exercise 7
Finally, you can also use these changes when asking questions using How, When, Where, Why or What time.
Listen to these questions asked quickly and see if you can hear the change.
When wouldja come over?
Who wouldja like ta invite?
How wouldja get there?
What time couldja come?
Where wouldja stay?
Repeat
Listen to these questions and say them once slowly and once quickly, making the change.
Have you seen my friend?
Haveya seen my friend?
Could you come over?
Couldya come over?
Would you lend me twenty dollars?
Wouldja lend me twenty dollars?
When could you get here?
When couldja get here?
How would you do that?
How wouldja do that?
Comment
Last, you can also ask polite questions using “Couldn’t you” or “Wouldn’t you.” For example, you might ask if someone can come now by saying,
Couldn’t you come now?
Or you might politely ask if someone wants to see the sunset by saying,
Wouldn’t you like to see the sunset?
In this case you can ask this quickly using “Couldn’tcha” or “Wouldn’tcha”
Couldn’tcha come now?
Wouldn’tcha like ta see the sunset?
Read and Change
Read these questions using “Couldn’tcha” and “Wouldn’tcha.”
Couldn’t you come now?
Couldn’t you have dinner with me?
Wouldn’t you rather stay home?
Wouldn’t you need more money?
Why wouldn’t you go with her?
Final Conversation
Listen for the changes that you’ve learned.
Hi. Wouldja like ta see a coupla pictures? Come over.
Here’s Claire and Ryan. What wouldja say is their favorite color?
Wouldja say purple?
Haveya noticed her watch?
It’s purple.
Wouldja like ta see another picture?
Wouldja take a look at that! Wow!