Lesson 16 | Had to
In this lesson, you’ll learn about some changes that I make when talking about the past. You’ll learn two common changes for the words “had to,” and when I ask questions using, “Did you?”
You’ll probably see that a lot of the changes that you’ve learned so far are similar when talking or asking questions in the past.
Listen
Yesterday a boat hit the beach.
They had ta save the people on the boat.
And they had ta clean up the beach.
Did you notice that I said “had ta?”
They had ta save the people on the boat.
And they had ta clean up the beach.
Now listen again as I say this slightly faster.
They hadda save the people on the boat.
And they hadda clean up the beach.
Did you hear it? When I speak very quickly, instead of saying “had to” I say “hadda.”
Listen closely.
They hadda save the people on the boat.
And they hadda clean up the beach.
Next, you’ll practice using “had ta” and “hadda.”
Exercise 1
Now, listen to these sentences that use “had ta.”
Listen
I had ta get some exercise.
I had ta get some gas.
I had ta walk ta the harbor.
I had ta walk the dogs.
I had ta take a small boat.
Now you try it, read these sentences using “had ta.”
Read
I had ta get some exercise.
I had ta get some gas.
I had ta walk ta the harbor.
I had ta walk the dogs.
I had ta take a small boat.
Exercise 2
Now, let’s practice using “hadda.” Say these sentences slowly.
I hadda stop ta see the view.
I hadda stop ta take a picture.
I hadda stop ta read the sign.
I hadda look hard ta see the plane.
I hadda walk carefully on the rocks.
Repeat (reading)
Now read these sentences quickly making the change.
I hadda stop ta see the view.
I hadda stop ta take a picture.
I hadda stop ta read the sign.
I hadda look hard ta see the plane.
I hadda walk carefully on the rocks.
Exercise 3
Now read these sentences quickly and make the changes.
I hadda go inta town.
He hadda get a new car.
She hadda get somethun ta eat.
I hadda get out a there.
They hadda come early.
Repeat (listening)
Now say these sentences quickly making the changes you’ve learned.
I had to go into town.
He had to get a new car.
She had to get something to eat.
I had to get out of there.
They had to come early.
Exercise 4
Well, you’re doing great. Now listen to this simple question. I’m going to say it four times. Each time I’m going to say it slightly faster. Listen for the changes I make.
Did you see the gull walking on the beach?
Did ya see the gull walkun on the beach?
Didja see the gull walkun on the beach?
Dja see the gull walkun on the beach?
First, I spoke slowly and clearly as anyone would in a formal situation.
Did you see the gull walking on the beach?
Then I spoke a little quicker, using “ya” and “walkun.”
Did ya see the gull walkun on the beach?
The next time I asked it, I made a small change, instead of saying “Did ya,” I said “Didja,” “Didja.”
Didja see the gull walkun on the beach?
And last, in a very informal way, I just shorted the question word to “Dja.”
Dja see the gull walkun on the beach?
In the next exercises, you'll make these changes to simple questions that use “Did you.”
Listen
Did ya seeum ridun on the beach?
Didja seeum ridun on the beach?
Dja seeum ridun on the beach?
Exercise 5
For practice, read these sentences slowly with the changes.
Did ya see the waves?
Did ya see iscamera?
Did ya see the raven?
Did ya see the sign?
Did ya seeim hit isdog?
Didja see the waves?
Didja see iscamera?
Didja see the raven?
Didja see the sign?
Didja seeim hit isdog?
Dja see the waves?
Dja see iscamera?
Dja see the raven?
Dja see the sign?
Dja seeim hit isdog?
Repeat (reading)
Now to practice these changes, read these quickly.
Did ya hafta buy a new car?
Did ya hafta buy a new book?
Did ya hafta buy a new pen?
Did ya hafta buy a new ticket?
Did ya hafta buy a new watch?
Didja hafta buy a new car?
Didja hafta buy a new book?
Didja hafta buy a new pen?
Didja hafta buy a new ticket?
Didja hafta buy a new watch?
Dja hafta buy a new car?
Dja hafta buy a new book?
Dja hafta buy a new pen?
Dja hafta buy a new ticket?
Dja hafta buy a new watch?
Exercise 6
You must be able to hear and understand these changes in normal conversation.
Listen to and repeat these questions.
Didja see the hawk?
Didja seeum fishing?
Didja seeim catch a wave?
Didja seeum on the beach?
Didja seeum in the fog?
Repeat (listening)
Now repeat these questions quickly using “Dja.”
Dja see the hawk?
Dja seeum fishun?
Dja seeim catch a wave?
Dja seeum on the beach?
Dja seeum in the fog?
Exercise 7
Now say these questions quickly using “Didya.”
Did you see him come in?
Did you want to see a movie?
Did you want to go home?
Did you have to stay late?
Read and Change
Now, ask these questions using “Didja.”
Did you lose something?
Did you want to stay here?
Did you have to get up early?
Did you have a car?
Now read to these sentences quickly, changing “did you” to “dja.”
Did you lose something?
Did you want to stay here?
Did you have to get up early?
Did you have a car?
Exercise 8
Let’s look at two more small changes like this. When I ask a question like:
Did he like her?
I often shorten it to sound like this.
Didi liker?
I say, “Didi” “Didi” “Didi liker?”
And when I ask,
Did she like the view?
I often shorten it to sound like this.
Didshi like the view? Didshi, Didshi. Didshi like the view?
Read
Didi liker?
Didshi like the view?
Exercise 9
Let’s practice saying “Didi” and “Didshi” a little bit. Repeat these sentences.
Did he have a car?
Did he need money?
Did he say anything?
Did he like the music?
Did she dance well?
Did she go to school?
Did she have a job?
Did she like me?
Final Conversation
Okay, listen to this conversation for the changes that you learned.
Last night I watched an old movie.
It was called Angry Boy.
Tommy was fightun with is friend.
Mrs Peterson said, “Wouldja just stop it!”
Then she hadda leave the class.
Tommy was gunna leave, too.
But then he saw erpurse.
It was kinda open.
So he hadda go close it.
But first he hadda check for money.
Mrs Peterson said, “Didja find somethun?”
Getcher hands off my purse!
Tommy wanted ta run,
But first he hadda give ermoney back.
She scaredim.
Later he drew this picture of her.