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Eva Easton's American English Pronunciation

Eva Easton's American English Pronunciation

American English Pronunciation

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Used to (past tense verb)

Friday, November 24, 2017 by Eva Easton 1 Comment

I wonder how an American pronounces…

used to
/yuw-stə/

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-top.mp3

 

used to
/yuw–stə/

1.  simple past tense verb

2.  emphasizes that something done
repeatedly in the past is finished.

Years ago, we used to have black rotary dial phones.
Now we all use cell phones.

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-past-tense-verb.mp3

 

used to … use to
/yuw–stə/ … /yuw–stə/

We write the d but we don’t pronounce it.
As a result, both forms are pronounced the same.

question
What color hair did she use to have?

affirmative
She used to have blond hair, but not any more.

negative
She didn’t use to be a redhead, but she is now.

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-red-head.mp3


used to
/yuw–stə/

I used to enjoy reading a lot,
but with little children in the house,
I just don’t have time for it.

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-reading-children.mp3


use to
/yuw–stə/

I didn’t use to like gardening,
but we bought a house in the country.
Look at my flowers now.

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-house-in-country.mp3

 

use to
/yuw–stə/

Where did you use to live before moving here?
Didn’t you use to live in Indiana?

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-live-in-Indiana.mp3

 

used to
/yuw–stə/

What did you used to do
before you became a dog walker?
I used to work in a store

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-dog-walker.mp3

 

used to
/yuw–stə/

I used to be afraid of speaking in public,
but not any more.

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-speak-in-public.mp3

 

use to
/yuw–stə/

Didn’t you use to work at the Easton Bakery?
Yes, I did,…years ago.

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-Easton-Bakery.mp3

 

used to
/yuw–stə/

Garfield, the cat, says he used to exercise.
I don’t believe him.  Do you?

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-Garfield.mp3

 

used to
/yuw–stə/

I’m a teacher now, but I used to be a librarian.

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-teacher-03.mp3

 

used to … use to
/yuw–stə/ … /yuw–stə/

I don’t play baseball any more, but I used to.
I swim a lot now, but I didn’t use to.

https://www.evaeaston.com/wp-content/uploads/1.-used-to-baseball-02.mp3

Related Lessons:

  • Part 1:  used to:  past tense verb
  • Part 2:  use:  regular verb
  • Part 3:  use:  noun
  • Part 4:  be used to:  adjective
  • Part 5:  get used to:  adjective
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Srećko says

    Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    I used to study English without paying too much attention to linking and reduction, but I do now. Because I’ve got used to it.

    Reply

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