EGTV: Reduced Forms

John: Hi, Dr. Jill! /D’jah/ (Did you) see that scary TV show last night?
Jill: (shaking head), No, John. What was it about? A weather disaster? An invasion from space?
John: No, it was about how people don’t read their grammar books anymore.
Jill: Oh, no! That is scary! By the way, d’ya (do you) like scary movies?
John: No, I don’t. But thank you for giving me an idea. Your question has some good grammar points.
Jill: Hmm. It’s a yes or no question, right?
John: Correct. So, it needs the auxiliary verb “do.”
Jill: And the main verb “like” is in the present tense.
John: We can also ask questions with a past auxiliary.
Jill: That would be your question for me: D’jah (Did you) see that scary TV show last night?
John: There, the auxiliary is in the past tense. But we still have the simple form of the main verb “see.”
Jill: And one more thing – the pronunciation. I said, “D’jah,” instead of “Did you.” I reduced “Did you” to “D’jah.” The sound of “y” changes to “j” because of the “d” in “did.”
John: That’s because, in casual speech, Americans often say function words in a softer and shorter way. They include pronouns and auxiliary verbs.
Jill: But do not use this in formal writing or speech. And that’s Everyday Grammar!

Learn how to ask question auxiliary verbs and use a reduced form to sound informal.
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