Hi, I'm Georgiana, your English teacher.
Thanks for joining me for a new episode of the Speak English Now podcast.
If you want to help, please share the podcast on social media.
That would mean a lot.
Thanks.
Before we start, visit my website, speakenglishpodcast.com and subscribe to my free mini course.
Okay, let's start.
In this episode, I'd like to help you to understand how to use words like gonna wanna, gotta and similar.
Later a point-of-view story to practice your English grammar and consolidate the information that I'll be teaching in the first part.
Let's get started.
Are you confused about how and when to use words like gonna, wanna and gotta?
We refer to these kind of words as contractions.
What's a contraction?
A contraction is created when two words in a row come together and become one.
For example, I'm is short for I am.
It's is short for it is, don't is short for do not and won't is short for will not.
These are some of the contractions which are accepted as grammatically correct and are taught in all english courses.
However, in this lesson i'll focus on the informal contractions.
These are not taught in grammar books because their use is mostly colloquial.
For example, if you say going to really fast, you can shorten it to gonna by dropping the final sound.
If you say want to really fast, it shortens to wanna.
These are informal contractions.
You probably noticed that the grammatically correct English we learn in school is not the same as the colloquial English in the street.
However, informal contractions are very common in colloquial English.
That's why you should familiarize yourself with them.
You don't need to start using them right away.
The most important step is to make sure that you understand how to use these informal contractions.
Many conventional teachers sustain that it's wrong or inappropriate to use these colloquial contractions when speaking English in formal situations.
But let me tell you that words like gonna, wanna and gotta are perfectly okay to use in all spoken situations, both formal and informal.
In the US, everyone seems to use gonna and wanna.
Even highly educated people use these words several times a day.
People in business meetings, professors giving lectures, everyone.
So don't worry.
You can also use them.
And you'll sound just like an American.
And now, let's see some examples.
Ghana is going to in the simple future.
Avoid making common mistakes with Ghana.
Some students say, I gonna or I'm gonna too.
It's incorrect.
The correct form is always, I'm gonna.
Examples.
I'm gonna go to work.
I'm gonna eat a burger.
She's gonna call me back.
I'm gonna help some friends.
So, how do we use wanna? can be followed by a verb or a noun.
Let's hear some examples with wanna and a verb.
I want to have fun.
Or I wanna have fun.
I want to eat dinner.
Or I wanna eat dinner.
Now some examples with wanna and a noun.
I want a new car.
Or I want a new car.
I want a book.
Or, I want a book.
Sometimes you'll notice that the subject in the beginning disappears.
Instead of saying, Do you wanna stay?
You might listen to an American say, Wanna stay?
Or, You wanna stay?
Awesome!
Let's continue with gotta.
Gotta is short for I've got to or got to.
Let's hear some examples with gotta and a verb.
I gotta go now.
I gotta be there in 10 minutes.
And now, some examples with gotta plus a noun.
I got a new car.
I got a cell phone.
She hasn't got a penny.
Have you got a job?
Let's learn some new words.
Instead of don't you, we say don't you.
Don't you wish your girlfriend was like me, don't you?
You know this song, right?
So, let's hear some examples.
Don't you want to come with me?
You're really enjoying yourself, don't you?
Don't you like the movie?
Let's continue with kind of or kinda.
Examples.
I kinda like her.
What kind of music do you like?
It's kinda selfish, don't you think?
My mom says I kinda look like him.
Okay.
Try to say let me really fast.
You will end up with let me.
Examples.
Let me get you a drink.
Let me see it.
Let me go.
Hey, let me pay you back tomorrow, okay?
Let's continue with don't know.
Instead of saying don't know, you say don't know.
Examples.
I don't know what time it is.
Who did it?
I don't know.
I don't know.
Maybe he's telling the truth.
Okay.
You're learning so fast.
I've got two more contractions for you today.
Let's go.
Watcha.
Watcha replaces what are you, what you, and what do you.
Examples.
What you gonna do?
Do what you gotta do.
What you wanna do now?
And, what you doing?
Here are some translations.
What are you going to do?
What you gonna do?
Do what you have to do.
Do what you gotta do.
What do you want to do now?
What you wanna do now?
What do you want?
What you want?
What are you doing?
What you doing?
Okay, and the last one is cause.
This one is simple.
Don't say because.
Just say cause.
Examples.
I'm sad cause my girlfriend left me.
They cancelled the trip cause of the show.
I love you cause you're pretty.
I hope you're enjoying today's episode.
As you can see, it's not easy to understand English unless you start listening to real conversations.
Once you get familiarized with the informal contractions, you will have less difficulty understanding songs and movies in English.
By the way, you can get the transcript of today's episode at speakenglishpodcast.com.
Let's move on to the next section.
Let's practice some grammar with the point of view technique.
This technique will help you to learn grammar intuitively without boring exercises or memorizing rules.
This is how it works.
I'll tell you a short story more than one time.
Every time I'll change a grammar point.
This way, you will intuitively recognize the changes.
Okay, let's get started.
I'm gonna start telling you the story without using the informal contractions.
Let me tell you something.
I want to learn English.
In fact, I'm going to study by myself.
But my friends are kind of skeptical.
They ask me don't you need to go to a language school?
And i answer no.
Let me explain.
I can learn english by listening and reading.
Some of my friends don't understand it, they don't get it.
They say things like oh man, what are you going to listen to?
I don't know if it's such a good idea or, but Don't you need a teacher?
I answer them that I kind of have a teacher.
Her name's Georgiana.
She's super professional and she always wants to help.
Despite my friend's hesitations, I'm going to be motivated because I'm learning more and more.
When you want to get something, you just go to fight for it.
Okay, I've got to go now.
See ya.
I'm not sure if you've noticed, but not using informal contractions in this short story is just unnatural.
I had to make an effort not to use gonna, wanna, gotta, etc.
Now the same story, but with the informal contractions.
Let's have some fun.
Let me tell you something.
I wanna learn English.
In fact, I'm gonna study by myself.
But my friends are kind of skeptical.
They ask me, Don't you need to go to a language school?
And I answer, No, let me explain.
I can learn English by listening and reading.
Some of my friends don't understand it.
They don't get it.
They say things like, Oh man, what you gonna listen?
I don't know if it's such a good idea.
Or, But don't you need a teacher?
I answer them that I kind of have a teacher.
Her name's Georgiana.
She's super professional, and she always wanna help.
Despite my friend's hesitations, I gotta be motivated, cause I'm learning more and more.
When you wanna get something, you just gotta fight for it.
Okay, I gotta go now.
See ya.
Let me tell you the story from a different perspective.
My brother says he wanna learn English.
In fact, he's gonna study by himself.
But his friends are kinda skeptical.
They ask him, Don't you need to go to a language school?
And he answers, No, let me explain.
I can learn English by listening and reading.
Some of his friends don't understand it.
They don't get it.
They say things like, Oh, man, what you gonna listen?
I don't know if it's such a good idea.
Or, but don't you need a teacher?
He answers them that he kinda has a teacher.
Her name's Georgiana.
She's super professional, and she always wanna help.
Despite his friend's hesitations, he's gotta be motivated.
Cause he's learning more and more.
When you wanna get something, you just gotta fight for it.
Okay, I gotta go now.
See ya.
This is the end of this short lesson.
I really hope that you've enjoyed this story.
By the way, this is one of the techniques that I use in my premium courses.
I recommend you to take a look at Awesome!
This is the end of this episode.
Remember to listen to it several times.
It will help you with your English.
You can get the text of this episode at Take care.
Bye-bye.
Did you enjoy today's episode?
