Posts tagged casual conversations
English Lesson: Want to & Want a Vs. Wanna
Sep 21st
The other day we looked at gonna, the casual pronunciation of going to. Today, I want to talk about a similar word – wanna. Wanna is the casual pronunciation of both want to and want a. I am sure you have heard this before. However, what you might not know is that there are times when we can and cannot use such pronunciation. Today I want to talk about this with you.
We pronounce want to as wanna when we talk about the first and second person (I, you, we, they) but not the third person (he, she, it). The structure is want to + verb. Here are some examples:
- I want to eat pizza for lunch. → I wanna eat pizza for lunch. (wanna = want to)
- I think you want to eat pizza for lunch, too. →I think you wanna eat pizza for lunch, too. (wanna = want to)
- Jack wants to* eat pizza for lunch → Jack wanna to eat pizza for lunch. (wanna ≠ want to)
*Since we use the third person “s” we cannot use wanna to mean wants to
We also pronounce want a as wanna when we talk about the first and second person (I, you, we, they) but not the third person (he, she, it). The structure is want a + noun. Here are some examples:
- I want a new computer. → I wanna new computer. (wanna = want a)
- I think you want a new computer, too. → I think you wanna new computer, too. (wanna = want a)
- Jack wants a new computer, too. → Jack
wannanew computer, too. (wanna ≠ want a)
So, please remember this → When you have the verb in the third person – wants – you can not use wanna.
Well, I hope this was helpful. Thanks for studying today and remember to send me your suggestions for a one-point lesson you want to see here.
English Lesson: Going to Vs. Gonna
Sep 19th
I’m sure that you have learned that in everyday casual English we pronounce going to as gonna. What you might not know is that there are times when we can and cannot use such pronunciation. Today I want to talk about this with you.
Be going to is used in a few different ways in English. First, we can use be going to + verb to talk about definite future plans. We can use the pronunciation gonna here:
- I am going to go to Boston next week – OR - I am gonna go to Boston next week
- Jack said he is going to get a dog – OR – Jack said he is gonna get a dog.
Be going to is also used when we talk about our present action or future plan. We use be going to + place. In this case, we cannot say gonna
- I’m going to Boston next week – NOT - I’m gonna Boston next week
- Jack said he’s going to the pest store – NOT - Jack said he’s gonna the pet store
Be going is also used when we talk about our present action or future plan. We use be going + Verb-ing. In this case as well, we cannot say gonna
- I’m going shopping now – NOT - I’m gonna shopping now
- Jack said he’s going skiing this weekend – NOT - Jack said he’s gonna skiing this weekend.
Keep in mind too that gonna is conversation English, and it should not be used in written English.
Thanks for studying today. What are you going to do this week?
English Lesson: Two Coffees, Please!
Aug 4th
I was in a diner the other day with my friend Ken. After lunch the waiter asked if we wanted anything else, and we had the following conversation:
Waiter: Can I get you something else?
Michael: Yeah, can we have two coffees please?
Waiter: Sure thing.
Ken: Oh, and can we have two waters as well?
Waiter: Yes, of course
As you know, English has two kinds of nouns, countable and non-countable. Countable nouns are things we can count, such as pens, dogs, iPads, etc. Countable nouns have a plural form → 1 pen, 2 pens. 1 dog, 5 dogs.
Non-countable nouns are things we cannot count. Some examples are liquids, like water and coffee, furniture, and luggage. Remember, non-countable nouns do not have a plural form.
There is an exception to this rule. Have a look at the conversation above once more and then check the rest of the lesson:
Normally, coffee and water are not countable. When we want to count liquids, we count based on the container:
- Can I have two cups of coffee.
- I drank five bottles of water today.
There is once exception to this rule. When you are in a restaurant, coffee shop, etc., you can order drinks without the container as in the conversation above:
- Can we have two coffees please? “Two coffees” means two cups of coffee.
- Can we have two waters as well? “Two waters” means two glasses of water.
This way of speaking is used when you are ordering and talking to the waiter, waitress, or staff at a café, etc. The next time you are out to eat, why not try using these sentences. Thanks for studying with me today.
