Does “Gonna” Make You Sound like a Native Speaker?

Hi there. We're going to talk about  something important. I know that you  

know the word "gonna," but do you  know when and when not to use it?

I'm Jennifer from English with Jennifer,  and I'd like to give you some helpful tips  

on using words like "gonna" so that you sound  natural and confident yet appropriate for your  

audience. First, we'll review how common words  are reduced. Then I'll explain when and where  

where these forms are used. I'd like to tell  you which patterns are more common and which  

will serve you best in the greatest number  of situations. Stick around until the end  

because I plan to test your understanding of  reduced words in fast American English. Okay?

Fast speech makes use of reduction. Words  can lose their full quality. In fast,  

connected speech, sounds can  change. Some sounds are dropped.  

"For" can sound like "fer." "Tp" can sound  like t'. What about putting words together?

In American English, "going  to" can sound like gonna.

"Want to"...wanna.

"Have to"...hafta.

"Give me"...gimme.

"Got to"...gotta, as in, "I've  got to go" or "I got to go."

"Don't know"...dunno, as in, "I don't know."

I cover reduction in my fast speech playlist.  It's more important to understand these forms  

than to use them, but can you use them?  Yes. I do. The question is when. First,  

let's make sure you know these are spoken forms.  They're supposed to represent spoken English,  

and they're not always appropriate for written  English. There are exceptions. You'll see these  

forms in song lyrics because these words are meant  to be sung. You can get away with these forms in  

messaging and texting, but I don't suggest  using reduced forms like "gonna" in email or  

any professional correspondence. And I certainly  don't recommend these forms in academic writing.

Next, let's focus specifically on "gonna"  because I recently came across a pattern  

that I personally don't teach or use. Listen to  

the way I reduce "going to." I'll use  two different pronunciation patterns.

First.

Second.

These are generally acceptable patterns in  spoken American English. Even in speeches,  

documentaries, and presentations I  hear them used. But here's a lesser  

used pattern that I don't recommend using  if you're aiming to speak more standard  

American English. Let's see if you can hear  the difference. Can you hear what's missing?

The third pattern.

Reduction can be hard to catch, but we don't  usually reduce "going to" to the point where the  

helping verb "be" is dropped. "Gonna" represents  "going to." Before that is the helping verb  

"be." I am going to, you are going to. With the  contraction: I'm going to, you're going to. If we  

change "going to" to "gonna" or another variation,  we usually still keep that helping verb "be." So,  

I don't recommend dropping an important piece of  grammar. I'd argue that that would be nonstandard,  

and standard grammar will serve you best  in the greatest number of situations,  

specifically in professional and academic contexts.  So again, I'd say, "I'm gonna to tell you" or

"I'm going to tell you." Either way, I'd still say  the 'm of the verb "am." In fast speech, "I'm" can  

reduce to "um," but I don't omit the helping  verb. Will you possibly hear others use that  

third pattern where they drop the helping verb  "be"? Yes, but hopefully it's in a very informal  

context. It's not a pattern I'd expect to hear  in professional or academic English, so you can  

certainly use [I gonna] and [we gonna], but please  consider what's appropriate for your audience.

Some say, "Yeah, Jennifer, but I want to  sound like a native speaker. You don't  

have to sound like a native speaker. In  fact, you don't have to sound like anyone,  

as long as you're speaking clearly  and effectively, and hopefully you  

understand the importance of also speaking  appropriately. You need to be understood,  

and that can still be accomplished if  your pronunciation is influenced by your  

first language. No matter what accent we have,  dropping pieces of grammar may not serve us well.

So, how do you achieve natural sounding  pronunciation in English? It's not  

necessarily through heavy reduction. Focus  on rhythm and linking words and intonation.  

Use my videos on these topics. Make sure  you increase the accuracy of your vowel  

sounds so that your speech doesn't create  misunderstandings. You can use my playlist,  

and I have a free download to help you  master vowel sounds in American English.

To finish up, let's see how well you understand  reduced words and fast American English. This is  

very relaxed speech. I'll say five sentences  at a natural pace. Write what you hear.

Why did you have to leave like that?

Don't you want to know who's going to come?

Give me a sec because I have to finish up here.

I don't know if they're going to want to go.

We really got to get moving if  we're going to make it on time.

Ready to check your work?

Well, that's all for now. Please like and share  the video if you found the lesson useful. Remember  

to subscribe and please follow me on social media.  As always, thanks for watching and happy studies!