American English reductions are reduced forms of
English words.
This American English
reduction is formed when you combine and reduce
the following words.
wanna =
want + to
This American English
reduction is used in the following way.
I really
wanna
find a better job.
This American English
reduction has the following meaning.
I really
want to
find a better job.
Examples:
"wanna" (reading and
reductions)
Do you wanna
hang out together today?
(Meaning:
Do you want to do something together today?)
Does she wanna
move to San Diego, California?
(Meaning:
Does she want to move to San Diego, California?)
Does he wanna
go to the game today?
(Meaning:
Does he want to go to the game today?)
I really wanna
ask her out on a date.
(Meaning:
I really want to ask her out on a date.)
We wanna
go with you.
(Meaning:
We want to go with you.)
From
YOUR Teacher:
Wanna and Kids
Travel to America and visit a playground for kids. You
will be able to listen to the reduction "wanna" over and
over.
I wanna eat some snacks.
I wanna play longer.
Note: Reductions
Remember the following:
Reductions are reduced forms of
English words.
Reductions, such as
wannaare
not real words in English.
You need to use reductions in
order to sound more natural.
You need to know reductions in
order to understand conversations between native
English speakers.
Reductions are used extensively
in American TV, movies, music, literature, and in
conversations among native English speakers.
Reductions In Music and TV
Britney Spears - I Wanna Go
Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an
American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress. Born in McComb,
Mississippi and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, she appeared in stage
productions and television series, before signing with Jive Records
in 1997. Spears's first two studio albums, ...Baby One More Time
(1999) and Oops!... I Did It Again (2000), were global successes and
made her the best-selling teenage artist of all-time. Referred to as
the "Princess of Pop", Spears was credited with influencing the
revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
This video is a good example of the usage of "wanna",
an English language reduction.
Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Lyrics
Lately I've been stuck imagining
What I wanna do and what I
really think
Time to blow out
Be a little inappropriate
'Cause I know that everybody's thinking it
When the lights out
Shame on me
To need release
Uncontrollably
I I I wanna go o o all the
way ay ay
Taking out my freak tonight
I I I wanna show o o
All the dir ir irt
I got running through my mind
Whoa oh oh
I I I wanna go o o all the
way ay ay
Taking out my freak tonight
I I I wanna show o o
All the dir ir irt
I got running through my mind
Lately people got me all tied up
There's a countdown waiting for me to erupt
Time to blow out
I've been told who I should do it with
To keep both my hands above the blanket
When the lights out
Shame on me
To need release
Uncontrollably
I I I wanna go o o all the
way ay ay
Taking out my freak tonight
I I I wanna show o o
All the dir ir irt
I got running through my mind
I I I wanna go o o all the
way ay ay
Taking out my freak tonight
I I I wanna show o o
All the dir ir irt
I got running through my mind
Whoa oh oh
Shame, on me (shame on me)
To need, release (to need, release)
Uncontrollably (uncontrollably lably lably lably)
I I I wanna go o o all the
way ay ay
Taking out my freak tonight
I I I wanna show o o
All the dir ir irt
I got running through my mind
I I I wanna go o o all the
way ay ay
Taking out my freak tonight
I I I wanna show o o
All the dir ir irt
I got running through my mind
Whoa oh oh
Salt-N-Pepa - Shoop
Salt-N-Pepa (also stylized as Salt 'N' Pepa, Salt 'N
Pepa) are an American hip-hop/rap trio from New York City, New York.
The group, consisting of Cheryl James ("Salt"), Sandra Denton ("Pepa")
and originally Latoya Hanson (also known as Latoya Pamela Greene),
who was replaced in 1987 by Deidra Roper ("DJ Spinderella"), was
formed in 1985 and was one of the first all-female rap groups. The
group won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or
Group.
This video is a good example of the usage of "wanna",
"kinda", "getcha",
and "betcha" English language
reductions.
Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Lyrics
Hey, yeah, I wanna shoop,
baby
Ooh, how you doin', baby?
No, not you
You, the bow-legged one, yeah
What's your name?
Damn, that sounds sexy uh
Here I go, here I go, here I go again (again?)
Girls, what's my weakness? (Men!)
Ok then, chillin', chillin'
Mindin' my business (word)
Yo, Salt, I looked around, and I couldn't believe this
I swear, I stared, my niece my witness
The brother had it goin' on with somethin'
kinda, uh
Wicked, wicked (ooh) had to kick it
I'm not shy so I asked for the digits
A ho? No, that don't make me
See what I want slip slide to it swifty
Felt it in my hips so I dipped back to my bag of tricks
Then I flipped for a tip, make me
wanna do tricks for him
Lick him like a lollipop should be licked
Came to my senses and I chilled for a bit
Don't know how you do the voodoo that you do
So well it's a spell, hell, makes me
wanna shoop shoop shoop
Shoop shoop ba-doops shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop
Ba-doop shoop ba-doop shoop
Ba-doop shoop ba-doop, ba-doop, ba-doop
Umm, you're packed and you're stacked 'specially in the
back
Brother, wanna thank your
mother for a butt like that (thanks, Mom)
Can I get some fries with that shake-shake boobie?
If looks could kill you would be an uzi
You're a shotgun, bang! What's up with that thang?
I wanna know how does it
hang?
Straight up, wait up, hold up, Mr. Lover
Like Prince said you're a sexy mutha well-a
I like 'em real wild, b-boy style by the mile
Smooth black skin with a smile
Bright as the sun, I wanna
have some fun
Come and give me some of that yum-yum
Chocolate chip, honey dip, can I get a scoop?
Baby, take a ride in my coupe, you make me
wanna
Shoop shoop ba-doop (Baby, hey)
Ba-doop, ba-doop, ba-doop, ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop ba-doop
(Don't you know I wanna
shoop, baby)
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop
Ba-doop shoop, ba-doop, ba-doop
Ba-doop shoop, ba-doop, shoop
Ba-doop shoop, ba-doop, ba-doop, ba-doop
Well let me bring you back to the subject
Pep's on the set
Make you get hot, make you work up a sweat
When you skip-to-my-lou, my darling
Not falling in love but I'm falling for your (super
sperm)
When I get ya betcha
bottom dollar you were best under pressure
(Yo, Sandy, I wanna like,
taste you) Getchagetcha lips wet 'cause
it's time to have Pep
On your mark, get set, go, let me go, let me shoop
To the next man in the three-piece suit
I spend all my dough, ray me cutie
Shoop shoop a-doobie like Scoobie Doobie Doo
I love you in your big jeans, you give me nice dreams
You make me wanna scream,
ooh ooh ooh
I like what ya do, when you do
What ya do, you make me wanna
shoop
Shoop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop
Ba-doop shoop ba-doop shoop
Ba-doop shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop
(Oh, my goodness, girl, look at him
He's the cutest brother in here
And he's comin' this way! Ooh!)
S and the P wanna kick
with me, cool (uh-huh)
But I'm wicked, G, (yeah) hit skins but never quickly
(that's right)
I hit the skins for the hell of it, just for the yell I
get
Mmm mmm mmm, for the smell of it (smell it)
They want my bod, here's the hot rod (hot rod)
Twelve inches to a yard (damn) and have ya soundin' like
a retard (yeah)
Big 'Twan Love-Her, six-two,
wanna hit you
So what you wanna do? What
you wanna do? Mmmm, I
wanna shoop
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop (Oh you make me
wanna)
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop (hey yeah I
wanna shoop baby)
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop (Oh you make me
wanna)
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop (hey yeah I
wanna shoop baby)
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop (oh, you make me
wanna)
Shoop shoop ba-doop shoop ba-doop (hey yeah, I
wanna shoop you baby)
Shoop ba-doop ba-doop, ba-doop
Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl
Jet are an Australian rock band formed in 2001. The band consists of
lead guitarist Cameron Muncey, bassist Mark Wilson, and brothers Nic
and Chris Cester on vocals/rhythm guitar and drums respectively. The
group sold 6.5 million albums. The band dissolved in 2012, but
reformed in 2016.
This video is a good example of the usage of "wanna",
and "gonna" English language
reductions.
Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Lyrics
Go!
So one, two, three, take my hand and come with me
Because you look so fine
That I really wanna make
you mine
I say you look so fine
That I really wanna make
you mine
Oh, four, five, six c'mon and get your kicks
Now you don't need that money
When you look like that, do ya honey
Big black boots
Long blonde hair
She's so sweet
With her get back stare
Well I could see
You home with me
But you were with another man, yeah!
I know we
Ain't got much to say
Before I let you get away, yeah!
I said, are you gonna be
my girl?
Well, so one, two, three, take my hand and come with me
Because you look so fine
That I really wanna make
you mine
I say you look so fine
That I really wanna make
you mine
Oh, four, five, six c'mon and get your kicks
Now you don't need that money
With a face like that, do ya
Big black boots
Long brown hair
She's so sweet
With her get back stare
Well I could see
You home with me
But you were with another man, yeah!
I know we,
Ain't got much to say
Before I let you get away, yeah!
I said, are you gonna be
my girl?
Oh yeah, oh yeah, c'mon!
I could see
You home with me
But you were with another man, yeah!
I know we
Ain't got much to say
Before I let you get away, yeah!
Uh, be my girl
Be my girl
Are you gonna be my girl?
Yeah
The Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling
The Black Eyed Peas (originally simply Black Eyed Peas) is an
American musical group, consisting of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap
and Taboo and singer Jessica Reynoso. Originally an alternative hip
hop group, they subsequently changed their musical sound to pop and
dance-pop music. Although the group was founded in Los Angeles in
1995, it was not until the release of their third album, Elephunk,
in 2003, that they achieved high record sales. Since that time, the
group has sold an estimated 76 million records (35 million albums
and 41 million singles), making them one of the world's best-selling
groups of all time. As of 2011, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the
Black Eyed Peas were the second-best-selling artist/group of all
time for downloaded tracks, behind Rihanna, with over 42 million
sales.
This video is a good example of the usage of "wanna",
"gonna", and "gotta"
English language reductions.
Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Lyrics
I gotta feeling that
tonight's gonna be a good
night
That tonight's gonna be a
good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good, good night
A feeling that tonight's gonna
be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good, good night
A feeling, woohoo, that tonight's
gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good, good night
A feeling, woohoo, that tonight's
gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good, good night
Tonight's the night, let's live it up
I got my money, let's spend it up
Go out and smash it like oh my God
Jump off that sofa, let's get, get off
I know that we'll have a ball
If we get down and go out and just lose it all
I feel stressed out, I wanna
let it go
Let's go way out spaced out and losing all control
Fill up my cup, Mazel Tov
Look at her dancing, just take it off
Let's paint the town, we'll shut it down
Let's burn the roof, and then we'll do it again
Let's do it, let's do it, let's do it, let's do it
And do it and do it, let's live it up
And do it and do it and do it, do it, do it
Let's do it, let's do it, let's do it
Cause I gotta feeling,
woohoo,
That tonight's gonna be a
good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good, good night
A feeling, woohoo, that tonight's
gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good, good night
Tonight's the night (Hey! )
Let's live it up (Let's live it up)
I got my money (My pay)
Let's spend it up (Let's spend it up)
Go out and smash it (Smash it)
Like oh my God (Like oh my God)
Jump off that sofa (Come on!)
Let's get, get off
Fill up my cup (Drink)
Mazel Tov (L'chaim)
Look at her dancing (Move it, move it)
Just take it off
Let's paint the town (Paint the town)
We'll shut it down (Let's shut it down)
Let's burn the roof
And then we'll do it again
Let's do it, let's do it, let's do it, let's do it
And do it and do it, let's live it up
And do it and do it and do it, do it, do it
Let's do it, let's do it, let's do it, do it, do it, do
it
Here we come, here we go, we
gotta rock (Rock rock rock rock rock)
Easy come, easy go, now we on top (Top top top top top)
Feel the shot, body rock, rock it, don't stop (Stop stop
stop stop stop)
Round and round, up and down, around the clock (Rock
rock rock rock rock)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Friday, Saturday, Saturday to Sunday
Get, get, get, get, get with us, you know what we say,
say
Party every day, p-p-p-party every day
And I'm feelin', woohoo, that tonight's
gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good, good night
A feelin', woohoo, that tonight's
gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good night
That tonight's gonna be a
good, good night, woohoo
Additional Lessons
About These
Lessons
The following classroom lessons are great for students
who want additional conversation, listening, and reading
practice.
Conversation Lesson -
Intermediate Level. Let's
Learn English conversation lesson
with a conversation video, a video script, audio
listening practice, and a new
words section.
Conversation Lesson
20 - The Test Drive
(Intermediate -
Conversation, Listening, Reading)
In this lesson Anna, Penelope and Rick are making a news
story about the Washington Car Show. Anna is having a
lot of fun - maybe too much fun.
Lesson Video
Watch the video and then read the video script.
Video Script
Anna: (to Penelope) That’s a great idea. (to Rick) Rick, I think we should use
this as the opening shot.
Penelope: Anna, did Ms. Weaver give us instructions for covering the car show?
Anna: She did. She said that we need to show lots of cars. She said we need to
interview people. And she also said that we should have fun.
Penelope: Those were her exact words?
Anna: Yeah. She said, “Have fun, Anna!” And she is the boss.
Anna: (to Rick) Okay, Rick, are you - are you ready? OK. Hello, I'm Anna Matteo.
Welcome to the Washington Car Show!
Anna: People all over town are saying that if you like cars, this is the place
to be! So, let's see what people are talking about. (at Rick) How was that?
Okay? Is that Good?
Professor Bot: Anna, Penelope and Rick are making a news story about the
Washington Car Show. Ms. Weaver gave them instructions.
We often need to tell others what someone else said.
There are two ways to do this. One is to use the person’s exact words and use
quotation marks. We call this "direct speech."
For example, Ms. Weaver had said, “You need to show lots of cars.”
The other way is to talk about what someone said. We call this "reported
speech."
Anna tells Penelope: She said that we need to show lots of cars.
In this sentence, "she," is the subject, “said” is the reporting verb, “that” is
the conjunction and “we need to show lots of cars” is the reporting clause.
Keep watching, and listen for sentences where Anna talks about what someone else
said!
Anna: This car show has many styles of vehicles. There are utility vehicles,
classic cars, trucks, sports cars, and everyday vehicles.
Penelope: Okay, I think we got good interviews.
Anna: Me too! People had very different opinions. But they all said they loved
cars.
Penelope: Anna, look -- a robot!
Anna: A robot!
Penelope: A robot!
Anna: Rick, we have to use the robot in the show!
(They walk over to the robot. Anna begins to dance like a robot.)
Robot: What is your first name?
Anna: Anna! Anna!
Robot: Anna, you know, what an effort. What an effort to robot dance. How about
a round of applause for Anna! I’ve never seen anyone try so hard.
Anna: Penelope, did you hear that? Hank the Robot said that he has never seen
anyone dance like me.
Penelope: Uh, I think many people here are saying that, Anna.
Anna: That was fun. You know what someone told me? You can test drive a Jaguar
at this car show.
Penelope: Now, that sounds fun.
Anna: Let’s go.
Penelope: Okay.
Anna: This course is smooth. So you can drive faster.
Anna: He said...that I can’t drive, unfortunately.
(They begin the test drive. Kurt, the stunt driver, does the driving.)
Anna: Oh my gosh…reverse.
Anna: That was great. This is awesome.
Kurt: Are you ready to go on the rollercoaster?
Anna: I’m ready.
Kurt: Here we go!
Anna: That’s awesome.
Anna: That was...That was awesome! I just want to go one more time. I promise.
That’s it. Just one more time.
Anna: This course is bumpy and uneven. I was told that I could drive this
course. So I am.
Anna: (to Rick) Okay, Rick, are you rolling? Awesome. Okay, this course is
uneven. But I think the ride will be smooth.
Anna: Ooh. This hill is really steep.
Anna: Oh my gosh. I can’t tell you how much fun this is.
Anna: Penelope, that was so much fun! I think I need to go again.
Penelope: Uh, Anna, I think we have enough test drive video.
Anna: Ms. Weaver said to get a lot. So, I think I should go again. (to Rick)
Rick, I’m going to go again. Until next time!
Penelope: But I want to get lunch, Anna!
Professor Bot: Penelope said she wants to go to lunch. But I don’t think that’s
going to happen soon. Visit our website for more!
Listening
Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation.
Practice
Now, you try it! First, read about reported speech below. Then try changing a
few of these sentences into reported speech:
Anna asked, "Rick, are you ready?"
Hank said, "I've never seen anyone try so hard."
Kurt asked, "Are you ready to go on the rollercoaster?"
Anna said, "This hill is really steep."
Penelope said, "I think we have enough test drive video."
Anna said, "I think I should go again."
Write your sentences in the Facebook Comments section below.
Reported Speech
We often need to tell others what someone else said. We can do this in two ways.
One is to say the person’s exact words and use quotation marks. We call this
“direct speech.” The other is to talk about what someone else said. We call this
“reported speech.”
Direct Speech
Reported Speech
“You need to show lots of cars.”
She said (that) we need show lots of
cars.
Reported speech contains a subject, reporting verb, conjunction and reporting
clause. (The word “that” is optional.)
Subject noun or pronoun
Reporting Verb
Conjunction
Reporting Clause
She
said
(that)
we need to show lots of cars.
Using Reported Speech
To use reported speech, choose a reporting verb, such as say, tell or ask.
Usually, the verb in direct speech moves one tense back in time in reported
speech.
Direct Speech
Reported Speech
“I drive my car every day.”
She said (that) she drove her car
every day.
“I am driving my car.
She said (that) she was driving her
car.
“I have driven my car.”
She said (that) she had driven her
car.
“I will drive my car.”
She said (that) she would drive her
car.
If the speaker is reporting something that was just said, the reporting clause
is often in present tense. This is also common for general facts.
Direct Speech
Reported Speech
“You need to show lots of cars.”
She said (that) we need to show lots
of cars.
“The sky is blue.”
She said (that) the sky is blue.
The modals might, should, would, could and ought to do not change in reported
speech. However, can, must and have to do change.
Direct Speech
Reported Speech
“I can/could drive my car.”
She said (that) she could drive her
car.
“I may/might drive my car.”
She said (that) she might drive her
car.
“I must drive my car.”
She said (that) she had to drive her
car.
“I have to drive my car.”
She said (that) she had to drive her
car.
“I should drive my car.”
She said (that) she should drive her
car.
“I ought to drive my car.”
She said (that) she ought to drive
her car.
Change the point of view. For example, the subject “I” becomes “he” or “she” and
the subject “we” becomes “they.”
Direct Speech
Reported Speech
“I have two tickets to the Car
Show.”
He said (that) he had two tickets to
the Car Show.
“We want to dance like Hank the
Robot.”
They said (that) they wanted to
dance like Hank the Robot.
Use if or whether to report a “yes or no” question. And use the reporting verb
“ask.”
Direct Speech
Reported Speech
“Do you like the Washington Car
Show?”
She asked if/whether I liked the
Washington Car Show.
New Words
bumpy –
adj. having or covered with bumps
classic car –
n. an older car, usually of a style that is no
longer being manufactured
course –
n. the path or direction that something or
someone moves along
cover –
v. to report news about something
effort –
n. energy used to do something
everyday –
adv. used or seen everyday
exact –
adj. full or completely correct or accurate
hill –
n. a usually rounded area of land that is
higher than the land around it but that is not as high as a mountain
opinion –
n. a belief, judgment, or way of thinking about
something
roll –
v. to operate something, such as a movie camera
round of applause –
expression. an outburst of clapping among a
group or audience
shot –
n. a part of a movie or a television show that
is filmed by one camera without stopping
smooth –
adj. having a flat, even surface
sports car –
n. a low-built car designed for performance at
high speeds
steep –
adj. rising or falling sharply
stunt driver -
n. a trained driver who drives vehicles for
dangerous scenes in films and on television
test drive -
v. an act of driving a motor vehicle that one
is considering buying in order to determine its quality
uneven –
adj. not level, flat or smooth
unfortunately –
adv. a word used to say that something is bad
or disappointing
utility vehicle –
n. a powerful vehicle with four-wheel drive
that can be driven over rough ground (also called sport utility vehicle or
SUV)
vehicle –
n. a machine that is used to carry people or
goods from one place to another
Study all 30 English intermediate conversation lessons.
Let's Learn English conversation lessons each with a
conversation video, a video script, audio listening
practice, and a new
words section.
These lessons are for
intermediate students.
Study all 52 English beginner conversation lessons. Let's Learn
English conversation lessons each with a conversation
video, a video script, audio listening practice, video
speaking practice, video pronunciation practice, a new
words section, and a writing activity.
These
lessons are for beginning students.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
Hey Students,
Use this dictionary and reference to look up any words you do not
understand in Fun Easy English.
