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Humanities LibreTexts

8.2: Pronunciation

  • Page ID
    195404

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    Focus I: Reduced forms of going to, have to, want to

     

     

    Note: This recording includes Focus I and Practice I.


    Some common verbs such as have, going, and want blend pronunciation with the preposition “to.”  This is called a reduced pronunciation and is very common in spoken English.

    1. Gonna - Gonna is a reduction of going to. This pronunciation is common in informal speaking but is always written “going to”.

    Example: I’m gonna play badminton on my vacation. 

    2. Hafta - Hafta is a reduction of have to. This pronunciation is common in informal speaking but is always written “have to”.

    Example:  I hafta make dinner tonight.  

    3. Wanna - Wanna is a reduction of want to. This pronunciation is common in informal speaking but is always written “want to”.

    Example:  Do you wanna play soccer? 

    Practice I  

    Directions:  Listen to the following conversation between a husband and wife talking about dinner plans. Write the missing reductions that you hear. Some are used more than once. Your choices are below:

    wanna, hafta, gonna


    What’s for dinner?

    Husband: Honey, what are you ___________________ cook for dinner?  

    Wife: I’m not sure I ___________________ use up some leftovers.

    Husband: Oh no, not again. Are you ___________________ make another casserole?  

    Wife: No, I think I’m ___________________ make soup with the leftovers.

    Husband: I ___________________ go out to eat. I think we should go to the new Thai restaurant.

    Wife: Oh honey, we ___________________ cut back our expenses. Maybe, next week we can go out to eat.

    Husband: Okay…but we ___________________ try a new restaurant. Maybe one that’s not too expensive? 


    Focus II: Reduced forms of kind of, sort of, and lots of

     

     

    Note: This recording includes Focus II and Practice II.


    Some common words such as kind, sort, and lots blend pronunciation with the preposition “of.”  This is called a reduced pronunciation and is very common in spoken English.

    1. Kinda - Kinda is a reduction of kind of. This pronunciation is common in informal speaking but is always written “kind of”.

    Example: I kinda like playing guitar. It’s fun! 

    2. Sorta - Sorta is a reduction of sort of. This pronunciation is common in informal speaking but is always written “sort of”.

    Example:  They sorta like exercising. They only go to the gym once a month.   

    3. Lotsa - Lotsa is a reduction of lots of. This pronunciation is common in informal speaking but is always written “lots of”.

    Example:  Lotsa people like to play soccer. It’s a very popular sport.

    Practice II

    Directions:  Listen to the following conversation between Kim and Maria about a cooking class.  Write the missing reductions that you hear. Some are used more than once.  Your choices are below:

    kinda, sorta, lotsa 


    The Cooking Class

    Kim: I kinda don’t want to take a cooking class. I mean I ___________________ know how to cook already.

    Maria: Really?  What can you cook?

    Kim: Oh, I can cook ___________________ things.  I __________________ know how to make toast and instant noodles.

    Maria: ___________________ people know how to make those. Those are easy.

    Kim: Well, I don’t know. The class seems ___________________ boring.

    Maria: Don’t worry, I’ll take the class with you. We’ll have ___________________ fun. Plus, we get to eat what we make!


    Partner activity II

    Directions:  Find a partner. Write ten sentences about yourself with reduced forms of going to, have to, want to, kind of, sort of, and lots of. Take turns reading the sentences.  

    Example:  I hafta work tonight.

    1. ____________________________________________________

    2._____________________________________________________

    3. _____________________________________________________

    4. _____________________________________________________

    5. _____________________________________________________

    6. _____________________________________________________

    7. _____________________________________________________

    8. _____________________________________________________

    9._____________________________________________________

    10. ___________________________________________________