Spoken English

How to Use (and Not Use) "GONNA" in English "Gonna" is a common word in casual English speech. You have probably heard it in movies, songs, and TV shows. This page will teach you how and when to use "gonna," and it will also highlight the most common mistake some English learners make with this common conversational word. It is important to keep in mind that "gonna" should mostly be used in conversation. Do not use "gonna" in formal writing. You can use it in texts and messages to your friends, but you shouldn't use it in academic essays or in important emails to your boss, for example. So, when do you use "gonna"? "Gonna" is used as a casual pronunciation of "going to" in "be going to" sentences that express future plans, arrangements, intentions, or predictions with evidence. It is important to stress that "gonna" is only used with the "be going to" structure to ...

How to Use Swear Words in English Are you scared of swear words? Are you unsure of when to use them? It’s good to be cautious, because it’s delicate issue. Swear words can be one of the most difficult parts of a language to master, as you have to be careful when practicing them. Some people may get really offended by their use. But even if you don’t want to use swear words, you still need to understand them as they are quite common in the English language. You may not say them, but you still want to understand what’s going on during TV, a movie, a book, a conversation or any other type of English you may be trying to understand. Swear words, love them or hate them, are an integral part of a language. To master fluency, you must master swear words. But why do people use them? What’s the point? When you use swear words, they allow you to convey emotion that would otherwise not be as easy to communicate. Swear words increase your vocabulary and give you a wider range of emotions t...

What does "gotta" mean and how is it used? Gotta is a way of writing got to that shows how these words are pronounced in the expression have got to in casual speech: have gotta. Have gotta is an informal way of saying that something is necessary or must be true. I’ve gotta leave in 15 minutes. (=it is necessary that I leave in 15 minutes) You’ve gotta be kidding. (=it must be true that you are kidding) We’ve gotta learn to get along better. (=it is necessary that we learn to get along better) In very informal language, gotta is sometimes written and spoken without have, as in these examples, which have the same meaning as the sentences above: I gotta leave in 15 minutes. You gotta be kidding. We gotta learn to get along better. With or without have, gotta is very casual, and should only be used in informal conversation or when writing a representation of informal conversation.

What What is a wh-word. We use what to ask questions and as a pronoun and determiner. What as a question word We can use what to ask for information about things and actions: What do you want? What’s she doing? Tell her to stop at once! What time are you leaving? We can also use what in indirect questions: She asked me what my address was. I wonder what Jim Barfield is doing these days. What meaning ‘please repeat’ We can use what in informal situations to ask someone to repeat something if we don’t hear it or understand it: B: Sorry, what? (sorry alone would be more polite) B: Oh, yes. It’s in the kitchen. Emphatic questions with whatever and what on earth We can ask emphatic questions using whatever or what on earth to express shock or surprise. We stress ever and earth: Joan, whatever are you doing? You’ll give yourself an electric shock! (stronger than What are you doing?) What on earth is she wearing? She looks awful in that red and white dress! (stronger than What...

Top 100 British Slangs Every Student Loves Uni – One of the most popular British slang in the UK. You probably guessed it right. It means university and/or college. Fresher – This is the American equivalent of Freshman, which means a first-year student. Libes – The British uni slang word for a library. Budge up – You will probably come across this slang when you’re sitting in class, and your friend wants to sit next to you. It means to move or make room. Mate – If you think we’ve confused our islands, you’re wrong. Most of us associate the word mate with Australia, but the truth is that the Brits use this word too. It is a term of endearment used to call a friend, male or female. A male friend can also be called a lad or chap, and the female version of this is lass or lassie. Knackered – “Mate, I’m absolutely knackered”, is a phrase you will hear and say during your time at uni. It means being exhausted. Sloshed – “Mate, I’m absolutely sloshed”, is another term you will be fami...

Meaning :You can use this when saying something that might disappoint, upset or sadden someone. For example "We'd like a room for the night, please." "We're fully booked, I'm afraid." "I'm afraid I've got some bad news. Your sister's been in an accident." Note: Also "I'm afraid that", but this can only be used at the start of a clause or sentence, as in "I'm afraid that I've got some bad news." You cannot say "We're fully booked, I'm afraid that."