American English reductions are reduced forms of
English words.
This American English
reduction is formed when you combine and reduce
the following words.
gimme = give + me
This American English reduction is used in the following
way.
Please
gimme the book.
This American English reduction has the following
meaning.
Please
give me the book.
Examples:
"gimme"
Gimme a
good reason to invite you to the party.
(Meaning:
Give me a good reason to invite you to the party.)
Gimme
more of the fried potatoes.
(Meaning:
Give me more of the friend potatoes.)
Gimme a
lot of the sauce.
(Meaning:
Give me a lot of the sauce.)
Gimme
your thoughts about my new girlfriend.
(Meaning:
Tell me what you think about my new girlfriend.)
Gimme
your love.
(Meaning:
Give me your love.)
From
YOUR Teacher:
Gimme
This reduction is used a lot especially with kids in
America.
Gimme the football.
Can you gimme something to eat now?
Note: Reductions
Remember the following:
Reductions are reduced forms of
English words.
Reductions, such as
gimmeare
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 - Gimme More
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 "gimme",
and "gonna" English language
reductions.
Use a
dictionary
to look up words you do not understand.
Lyrics
Every time they turn the lights down
Just want to go that extra mile for you
You public display of affection
Feels like no one else in the room (but you)
We can get down like there's no one around
We'll keep on rockin' (We'll keep on rockin')
We'll keep on rockin' (Keep on rockin')
Cameras are flashin' while we're dirty dancin'
They keep watching (They keep watching)
Keep watching
Feels like the crowd is saying Gimme,
Gimme more Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme more Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme more Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme more Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More
A center of attention (Can you feel them?)
Even when we're up against the wall
You've got me in a crazy position (yeah)
If you're on a mission (uh-uh)
You got my permission (oh)
We can get down like there's no one around
We'll keep on rockin' (Keep on rockin')
We'll keep on rockin', rockin' (Oh ah ha)
Cameras are flashin' while we're dirty dancin'
They keep watching (They keep watching)
Keep watching
Feel's like the crowd is saying: Gimme,
Gimme more Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme more Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme more Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme more Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme more Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More (Gimme
more) Gimme,
Gimme more Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More (Oh woah oh!) Gimme,
Gimme more Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme more (Gimme
more, yeah) Gimme, More Gimme,
Gimme, More
Give me more, give me more
Give me more, give me more babe (Danja Danja, Danj)
I just want more! Gimme,
Gimme Gimme Gimme,
Gimme Gimme,
Gimme Gimme Gimme,
Gimme Gimme,
Gimme Gimme Gimme,
Gimme Gimme,
Gimme Gimme, Gimme,
Gimme
Bet you didn't see this one comin
The incredible ligo
The legendary Ms. Britney Spears
And the unstoppable Danja
You're gonna have to
remove me
Cause I ain't goin nowhere
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.
In this lesson Anna gets hit by lightning and, suddenly,
can do amazing things. Or can she?
Lesson Video
Watch the video and then read the video script.
Video Script
ANNA: Hi! I see you like superhero culture. Me too.
ANNA: In fact, tonight I’m going to the big superhero convention. Are you going?
YOUNG MAN: Um, I don’t know.
ANNA: Well, you'd better decide soon. Last year, it sold out.
ANNA: So, since we’re talking about superheroes: would you rather become a
superhero by accident, like Spiderman, or be born a superhero, like Wonder
Woman?
ANNA: Take your time. It’s a big question. I thought about it for days –
YOUNG MAN: Okay. If I had to choose, I’d rather be born a superhero.
ANNA: I’d rather become a superhero by an unexpected accident!
YOUNG MAN: Aren’t all accidents unexpected?
ANNA: Well, yeah.
YOUNG MAN: What was that!? Are you okay?
ANNA: I'm better than okay. I feel super!
PROF. BOT: Oh No! Anna was just hit by lightning. She had better get help.
PROF. BOT: We use had better to give advice. It is very informal and stronger
than should and ought to. For example, Anna says: “You'd better decide soon.
Last year, it sold out.”
PROF. BOT: When we use had better, we usually shorten the word had for personal
pronouns.
PROF. BOT: We use would rather to say what we or someone else prefers to do or
have. For example, the boy says: “Okay. If I had to choose, I’d rather be born a
superhero.
PROF. BOT: With would rather, we also shorten the word would when used with
personal pronouns. Keep watching and listen for had better and would rather.
YOUNG MAN: You’d better see a doctor.
ANNA: I’ve never felt better!
YOUNG MAN: You were just struck by lightning!! And what happened to your hair
and your clothes?
ANNA: I don't know. Wait, I do know. This is my super suit! And this is my
origin story.
YOUNG MAN: What are you talking about?
ANNA: An origin story tells the beginning of a superhero. You should know that.
YOUNG MAN: You're not making any sense, lady.
ANNA: I would rather be called Lightning Bolt Lady! It’ll sound great in a theme
song: Lightning Bolt Lady!
ANNA: Now, I need to find my superpowers --
YOUNG MAN: Um, I really think --
ANNA: Wait. Don’t tell me. I’ll read your mind. You are thinking you’d like to
be my super helper.
YOUNG MAN: I was not thinking that.
ANNA: ... that you’d like to live in a treehouse.
YOUNG MAN: No.
ANNA: … that you should eat more vegetables.
YOUNG MAN: Please, stop talking. You really should get some help.
ANNA: Mind reading is not my superpower. Maybe I can become invisible. I … am …
invisible!
ANNA: You can’t see me. Who am I? I’m not here. You can’t see me.
YOUNG MAN: I can see you and so can everybody else.
ANNA: No power of invisibility. Maybe I can create a force field. I feel it
working. Nothing can hurt –
(Someone throws a piece of paper and it hits her head.)
ANNA: Ow, that wasn’t very nice. I see I have a lot of work to do. Well,
goodbye, non-super person!
YOUNG MAN: Wait. I’d better go with you. You might get worse…if that’s even
possible.
ANNA: That's very nice of you, ordinary human. But I’d rather go by myself. This
is a quest.
YOUNG MAN: Every time you speak, I get more confused.
ANNA: A quest is a part of all superhero stories. You really need to work on
your superhero studies. Now, stand back. I’ve never flown before.
YOUNG MAN: And you’re not flying now.
ANNA: Flying is also not my superpower. That’s too bad. It's going to be
expensive to Uber everywhere. You know, I'd rather walk. It’s a nice day.
Goodbye, non-super person.
YOUNG MAN: I am not talking to strangers again.
ANNOUNCER: Will Lightning Bolt Lady find her superpowers … ever? Ouch! Did that
brick wall hurt? Will the young man ever talk to a stranger again?
ANNOUNCER: Find out on the next episode of Let’s Learn English!
Listening
Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation.
Practice
Now, you try it!
First, read about had better and would rather below. Then, write one sentences
using each.
Use had better to give Anna advice about being a superhero
Use would rather to tell us what superpowers you prefer
For example, "I would rather be able to fly than make a force field."
Had Better / Would Rather
We use the modal had better to give advice and would rather to tell someone
about preferences.
When you see a pronoun with 'd after it, the 'd can be short for either had or
would. For example, sometimes I'd means I had. Other times, I'd it means I
would. Read more below.
Had Better
We use had better to give advice. It is stronger than should and ought to. It
tells us that there may be consequences if a person doesn’t take the advice.
Examples:
You had better decide soon. Last year, it sold out.
(Consequence: The conference might sell out.)
Anna had better be careful with her superpowers!
(Consequence: Someone could get hurt.)
The verb form is always had (not have) and we use a simple verb after had
better. We also usually shorten had with personal pronouns:
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.
