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Can gonna be used without a to be verb like I gonna drink this. ?

If yes, whats the difference to I am gonna drink this.

What about asking questions?

  • Do you gonna drink this?
  • Are you gonna drink this?

Clarification:

It is pretty clear to me that gonna is a contraction of going to, and also that this is acceptable and commonly used on spoken language... My questions is about its usage without the verb to be (I guess that never happens with going to).

So I would like to know if this usage is considered acceptable by native speakers and if there is any difference in the meaning. Also if it can be used (and how) as a question form.

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    First of all, gonna is slang; a contraction of going to. Use it exactly how you would regularly use going to.
    – Ian MacDonald
    Commented Mar 6, 2015 at 14:37
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    In AAVE, this construction subject+gonna is quite common. As is is the Subject+finna/fista (for "fixing to") construction.
    – tylerharms
    Commented Mar 6, 2015 at 14:46
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    @tylerharms, you're right. But those formulations will really only be acceptable if he's intending to speak AAVE. I think OP is trying to learn English. "I am (or, I'm) gonna drink this" is OK; "Are you gonna drink this?" is OK; "Do you gonna drink this?" is not good.
    – user98990
    Commented Mar 6, 2015 at 14:52
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    @LittleEva: Thanks. I see that. But I think I'll leave the comment up if'n someone stumbles upon this question with AAVE in mind.
    – tylerharms
    Commented Mar 6, 2015 at 14:57
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    Related :english.stackexchange.com/questions/62045/…
    – user66974
    Commented Mar 6, 2015 at 14:58

1 Answer 1

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Since you're already using slang, adhering to grammar rules is really just a suggestion. The following sentences may be spoken by everyday folks:

"He gonna kill me!"
"Dear sandwich: I'mma gonna eat you!"
"We gonna party down tonight!"

It's much more casual (and often used with improper grammar facetiously). So, while not grammatically correct, the construction certainly does still exist.

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    I think it's worth noting that, where I live, those examples would only occur in deliberate attempts to sound uneducated (he's gonna = casual; he gonna = ungrammatical or jocular). As always, the golden rule of knowing one's audience applies.
    – Anonym
    Commented Mar 6, 2015 at 19:29
  • It would be amusing to be a grammarian that only deals in the proper usage of slang. "No, dude, not 'gonna kill ya', but 'otta kill ya'...you raised in a barn???"
    – Oldcat
    Commented Mar 7, 2015 at 1:03

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