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CONTRACTIONS IN ENGLISH

Contraction means to shorten a word or phrase by omitting one or more sounds or letters from it. The word so formed is also called a contraction. Discussed below are the various contractions used in spoken English.

The apostrophe has two uses:
1. To show that we have made words shorter. We have contracted them.
2. To show that something belongs to someone, i.e. they possess it. (possession)
Here are two examples.
• My dad’s car is red.
Here we hive only one dad but we have put on the letter’s’ because we have put an apostrophe. It shows that the car belongs to dad.
• “I’ll tell you that later,” he whispered.
I will has become I’ll, we have joined two words and missed out the letters WI and put in the apostrophe instead.
• We use apostrophes because it can make our writing easier to read.
• In the list below we are going to look at apostrophes for contracting words

Word + Not/Helping Verb	Contraction Letters	Missed out
Can not Do not Should not Could not Would not Has not I will They will He will There is Who is You are They are Would have They have	Can’t Don’t Shouldn’t Couldn’t Wouldn’t Hasn’t I’ll They’ll He’ll There’s Who’s You’re They’re Would’ve They’ve	no O O O O O WI WI WI i i a a ha ha

Let’s start with Let)s. Except for some set phrases (example: ‘Let us pray’) let us is almost always expressed as a contraction: Let)s.
Example:
• Let’s go!
It is almost always used to express an imperative, thus:

• Let’s do it!
However, sometimes it is used to express something like an admonition, thus:

• Let’s do what we ought to do.
Sometimes it is used to make suggestion, thus:

• Let’s keep this just between us.
The negative is ‘let’s not’, but you will also come across ‘don’t let’s’ .

That’s = That is
• That’s all = That is all
• That’s all I want = That is all I want
• That’s it = That is it
• That’s my son = That is my son
• That’s my child = That is my child
• That’s my daughter = That is my daughter
• That’s what I wanted to say = That is what I wanted to say
• That’s a good idea = That is a good idea

What’s = What is
• What’s going on = What is going on?
• What’s that? = What is that?
• What’s happening? = What is happening?
• What’s going to happen? = What is going to happen?

What’s = What has
• What’s been happening? = What has been happening?
• What’s been going on? = What has been going on?
• Couldn’t’ve = Could not have

Because of voicless [t], the sound that follows, ‘-ve’ sounds like of, which is where we get the erroneous spelling -ouldn’t of

it’s = it is
• It’s a man = It is a man
• It’s a woman = It is a woman
• It’s a boy = It is a boy
• It’s a girl = It is a girl
• It’s a good thing = It is a good thing
• It’s not a good thing = It is not a good thing
• It’s time to go = It is time to go
• It’s a good day to die = It is a good day to die
• It’s a good speech = It is a good speech
• It’s hot = It is hot
• It’s cold = It is cold
• It’s winter = It is winter
• It’s summer = It is summer

it’s = it has
• It’s been a good day = It has been a good day
• It’s been one of those days = It has been one of those days
• It’s been good = It has been good
• It’s been fun = It has been fun
• It’s been a wonderful life = It has been a wonderful life
• It’s been a trying time = It has been a trying time

there’s = there is
• There’s one = There is one
• There’s another = There is another
• There’s a red balloon = There is a red balloon
• There’s gold in those hills = There is gold in those hills
• Where there’s water there’s life = Where there is water there is life
• There’s a lot of water in the river = There is a lot of water in the river

NEGATIVE:
• There’s not a lot I can do about it.
• There isn’t much I can do about it.

IRREGULAR CONTRACTIONS:
won’t = will not
Examples:
• I don’t want to do it, so I won’t do it.
• I won’t do it unless you make me do it.
• I won’t promise you anything.
• I won’t do anything.
• Why won’t you help me?
• It won’t work.
• He won’t work.
• She won’t work.
• They won’t work.
• We won’t work.

From those last five sentences, we can plainly see that nobody wants to work.

The nots:
hasn’t = has not
isn’t = is not
don’t = do not
doesn’t = does not
won’t = will not
haven’t = have not
can’t = can not
wouldn’t = would not
shouldn’t = should not
couldn’t = could not
mustn’t = must not

Examples:
• He hasn’t been here in a long time.
• He isn’t here now.
• I don’t know when he will be here.
• He doesn’t know when he will get here.
• I won’t know until he gets here.
• I haven’t been told.
• I can’t find out.
• I wouldn’t tell you if I knew.
• I shouldn’t tell you.
• I couldn’t tell you if I wanted to.
• I mustn’t tell anyone.

+ the BE ‘shan’t’ for ‘shall not’. More and more, ‘shall’ is restricted to questions and formal language, where the contraction would be less likely to occur.
he’s = he is
she’s = she is
it’s = it is
what’s = what is
who’s = who is
there’s = there is
where’s = where is
Examples
• He’s not here = He is not here
• He’s somewhere else = He is somewhere else
• He’s not in his room = He is not in his room
• He’s not answering the phone = He is not answering the phone
• He’s from France = He is from France
• He’s not my brother = He is not my brother
• He’s asleep = He is asleep
• He’s not awake = He is not awake
• She’s here = She is here
• She’s well = She is well
• She’s quick = She is quick
• She’s from Canada = She is from Canada
• She’s living in Japan = She is living in Japan
• She’s my friend = She is my friend.
• She’s not my sister = She is not my sister
• She’s sleeping on satin sheets = She is sleeping on satin sheets
• It’s a good thing = It is a good thing
• It’s morning = It is morning
• It’s time to get up = It is time to get up
• It’s dark outside = It is dark outside
• It’s going to be a rainy day = It is going to be a rainy day
• What’s that? = What is that?
• What’s the matter? = What is the matter?
• What’s the time? = What is the time?
• What’s for breakfast? = What is for breakfast?
• Who’s there? = Who is there?
• Who’s that? = Who is that?
• Who’s calling? = Who is calling?
• I don’t know who’s driving the bus = I don’t know who is driving the bus
• There’s a freckle on your face = There is a freckle on your face
• There’s a woman in the race = There is a woman in the race
• There’s a girl whose name is Grace = There is a girl whose name is Grace
• Where’s my hat? = Where is my hat?
• Where’s my wallet? = Where is my wallet?
• Where’s my head? = Where is my head?
• Where is the train? = Where is the train?

he’s = he has
she’s = she has
it’s = it has
what’s = what has
who’s = who has
there’s = there has
where’s = where has
Examples
• He’s been my friend = He has been my friend
• He’s not struggled = He has not struggled
• He’s never been helpful = He has never been helpful
• He’s always been a nuisance = He has always been a nuisance
• He’s never bled = He has never bled
• He’s never been dead = He has never been dead
• He’s been here since last Tuesday = He has been here since last Tuesday
• She’s been here before = She has been here before
• She’s been to the store = She has been to the store
• She’s been asleep for an hour = She has been asleep for an hour
• She’s had the power = She has had the power
• It’s been fun = It has been fun
• It’s been a good day = It has been a good day
• What’s been going on? = What’s been going on?
• What’s been going on here? = What’s been going on here?
• Who’s been sleeping in my bed? Who has been sleeping in my bed?
• Who’s taken my keys? = Who has taken my keys?
• There’s been someone in my room = There has been someone in my room
• Where’s he been? = Where has he been?
• Where’s the time gone = Where has the time gone?

I’ll = I will
we’ll = we will
she’ll = she will
he’ll = he will
they’ll they will
you’ll = you will
Examples
• I’ll be right back.
• We’ll be there in a little while.
• She’ll be riding a white horse.
• He’ll see you now.
• You’ll be sorry for that.

I’m =I am
• I’m twenty years old = I am twenty years old
• I’m looking forward to it = I am looking forward to it
• I’m not looking forward to it = I am not looking forward to it
• I’m not going with you = I am not going with you
• I’m a man = I am a man
• I’m your friend = I am your friend
• I’m nearly forty = I aJJl nearly forty
• I’m an American = I am an American
• I’m going to come back = I am going to come back
• I’m blessed with a wonderful family = I am blessed with a wonderful family
• I’m behind him 100 percent = I am behind him 100 percent

[yarpp]

CONTRACTIONS IN ENGLISH

you’re = you are
we’re = we are
they’re = they are
Examples
• You’re supposed to be there at eight = You are supposed to be there at eight
• We’re meeting them at nine = We are meeting them at nine
• They’re supposed to meet us at the station = They are supposed to meet us at the station

I’d = I would
I’d like to meet her = I would like to meet her

I’d = I had
I’d been doing well until I got hit by a car = I had been doing well until I got hit by a car

you’d = you would
If you lived here you’d be home by now = If you lived here you would be home by now

you’d = you had
You’d better watch out! = You had better watch out!

We’d = we had
We’d better be getting back = We had better be getting back

we’d = we would
We’d like to do it again some time = We would like to do it again some time

she’d = she had
he’d = he had
• She’d better listen if she knows what’s good for her = She had better listen if she knows what’s good for her
• He’d better be more careful = He had better be more careful she’d = she would

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[yarpp]

CONTRACTIONS IN ENGLISH

he’d = he would
• She’d like to go to the concert = She would like to go to the concert
• He’d like to meet her = He would like to meet her
• She’d like to go to college = She would like to go to college
• He’d be better off not going = He would be better off not going

how’d = how did
How’d he do that? = How did he do that?

I’ve = I have
• I’ve been waiting for an hour = I have been waiting for an hour
• I’ve got something to say = I have got something to say
• I’ve gotten a letter from my sister = I have gotten a letter from my sister
• I’ve been looking forward to hearing from her = I have been looking forward to hearing from her
• I’ve been wanting to talk to you = I have been wanting to talk to you
• That’s what I’ve been thinking = That’s what I have been thinkmg

we’ve = we have
• We’ve been there before = We have been there before
• We’ve seen that movie already = We have that movie already
• We’ve go to see that one = We have got to see that one
• We’ve been waiting in line for an hour = We have waiting in line for an hour

you’ve = you have
• You’ve been told not to do that = You have been told not to do that
• You’ve been there before, haven’t you? = You have been there before, haven’t you?
• You’ve earned a reprimand = You have earned a reprimand
• You’ve been misbehaving = You have been misbehaving
• You’ve seen her before, haven’t you? = You have seen her before, haven’t you?
• You’ve been quite helpful = You have been quite helpful

could’ve = could have
• I could’ve done it if I had wanted to do it = I could have done it if I had wanted to do it
• I could’ve done it, but I didn’t do it = I could have done it, but I didn’t do it

would’ve = would have
• I would’ve finished had I had the time = I would have finished had I had the time
• I would’ve got there sooner, but the train was late = I would have got there sooner, but the train was late
• We would’ve had the picnic had it not rained = We would have had the picnic had it not rained

should’ve = should have
• She should’ve introduced herself = She should have introduced herself

should’nt’ve = should not have (primarily spoken)
• She should’nt’ve introduced herself = She should not have introduced herself

what’d = what did
What’d he say? = What did he say?

that’ll = that will
That’ll be all = That will be all

It’ll = It will
It’ll be a while = It will be a while.

That’ll = That will
• That’ll be the day = That will be the day.
• That’ll never happen again = That will never happen again.

[yarpp]

CONTRACTIONS IN ENGLISH

Which’ll = Which will
The bus, which’ll be along in a while, will take you to the station. = The bus, which will be along in a while, will take you to the station.

ain’t = am not
I ain’t going and you can’t make me.

There’re = There are
There’re some words that have no opposites = There are some words that have no opposites

needn’t = need not
• “John needn’t leave for another hour.”
• “You needn’t have done that.”

Who’re = who are
Who’re you? = Who are you?

What’re = What are
What’re you doing? = What are you doing?

What’ll = what will
What’ll you be having? = What will you be having?

you’re = you are
You’re dizzy and I’m busy = You are dizzy and I am busy.

it’ll = it will
I’m sorry. It’ll never happen again = I am sorry. It will never happen again.

that’ll = that will
That’ll be all = That will be all

that’d = that would
That’d be nice = That would be nice

what’d = what did
What’d you do on your vacation? = What did you do on your vacation?

what’d = what would
What’d be the best thing to do? = What would be the best thing to do?