Contractions in English

Explanation and List of Contractions

Contractions in English are words or phrases that are shortened by dropping one or more letters and replacing the letter or letters with ' (an apostrophe).

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Only one apostrophe is used in a contraction no matter how many letters are removed.

Contractions in English are very common in spoken language.

Examples:

• he is = he's
  
  We remove the i and replace it with an apostrophe.
  
  
• I have = I've
  
  We remove the h and a and replace them with an apostrophe.
  
  
• did not = didn't
  
  We remove the o and replace it with an apostrophe.
  
  
• will not = won't
  
  We remove the ill and n and replace them with an apostrophe.
  
  

Using contractions in writing

In American English, contractions are very common in spoken language.

We do not use contractions as much in our writing.

Contractions are not used much in formal writing, such as a business letter, business email or essay.

You may use contractions in formal writing when you quote what somebody says.

Example:

• John said, "I wasn't surprised because I knew she was coming to visit."
  
  was not = wasn't
  

We can use contractions in friendly letters, friendly emails, blogs and text messages.

Example:

Dear Mom,

I'm glad you came to visit last week. I can't wait until I see you again at Christmas. I hope you've made it home safely.

Love,
Sally

I am = I'm

cannot = can't

you have = you've

Common Contractions in English

are not	aren't
cannot	can't
could not	couldn't
did not	didn't
does not	doesn't
had not	hadn't
has not	hasn't
have not	haven't
he had; he would	hadn't
he will; he shall	he'll
he is; he has	he's
I had; I would	I'd
I will; I shall	I'll
I am	I'm
I have	I've
is not	isn't
let us	let's
might not	mightn't
shall not	shan't
she had; she would	she'd
she is; she has	she's
should not	shouldn't
that is; that has	that's
there is; there has	there's
they had; they would	they'd
they will; they shall	they'll
they are	they're
we had; we would	we'd
we are	we're
we have	we've
were not	weren't
what will; what shall	what'll
what are	what're
what is; what has	what's
what have	what've
where is; where has	where's
who had; who would	who'd
who will; who shall	who'll
who are	who're
who is; who has	who's
who have	who've
will not	won't
would not	wouldn't
you had; you would	you'd
you will; you shall	you'll
you are	you're
you have	you've

Caution!

An apostrophe does not always signal a contraction.

Apostrophes are also added to nouns to show ownership.

Examples:

• Bill's house
  
  The house belongs to Bill. This is not a contraction.
  
  
• The cats' food
  
  The food belongs to the cats. This is not a contraction.
  
  
• The boy's ball
  
  
  The ball belongs to the boy. This is not a contraction.
  
  

  

These were the uses of Contractions in English. Now that you know them, it is time to practice! Read and do exercises.

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