What is a contraction?

A contraction is a shortened form of a word or a group of words. We use contractions to make communication easier.  They make sentences shorter, easier and friendlier.  Contractions are frequently used in spoken English.  In written English, contractions are generally used in casual or less formal situations. For example, using a contraction in a letter or an email presents a casual tone.

There are many different types of contractions.  The most common contractions are with subject pronouns, verbs like to be and to have, modals like will, and the word not.

Statement

  1. It is a big problem.
  2. It is not a little problem.
  3. You will need a good solution.
  4. Let us get some advice.

Statement with Contraction

  1. It’s a big problem.
  2. It isn’t a little problem.
  3. You’ll need a good solution.
  4. Let’s get some advice. 

What are the contractions with subject pronouns and the verb to be?

There are three different types of contractions with the verb to be: am, is and are.

CONTRACTIONS with TO BE
am = ‘m
are = ‘re
is = ‘s

SUBJECT PRONOUNS + TO BE
I am = I’m
you are = you’re
he is = he’s
she is = she’s
it is = it’s
we are = we’re
they are = they’re

Statement

  1. I am the brother of John.
  2. You are the mother to three boys.
  3. He is a student at my school.
  4. She is a good friend to me.
  5. It is a big problem.
  6. We are all friends here.
  7. They are my cousins.

Statement with Contraction

  1. I’m the brother of John.
  2. You’re the mother to three boys.
  3. He’s a student at my school.
  4. She’s a good friend to me.
  5. It’s a big problem.
  6. We’re all friends here.
  7. They’re my cousins.

What are the contractions with the word not?

Negative contractions are made with the word not (n’t).  It is common to see negative contractions with verbs and modals.

CONTRACTIONS with NOT
not = n’t

VERB + NOT
to be + not = aren’t, isn’t, wasn’t, weren’t
to do + not = don’t, doesn’t, didn’t
to have + not = haven’t, hasn’t, hadn’t

Statement

  1. You are not sleepy.
  2. He is not going to the store.
  3. She was not at home.
  4. We were not going to the party.
  5. I do not dance in the rain.
  6. It does not work anymore.
  7. They did not see me coming.
  8. You have not seen anything yet.
  9. It has not worked out yet.
  10. They had not survived the winter.

Statement with Contraction

  1. You aren’t sleepy.
  2. He isn’t going to the store.
  3. She wasn’t at home.
  4. We weren’t going to the party.
  5. I don’t dance in the rain.
  6. It doesn’t work anymore.
  7. They didn’t see me coming.
  8. You haven’t seen anything yet.
  9. It hasn’t worked out yet.
  10. They hadn’t survived the winter.

CONTRACTIONS with NOT
not = n’t

MODAL + NOT
can + not = can’t
could + not = couldn’t
should + not = shouldn’t
would + not = wouldn’t
will+ not = won’t

Statement

  1. I can not take it anymore.
  2. He could not remember my name.
  3. She should not feel embarrassed.
  4. It would not be right.
  5. We will not stand for it.

Statement with Contraction

  1. I can’t take it anymore.
  2. He couldn’t remember my name.
  3. She shouldn’t feel embarrassed.
  4. It wouldn’t be right.
  5. We won’t stand for it.

What are the contractions with subject pronouns and the verb to have?

There are three different types of contractions with the verb to have: have, has and had.  For example, contractions with subject pronouns and the verb to have are used in the perfect tenses.

CONTRACTIONS with TO HAVE
have = ‘ve
has = ‘s
had = ‘d

SUBJECT PRONOUNS + TO HAVE
I + to have = I’ve, I’d
you + to have = you’ve, you’d
he + to have = he’s, he’d
she + to have = she’s, she’d
it + to have = it’s, it’d
we + to have = we’ve, we’d
they + to have = they’ve, they’d

Statement

  1. They have done that twice before.
  2. He has gotten himself into trouble.
  3. I had finished the test early.

Statement with Contraction

  1. They’ve done that twice before.
  2. He’s gotten himself into trouble.
  3. I’d finished the test early.

What are the contractions with subject pronouns and the modal will?

Contractions with the modal will and subject pronouns are very common.

CONTRACTIONS with WILL
will = ‘ll

SUBJECT PRONOUNS + WILL
I + will = I’ll
you + will = you’ll
he + will = he’ll
she + will = she’ll
it + will = it’ll
we + will = we’ll
they + will = they’ll

Statement

  1. I will be here.
  2. You will trust me.
  3. He will come again.
  4. She will be true.
  5. It will never work.
  6. We will work for money.
  7. They will not work for free.

Statement with Contraction

  1. I’ll be here.
  2. You’ll trust me.
  3. He’ll come again.
  4. She’ll be true.
  5. It’ll never work.
  6. We’ll work for money.
  7. They’ll not work for free.

Basic ESL Workbooks

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