Language/English/Grammar/Contractions
Contractions are used to shorten words by adding a suffix to a word, usually beginning with an apostrophe, which will indicate expanded meaning to a word.
Since contractions are not required in English, it is more important to be able to interpret them than to produce them.
Here are the common contractions:
're - Are
- They're - They are
- We're - We are
- Where're - Where are
- What're - What are
- Why're - Why are
- How're - How are
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'd - would / had
- I'd put it there - I would put it there / I had put it there
- He'd left it behind - He had left it behind
- I'd trust you if you smiled more - I would trust you if you smiled more
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's - is / has
Don't confuse this with the possessive marker 's!
- Sam's a great friend - He is a great friend
- Sam's found something - He has found something
- Sam's dog is grey - (Sam has a dog, which is grey)
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've - Have
Could've - could have
I've - I have
Should've - should have
They've - They have
Would've - would have
You've - You have
- Example: I could've gone to the gym, I should've gone to the gym, and I would've gone to the gym, but I didn't. Now I've gained weight!
~~
n't - Not
Note: "Shall" and "will" change to "shan't" and "won't" when "n't" is added.
Can't - Cannot
Couldn't - Could not
Didn't - Did not
Doesn't - Does not
Hadn't - Had not
Hasn't - Has not
Haven't - Have not
Isn't - Is not
Oughtn't - Ought not
Shan't - Shall not
Shouldn't - Should not
Wasn't - Was not
Weren't - Were not
Won't - Will not
Wouldn't - Would not
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'll - Will
He'll - He will
I'll - I will
It'll - It will
She'll - She will
They'll - They will
We'll - We will
You'll - You will
What'll - What will
- Example: Tomorrow I'll go to the store, because my refrigerator is almost empty!
- Example: They'll start tomorrow - they will start tomorrow
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Finally, I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but these should help get you started on using Contractions in English!