Comprehensive Contractions List: Mastering English Shortcuts

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Contractions are an integral part of the English language, making speech and writing more fluid and natural. Mastering contractions is essential for both native speakers and English language learners who aim to improve their fluency and comprehension.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to English contractions, covering their definition, formation, usage rules, common mistakes, and practice exercises. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will help you confidently use contractions in your everyday communication.

Table of Contents

Definition of Contractions

A contraction is a word or phrase that has been shortened by dropping one or more letters. In writing, an apostrophe (‘) is used to indicate the missing letters.

Contractions are commonly used in both spoken and written English, particularly in informal contexts. They make language more concise and conversational.

Contractions serve the primary function of making speech and writing more efficient and less formal. They reduce the number of syllables in a sentence, leading to a smoother flow.

In everyday conversation, using contractions is a sign of familiarity and ease. While contractions are prevalent in informal writing, such as emails and personal narratives, they are generally avoided in formal writing, like academic papers and business reports.

Understanding the context in which contractions are appropriate is crucial. Overusing contractions in formal settings can make your writing appear unprofessional.

Conversely, avoiding contractions entirely in informal settings can make your speech sound stilted and unnatural. Striking the right balance is key to effective communication.

Structural Breakdown of Contractions

Contractions are formed by combining two words and omitting one or more letters, which are then replaced by an apostrophe. The most common type of contraction involves combining a pronoun or noun with a verb, or combining an auxiliary verb with the word “not.” Understanding the basic structures will help you form and recognize contractions more easily.

The structural breakdown usually involves two parts: the remaining part of the first word and the contracted form of the second word. For example, in “I’m,” “I” remains unchanged, while “am” is contracted to “‘m.” Similarly, in “isn’t,” “is” remains unchanged, while “not” is contracted to “n’t.” The apostrophe always indicates where letters have been omitted.

Let’s consider some specific examples to illustrate this further. When “will” is contracted with pronouns, it becomes “‘ll,” as in “I’ll” (I will).

When “would” or “had” are contracted with pronouns, they become “‘d,” as in “I’d” (I would/I had). Recognizing these patterns is essential for both reading and writing contractions correctly.

Types of Contractions

Contractions can be categorized based on the types of words that are being combined. The main categories include contractions with pronouns and verbs, contractions with auxiliary verbs, and contractions with “not.” Each type follows specific rules and patterns.

Contractions with Pronouns and Verbs

These contractions combine pronouns such as I, you, he, she, it, we, and they with verbs like am, is, are, have, has, had, will, and would. These are some of the most commonly used contractions in the English language.

Contractions with Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs such as is, are, have, had, will, would, can, could, should, and must can be contracted with other words, often pronouns or adverbs. Understanding these contractions is vital for comprehending complex sentences.

Contractions with “Not”

These contractions combine verbs with the word not, forming negative contractions. Examples include isn’t, aren’t, wasn’t, weren’t, haven’t, hasn’t, hadn’t, won’t, wouldn’t, can’t, couldn’t, shouldn’t, and mustn’t. Note that “will not” has an irregular contraction: “won’t.”

Examples of Contractions

This section provides detailed examples of each type of contraction, illustrating their usage in sentences. Tables are used to present the information clearly, making it easier to understand and remember the different forms.

Contractions with Pronouns and “Be” Verbs (am, is, are)

The following table illustrates contractions using pronouns with the “be” verbs am, is, and are. Note how the pronoun and verb combine, and the apostrophe replaces the omitted letter(s).

Full Form Contraction Example Sentence
I am I’m I’m going to the store.
You are You’re You’re very kind.
He is He’s He’s my brother.
She is She’s She’s a talented artist.
It is It’s It’s a beautiful day.
We are We’re We’re happy to be here.
They are They’re They’re coming to the party.
That is That’s That’s a good idea.
There is There’s There’s a cat on the roof.
Here is Here’s Here’s your coffee.
Who is Who’s Who’s at the door?
What is What’s What’s happening?
Where is Where’s Where’s the bathroom?
When is When’s When’s the meeting?
How is How’s How’s your family?
This is This’s This’s my new car.
One is One’s One’s opinion matters.
Everyone is Everyone’s Everyone’s welcome here.
Nobody is Nobody’s Nobody’s perfect.
Somebody is Somebody’s Somebody’s calling you.
Anyone is Anyone’s Anyone’s welcome to join.
Something is Something’s Something’s wrong.
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Contractions with Pronouns and “Have” Verbs (have, has, had)

This table shows contractions formed by combining pronouns with the “have” verbs have, has, and had. Pay attention to the different forms and how they are used in sentences.

Full Form Contraction Example Sentence
I have I’ve I’ve finished my homework.
You have You’ve You’ve done a great job.
He has He’s He’s already left.
She has She’s She’s been to Paris.
It has It’s It’s been a long day.
We have We’ve We’ve decided to go.
They have They’ve They’ve arrived safely.
I had I’d I’d already eaten.
You had You’d You’d better hurry.
He had He’d He’d seen that movie before.
She had She’d She’d studied French in college.
It had It’d It’d been raining all day.
We had We’d We’d planned a trip to Italy.
They had They’d They’d never met him before.
Who has Who’s Who’s got the keys?
What has What’s What’s happened here?
When has When’s When’s the last time you saw her?
Where has Where’s Where’s she gone?
How has How’s How’s that working out for you?
That has That’s That’s been a great help.
This has This’s This’s been a great experience.

Contractions with Pronouns and “Will” and “Would”

The following table demonstrates contractions using pronouns with the auxiliary verbs will and would. Notice the consistent use of “‘ll” for will and “‘d” for would.

Full Form Contraction Example Sentence
I will I’ll I’ll call you later.
You will You’ll You’ll enjoy the movie.
He will He’ll He’ll be here soon.
She will She’ll She’ll help you with that.
It will It’ll It’ll be fun.
We will We’ll We’ll see you tomorrow.
They will They’ll They’ll be staying at a hotel.
I would I’d I’d like to go to Italy.
You would You’d You’d love this restaurant.
He would He’d He’d prefer coffee.
She would She’d She’d rather stay home.
It would It’d It’d be great if you could come.
We would We’d We’d be happy to help.
They would They’d They’d never seen anything like it.
Who will Who’ll Who’ll be attending the conference?
What will What’ll What’ll the weather be like tomorrow?
When will When’ll When’ll he arrive?
Where will Where’ll Where’ll we eat dinner?
How will How’ll How’ll we get there?
Who would Who’d Who’d have thought it would rain?
What would What’d What’d you do in that situation?
When would When’d When’d you like to meet?
Where would Where’d Where’d you recommend we go?
How would How’d How’d you describe this painting?

Negative Contractions (with “not”)

Negative contractions are formed by combining verbs with “not.” The table below illustrates the most common negative contractions. Note the irregular form of “will not,” which becomes “won’t.”

Full Form Contraction Example Sentence
Is not Isn’t It isn’t raining today.
Are not Aren’t They aren’t coming to the party.
Was not Wasn’t He wasn’t at home yesterday.
Were not Weren’t We weren’t invited.
Have not Haven’t I haven’t seen that movie.
Has not Hasn’t She hasn’t finished her work.
Had not Hadn’t They hadn’t arrived yet.
Will not Won’t I won’t be able to come.
Would not Wouldn’t He wouldn’t agree to that.
Cannot Can’t I can’t believe it.
Could not Couldn’t She couldn’t hear me.
Should not Shouldn’t You shouldn’t do that.
Must not Mustn’t You mustn’t forget to lock the door.
Do not Don’t I don’t understand.
Does not Doesn’t He doesn’t like coffee.
Did not Didn’t She didn’t go to school.
Ought not to Oughtn’t to You oughtn’t to speak like that.
Need not Needn’t You needn’t worry.

Usage Rules for Contractions

While contractions are common in spoken and informal written English, it’s important to understand the rules governing their usage. Using contractions correctly can enhance your communication skills, while misusing them can lead to confusion or misinterpretation.

Formal vs. Informal Contexts: Contractions are generally appropriate in informal contexts such as conversations, emails to friends, and personal writing. In formal writing, such as academic papers, business reports, and official documents, it’s best to avoid contractions and use the full forms of the words. This helps maintain a professional and serious tone.

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Clarity and Ambiguity: Ensure that the use of contractions does not lead to ambiguity or confusion. For example, “it’s” can mean either “it is” or “it has.” While context usually clarifies the meaning, it’s essential to be mindful of potential misunderstandings. In cases where clarity is paramount, using the full form might be preferable.

Consistency: Maintain consistency in your writing. If you choose to use contractions, use them consistently throughout the piece. Avoid switching back and forth between contracted and full forms, as this can make your writing seem disjointed.

Negative Contractions: Be particularly careful with negative contractions. Some negative contractions, like “won’t” (will not), have irregular forms that can be confusing. Ensure you use the correct form to avoid errors.

Double Negatives: Avoid using double negatives with contractions. For instance, instead of saying “I don’t know nothing,” say “I don’t know anything” or “I know nothing.” Double negatives can create confusion and are grammatically incorrect.

Common Mistakes with Contractions

Even experienced English speakers sometimes make mistakes with contractions. Understanding these common errors can help you avoid them and improve your accuracy.

Confusing “it’s” and “its”: One of the most common mistakes is confusing “it’s” (it is or it has) with “its” (possessive form of it). Remember that “it’s” always includes an apostrophe and indicates a contraction, while “its” shows possession.

  • Incorrect: The dog wagged it’s tail.
  • Correct: The dog wagged its tail.
  • Correct: It’s a beautiful day.

Using “your” instead of “you’re”: Another frequent error is using “your” (possessive form of you) instead of “you’re” (you are). “You’re” is a contraction, while “your” shows ownership.

  • Incorrect: Your going to be late.
  • Correct: You’re going to be late.
  • Correct: Is that your car?

Misusing “there,” “their,” and “they’re”: These three words are homophones, meaning they sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. “There” indicates a place, “their” shows possession, and “they’re” is a contraction of “they are.”

  • Incorrect: They’re house is over there.
  • Correct: Their house is over there.
  • Correct: They’re coming to visit.

Incorrectly Placing Apostrophes: Ensure that the apostrophe is placed correctly to indicate the missing letters. For example, “cannot” becomes “can’t,” not “cant’.”

  • Incorrect: I dont’ know.
  • Correct: I don’t know.

Overusing Contractions in Formal Writing: While contractions are acceptable in informal writing, they should be avoided in formal contexts. Using full forms of words in formal settings maintains a professional tone.

  • Informal: I’m writing to you today…
  • Formal: I am writing to you today…

Practice Exercises

These exercises will help you practice using contractions correctly. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate contraction or full form, depending on the context.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Contraction

Choose the correct contraction for each sentence.

Question Answer
1. _________ going to the beach tomorrow. (I am) I’m
2. _________ a beautiful day today. (It is) It’s
3. _________ happy to see you. (We are) We’re
4. _________ finished my homework. (I have) I’ve
5. _________ done a great job. (You have) You’ve
6. _________ be here soon. (He will) He’ll
7. _________ call you later. (I will) I’ll
8. _________ like to go to Italy. (I would) I’d
9. _________ agree to that. (He would not) He wouldn’t
10. _________ believe it. (I cannot) I can’t

Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences Using Contractions

Rewrite the following sentences using contractions where appropriate.

Question Answer
1. I am not going to the party. I’m not going to the party. / I am not going to the party.
2. She is not feeling well. She isn’t feeling well.
3. They are not coming with us. They aren’t coming with us.
4. We have not seen that movie. We haven’t seen that movie.
5. He has not finished his work. He hasn’t finished his work.
6. I will see you tomorrow. I’ll see you tomorrow.
7. You will enjoy the concert. You’ll enjoy the concert.
8. They would like to come. They’d like to come.
9. I had already eaten. I’d already eaten.
10. It is raining outside. It’s raining outside.

Exercise 3: Correct the Mistakes in Contraction Usage

Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences.

Question Answer
1. Its a beautiful day. It’s a beautiful day.
2. Your going to be late. You’re going to be late.
3. There coming to the party. They’re coming to the party.
4. I dont know the answer. I don’t know the answer.
5. She hasnt finished her work yet. She hasn’t finished her work yet.
6. He’s dog is very friendly. His dog is very friendly.
7. We’er going on vacation. We’re going on vacation.
8. You would’nt believe what happened. You wouldn’t believe what happened.
9. Their car is parked there. Correct (no change needed).
10. Who’s coat is this? Whose coat is this?
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Advanced Topics: Less Common Contractions

Beyond the common contractions, there are several less frequently used contractions that can add nuance to your English. These are often found in specific dialects or older texts.

’tis and ’twas: These are contractions of “it is” and “it was,” respectively. They are rarely used in modern English but may be encountered in literature or older forms of speech.

O’clock: This is a contraction of “of the clock” and is used to specify time, such as “It’s five o’clock.”

’em: This is a contraction of “them” and is typically used informally. For example, “Catch ’em if you can.”

Gonna, Wanna, Gotta: While not considered standard contractions, these are common informal shortenings of “going to,” “want to,” and “got to.” They are frequently used in spoken English and informal writing but should be avoided in formal contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some frequently asked questions about contractions in English.

  1. What is the purpose of using contractions?

    Contractions make speech and writing more fluent and natural. They reduce the number of syllables in a sentence, making communication quicker and more efficient. They also contribute to a more informal and conversational tone.

  2. Are contractions appropriate in all types of writing?

    No, contractions are generally more suitable for informal writing, such as emails, personal letters, and fiction. In formal writing, such as academic papers, business reports, and official documents, it is best to avoid contractions to maintain a professional tone.

  3. How do I know when to use “it’s” vs. “its”?

    “It’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has,” while “its” is a possessive pronoun. If you can replace “it’s” with “it is” or “it has” in the sentence and it still makes sense, then “it’s” is the correct choice. Otherwise, use “its.”

  4. What is the difference between “your” and “you’re”?

    “You’re” is a contraction of “you are,” while “your” is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership. If you can replace “you’re” with “you are” in the sentence and it still makes sense, then “you’re” is the correct choice. Otherwise, use “your.”

  5. Why is “will not” contracted to “won’t” instead of “willn’t”?

    The contraction “won’t” is an irregular form that evolved historically. It is derived from an older form of “will not,” and the specific reason for its unique form is not entirely clear, but it has become the standard contraction for “will not.”

  6. Is it ever incorrect to use contractions in spoken English?

    While contractions are generally acceptable in spoken English, there may be situations where using the full forms of words is more appropriate, such as when emphasizing a point or speaking in a very formal setting. However, in most everyday conversations, using contractions is perfectly fine.

  7. What are some examples of less common contractions?

    Some less common contractions include ’tis (it is), ’twas (it was), o’clock (of the clock), and ’em (them). These contractions are less frequently used in modern English but may be encountered in literature or older forms of speech.

  8. Are “gonna,” “wanna,” and “gotta” considered proper contractions?

    No, “gonna,” “wanna,” and “gotta” are not considered standard contractions. They are informal shortenings of “going to,” “want to,” and “got to,” respectively. While they are common in spoken English and informal writing, they should be avoided in formal contexts.

Conclusion

Mastering English contractions is crucial for effective communication, whether you’re speaking or writing. Understanding the different types of contractions, their usage rules, and common mistakes will help you improve your fluency and accuracy.

By practicing regularly and paying attention to context, you can confidently use contractions in your everyday communication.

Remember to consider your audience and the formality of the situation when deciding whether to use contractions. While they are perfectly acceptable in informal settings, it’s best to avoid them in formal writing.

With practice and attention to detail, you’ll become proficient in using contractions and enhance your overall English language skills.

Continue to practice with the exercises provided and seek out opportunities to observe and use contractions in real-life contexts. The more you engage with contractions, the more natural and intuitive their usage will become.

Keep learning and improving, and you’ll find that mastering contractions is a valuable asset in your English language journey.