CONTRACTIONS

A contraction is a short way to write one or two words (often verbs). Contractions make sentences sound more relaxed.

  • Why Do We Use Them?
    We use contractions to make speaking and writing feel friendly. They’re common in everyday conversations and casual writing.

  • When to Use Them?
    Use contractions in casual talks, friendly emails, and texts. Avoid them in formal writing.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES


  1. She’s going to the store.

    (She is going to the store.)

  2. The cat couldn’t find its way home.

    (The cat could not find its way home.)

  3. I’ll meet you there.

    (I will meet you there.)

  4. They’re planning a surprise party.

    (They are planning a surprise party.)

  5. I haven’t seen her all day.

    (I have not seen her all day.)

  6. I can’t believe it’s already November!

    (I cannot believe it is already November!)

  7. You’re going to love the new movie.

    (You are going to love the new movie.)

  8. They’d never seen snow before.

    (They had never seen snow before.)

  9. I wouldn’t recommend that restaurant.

    (I would not recommend that restaurant.)

  10. We’ve been friends for years.

    (We have been friends for years.)

COMMON CONTRACTIONS


  • I'm → I am

  • You're → You are

  • He's → He is

  • She's → She is

  • It's → It is

  • We're → We are

  • They're → They are

  • I've → I have

  • You've → You have

  • We've → We have

  • They've → They have

  • I'll → I will

  • You'll → You will

  • He'll → He will

  • She'll → She will

  • It'll → It will

  • We'll → We will

  • They'll → They will

  • I'd → I would / I had

  • You'd → You would / You had

  • He'd → He would / He had

  • She'd → She would / She had

  • We'd → We would / We had

  • They'd → They would / They had

  • Can't → Cannot

  • Won't → Will not

  • Didn't → Did not

  • Don’t → Do not

  • Aren't → Are not

  • Isn't → Is not

  • Doesn't → Does not

  • Hasn't → Has not

  • Haven't → Have not

  • Wouldn't → Would not

  • Shouldn't → Should not

  • Couldn't → Could not

  • Would’ve → Would have

  • Could’ve → Could have

  • Should’ve → Should have

  • Let’s → Let us

  • Who's → Who is / Who has

  • What's → What is / What has

  • Where's → Where is / Where has

  • There’s → There is

EXAMPLE SENTENCES


I'm → I am
"I'm excited to start my new job!" (I am excited to start my new job!)

You're → You are
"You're the kindest person I've ever met." (You are the kindest person I've ever met.)

He's → He is
"He's always ready to help anyone in need." (He is always ready to help anyone in need.)

She's → She is
"She's been studying for hours." (She is been studying for hours.)

It's → It is
"It's raining heavily outside." (It is raining heavily outside.)

We're → We are
"We're planning a trip to the mountains." (We are planning a trip to the mountains.)

They're → They are
"They're coming over for dinner tonight." (They are coming over for dinner tonight.)

I've → I have
"I've finished all my assignments." (I have finished all my assignments.)

You've → You have
"You've done a fantastic job on this project." (You have done a fantastic job on this project.)

We've → We have
"We've been friends since childhood." (We have been friends since childhood.)

They've → They have
"They've moved to a new city recently." (They have moved to a new city recently.)

I'll → I will
"I'll call you when I get home." (I will call you when I get home.)

You'll → You will
"You'll enjoy the movie; it's very funny." (You will enjoy the movie; it's very funny.)

He'll → He will
"He'll be here around 5 p.m." (He will be here around 5 p.m.)

She'll → She will
"She'll bring dessert to the party." (She will bring dessert to the party.)

It'll → It will
"It'll take about an hour to get there." (It will take about an hour to get there.)

We'll → We will
"We'll visit you next weekend." (We will visit you next weekend.)

They'll → They will
"They'll be delighted to see you." (They will be delighted to see you.)

I'd → I would / I had

  • I would: "I'd love to join you if I have time." (I would love to join you if I have time.)

  • I had: "I'd already eaten when they arrived." (I had already eaten when they arrived.)

You'd → You would / You had

  • You would: "You'd enjoy this book if you like mysteries." (You would enjoy this book if you like mysteries.)

  • You had: "You'd better finish your homework before dinner." (You had better finish your homework before dinner.)

He'd → He would / He had

  • He would: "He'd go to the concert if he had a ticket." (He would go to the concert if he had a ticket.)

  • He had: "He'd left before I could say goodbye." (He had left before I could say goodbye.)

She'd → She would / She had

  • She would: "She'd love to see the exhibit if she were in town." (She would love to see the exhibit if she were in town.)

  • She had: "She'd already made plans for the weekend." (She had already made plans for the weekend.)

We'd → We would / We had

  • We would: "We'd travel more if we had more time off." (We would travel more if we had more time off.)

  • We had: "We'd finished our work before the storm hit." (We had finished our work before the storm hit.)

They'd → They would / They had

  • They would: "They'd help if they knew what to do." (They would help if they knew what to do.)

  • They had: "They'd met years before they got married." (They had met years before they got married.)

Can't → Cannot
"I can't believe how quickly time flies!" (I cannot believe how quickly time flies!)

Won't → Will not
"He won't join us for dinner tonight." (He will not join us for dinner tonight.)

Didn't → Did not
"They didn't finish their project on time." (They did not finish their project on time.)

Don't → Do not
"I don't think this is the right way." (I do not think this is the right way.)

Aren't → Are not
"They aren't coming to the event." (They are not coming to the event.)

Isn't → Is not
"This isn't what I ordered." (This is not what I ordered.)

Doesn't → Does not
"He doesn't understand the instructions." (He does not understand the instructions.)

Hasn't → Has not
"She hasn't decided on a major yet." (She has not decided on a major yet.)

Haven't → Have not
"We haven't seen that movie yet." (We have not seen that movie yet.)

Wouldn't → Would not
"I wouldn't recommend that restaurant." (I would not recommend that restaurant.)

Shouldn't → Should not
"You shouldn't go out in the storm." (You should not go out in the storm.)

Couldn't → Could not
"I couldn't find my keys this morning." (I could not find my keys this morning.)

Would’ve → Would have
"I would’ve called, but I didn’t have my phone." (I would have called, but I didn’t have my phone.)

Could’ve → Could have
"They could’ve helped us, but they were too busy." (They could have helped us, but they were too busy.)

Should’ve → Should have
"You should’ve told me earlier." (You should have told me earlier.)

Let’s → Let us
"Let’s go to the park this afternoon." (Let us go to the park this afternoon.)

Who's → Who is / Who has

  • Who is: "Who's going to lead the meeting today?" (Who is going to lead the meeting today?)

  • Who has: "Who's already finished their assignments?" (Who has already finished their assignments?)

What's → What is / What has

  • What is: "What's your favorite food?" (What is your favorite food?)

  • What has: "What's changed since the last meeting?" (What has changed since the last meeting?)

Where's → Where is / Where has

  • Where is: "Where's the nearest coffee shop?" (Where is the nearest coffee shop?)

  • Where has: "Where's everyone gone?" (Where has everyone gone?)

There's → There is
"There's a great new restaurant downtown." (There is a great new restaurant downtown.)

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