List of English contractions

List of English contractions

English Contraction means to shorten a word or phrase by omitting one or more sounds or letters from it. The word so formed is also called a contraction. Discussed below are the various contractions used in spoken English.

Can not Do not Should not Could not Would not Has not I will They will He will There is Who is You are They are Would have They have

Can’t Don’t Shouldn’t Couldn’t Wouldn’t Hasn’t I’ll They’ll He’ll There’s Who’s You’re They’re Would’ve They’ve

• That’s = That is

• That’s all        = That is all

• That’s all I want          = That is all I want

• That’s it          = That is it

• That’s my son = That is my son

• That’s my child           = That is my child

• That’s my daughter     = That is my daughter

• That’s what I wanted to say     = That is what I wanted to say

• That’s a good idea       = That is a good idea

What’s = What is

• What’s going on = What is going on?

• What’s that? = What is that?

• What’s happening? = What is happening?

• What’s going to happen? = What is going to happen?

What’s = What has

• What’s been happening? = What has been happening?

• What’s been going on? = What has been going on?

It’s = It Is

• It’s a man = It is a man

• It’s a woman = It is a woman

• It’s a boy = It is a boy

• It’s a girl = It is a girl

• It’s a good thing = It is a good thing

• It’s not a good thing = It is not a good thing

• It’s time to go = It is time to go

• It’s a good day to die = It is a good day to die

• It’s a good speech = It is a good speech

• It’s hot = It is hot

• It’s cold = It is cold

• It’s winter = It is winter

• It’s summer = It is summer

It’s = It has

• It’s been a good day = It has been a good day

• It’s been one of those days = It has been one of those days

• It’s been good = It has been good

• It’s been fun = It has been fun

• It’s been a wonderful life = It has been a wonderful life

• It’s been a trying time = It has been a trying time

There’s = There is

• There’s one = There is one

• There’s another = There is another

• There’s a red balloon = There is a red balloon

• There’s gold in those hills = There is gold in those hills

• Where there’s water there’s life = Where there is water there is life

• There’s a lot of water in the river = There is a lot of water in the river

Negative:

– • There’s not a lot I can do about it.

• There isn’t much I can do about it.

Irregular contractions

Won’t  = will not

Examples:

• I don’t want to do it, so I won’t do it.

• I won’t do it unless you make me do it.

• I won’t promise you anything.

• I won’t do anything.

• Why won’t you help me?

• It won’t work.

• He won’t work.

• She won’t work.

• They won’t work.

• We won’t work.

Has not Is not Do not Does not Will not Have not Can not Would not Should not Could not Must not

Hasn’t Isn’t Don’t Doesn’t Won’t Haven’t Can’t Wouldn’t Shouldn’t Couldn’t Mustn’t

Examples:

• He hasn’t been here in a long time.

• He isn’t here now.

• I don’t know when he will be here.

• He doesn’t know when he will get here.

• I won’t know until he gets here.

• I haven’t been told.

• I can’t find out.

• I wouldn’t tell you if I knew.

• I shouldn’t tell you.

• I couldn’t tell you if I wanted to.

• I mustn’t tell anyone.

He’s = he is

She’s = she is

It’s = it is

What’s = what is

Who’s = who is

There’s = there is

Where’s = where is

Examples

• He’s not here = He is not here

• He’s somewhere else = He is somewhere else

• He’s not in his room = He is not in his room

• He’s not answering the phone = He is not answering the phone

• He’s from France = He is from France

• He’s not my brother = He is not my brother

• He’s asleep = He is asleep

• He’s not awake = He is not awake

• She’s here = She is here

• She’s well = She is well

• She’s quick = She is quick

• She’s from Canada = She is from Canada

• She’s living in Japan = She is living in Japan

• She’s my friend = She is my friend

• She’s not my sister = She is not my sister

• She’s sleeping on satin sheets = She is sleeping on satin sheets

• It’s a good thing = It is a good thing

• It’s morning = It is morning

• It’s time to get up = It is time to get up

• It’s dark outside = It is dark outside

• It’s going to be a rainy day = It is going to be a rainy day

• What’s that? = What is that?

• What’s the matter? = What is the matter?

• What’s the time? = What is the time?

• What’s for breakfast? = What is for breakfast?

• Who’s there? = Who is there?

• Who’s that? = Who is that?

• Who’s calling? = Who is calling?

• I don’t know who’s driving the bus = I don’t know who is driving the bus

• There’s a freckle on your face = There is a freckle on your face

• There’s a woman in the race = There is a woman in the race

• There’s a girl whose name is Grace = There is a girl whose name is Grace

• Where’s my hat? = Where is my hat?

• Where’s my wallet? = Where is my wallet?

• Where’s my head? = Where is my head?

• Where is the train? = Where is the train?

He’s = he has

She’s = she has

It’s = it has

What’s = what has

Who’s = who has

There’s = there has

Where’s = where has

Examples

• He’s been my friend = He has been my friend

• He’s not struggled = He has not struggled

• He’s never been helpful = He has never been helpful

• He’s always been a nuisance = He has always been a nuisance

• He’s never bled = He has never bled

• He’s never been dead = He has never been dead

• He’s been here since last Tuesday = He has been here since last Tuesday

• She’s been here before = She has been here before

• She’s been to the store = She has been to the store

• She’s been asleep for an hour = She has been asleep for an hour

• She’s had the power = She has had the power

• It’s been fun = It has been fun

• It’s been a good day = It has been a good day

• What’s been going on? = What’s been going on?

• What’s been going on here? = What’s been going on here?

• Who’s been sleeping in my bed? Who has been sleeping in my bed?

• Who’s taken my keys? = Who has taken my keys?

• There’s been someone in my room = There has been someone in my room

• Where’s he been? = Where has he been?

• Where’s the time gone = Where has the time gone?

I’ll = i will

We’ll = we will

She’ll = she will

He’ll = he will

They’ll they will

You’ll = you will

Examples

• I’ll be right back.

• We’ll be there in a little while.

• She’ll be riding a white horse.

• He’ll see you now.

• You’ll be sorry for that.

I’m =I am

• I’m twenty years old = I am twenty years old

• I’m looking forward to it = I am looking forward to it

• I’m not looking forward to it = I am not looking forward to it

• I’m not going with you = I am not going with you

• I’m a man = I am a man

• I’m your friend = I am your friend

• I’m nearly forty = I aJJl nearly forty

• I’m an American = I am an American

• I’m going to come back = I am going to come back

• I’m blessed with a wonderful family = I am blessed with a wonderful family

• I’m behind him 100 percent = I am behind him 100 percent

you’re = you are

we’re = we are

they’re = they are

Examples

• You’re supposed to be there at eight = You are supposed to be there at eight

• We’re meeting them at nine = We are meeting them at nine

• They’re supposed to meet us at the station = They are supposed to meet us at the station

I’d = I would

I’d like to meet her = I would like to meet her

I’d = I had

I’d been doing well until I got hit by a car = I had been doing well until I got hit by a car

You’d = You Would

If you lived here you’d be home by now = If you lived here you would be home by now

You’d = You Had

You’d better watch out! = You had better watch out!

We’d = We Had

We’d better be getting back = We had better be getting back

We’d = We Would

We’d like to do it again some time = We would like to do it again

She’d = she had

He’d = he had

• She’d better listen if she knows what’s good for her = She had better listen if she knows what’s good for her

• He’d better be more careful = He had better be more careful

She’d = she would

He’d = he would

• She’d like to go to the concert = She would like to go to the concert

• He’d like to meet her = He would like to meet her

• She’d like to go to college = She would like to go to college

• He’d be better not going = He would be better not going

How’d = How Did

How’d he do that? = How did he do that?

I’ve = I have

• I’ve been waiting for an hour = I have been waiting for an hour

• I’ve got something to say = I have got something to say

• I’ve gotten a letter from my sister = I have gotten a letter from my sister

• I’ve been looking forward to hearing from her = I have been looking forward to hearing from her

• I’ve been wanting to talk to you = I have been wanting to talk to you

• That’s what I’ve been thinking = That is what I have been thinking

We’ve  = We Have

• We’ve been there before = We have been there before

• We’ve seen that movie already = We have that movie already

• We’ve got to see that one = We have got to see that one

• We’ve been waiting in line for an hour = We have waiting in line for an hour

List of English contractions

You’ve = You Have

• You’ve been told not to do that = You have been told not to do that

• You’ve been there before, haven’t you? = You have been there before, haven’t you?

• You’ve earned a reprimand = You have earned a reprimand

• You’ve been misbehaving = You have been misbehaving

• You’ve seen her before, haven’t you? = You have seen her before, haven’t you?

• You’ve been quite helpful = You have been quite helpful

Could’ve = Could Have

• I could’ve done it if I had wanted to do it = I could have done it if I had wanted to do it

• I could’ve done it, but I didn’t do it = I could have done it, but I didn’t do it

Would’ve = Would Have

• I would’ve finished had I had the time = I would have finished had I had the time

• I would’ve got there sooner, but the train was late = I would have got there sooner, but the train was late

• We would’ve had the picnic had it not rained = We would have had the picnic had it not rained

Should’ve = Should Have

• She should’ve introduced herself = She should have introduced herself

• Perhaps I should’ve been politer = Perhaps I should have been politer

• We should’ve done a better job of it = We should have done a better job of it

What’d = What Did

What’d he say? = What did he say?

That’ll = That Will

That’ll be all = That will be all couldn’t, didn’t

I couldn’t hear her, so I didn’t respond = I could not hear her, so I did not respond

Couldn’t’ve

I couldn’t’ve done what you said I did = I could not have done what you said I did

It’ll = It will

It’ll be a while = It will be a while.

That’ll = That will

• That’ll be the day = That will be the day.

• That’ll never happen again = That will never happen again.

Which’ll = Which will

The bus, which’ll be along in a while, will take you to the station. = The bus, which will be along in a while, will take you to the station.

There’re = There are

There’re some words that have no opposites = There are some words that have no opposites

Needn’t = Need Not

• John needn’t leave for another hour

• You needn’t have done that.

Who’re you? = Who are you?

What’re = What are

What’re you doing? = What are you doing?

What’ll = what will

What’ll you be having? = What will you be having?

You’re = You Are

You’re dizzy and I’m busy = You are dizzy and I am busy.

It’ll = It Will

I’m sorry. It’ll never happen again = I am sorry. It will never happen again.

That’ll = That Will

That’ll be all = That will be all

That’d = That Would

That’d be nice = That would be nice

What’d = What Did

What’d you do on your vacation? = What did you do on your vacation?

What’d = What Would

What’d be the best thing to do? = What would be the best thing to do?

It’d = It Had

It’d better be good = It had better be good

It’d = It Would

It’d be a nice thing to do = It would be a nice thing to do

List of English contractions

List of English contractions

List of English contractions

List of English contractions

List of English contractions