CONTRACTIONS

 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.
The apostrophe has two uses:

1. To show that we have made words shorter. We have contracted
   them.
2. To show that something belongs to someone, i.e. they possess
   it. (possession)
   Here are two examples.
   • My dad’s car is red.
   Here we hive only one dad but we have put on the letter’s’ be[1]cause we have put an apostrophe. It shows that the car belongs to
   dad.
   • “I’ll tell you that later,” he whispered.
   I will has become I’ll, we have joined two words and missed out
   the letters WI and put in the apostrophe instead.
   We use apostrophes because it can make our writing easier to
   read.
   In the list below we are going to look at apostrophes for contract-II Contractions gil
   
   Ing words Contraction Letters missed out
   Can not Can’t no
   Do not Don’t 0
   Should not Shouldn’t 0
   Could not Couldn’t 0
   Would not Wouldn’t 0
   Has not Hasn’t 0
   I will I’ll WI
   They will They’ll WI
   He will He’ll WI
   There is There’s I
   Who is Who’s I
   You are You’re a
   They are They’re a
   Would have Would’ve ha
   They have They’ve ha
   Let’s start with Let’s.
3. Except for some set phrases (example: ‘Let
   us pray’) let us is almost always expressed as a contraction: Let)s.
   Example:
   • Let’s go!
   It is almost always used to express an imperative, thus:
   • Let’s do it!
   However, sometimes it is used to express something like an ad[1]monition, thus:
   
   • Let’s do what we ought to do.
   Sometimes it is used to make suggestion, thus:
   • Let’s keep this just between us.
   
   The negative is ‘let’s not’, but you will also come across ‘don’t
   let’s’ .
   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?
   • “”‘hat’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?
   -CouldnYt’ve = -Could not have
   Because of voicless [t], the sound that follows, ‘-ve’ sounds like of,
   which is where we get the erroneous spelling -ouldnYt of II Contractions
   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~ = there is
   • There’s one = There is one
   • There’s another = There is another 1112 Spoken English II
   • 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.
  From those last five sentences, we can plainly see that nobody
  wants to work.
  The nots:
  hasn’t = has not
  isn’t = is not
  don’t = do not
  doesn’t = does not
  won’t = will not
  haven’t = have not
  can’t = can not
  wouldn’t = would not
  shouldn’t = should not
  couldn’t = could not
  mustn’t = must not
  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. 1114 Spoken English “
• the BE ‘shan’t’ for ‘shall not’. More and more, ‘shall’ is restricted
  to questions and formal language, where the contraction would
  be less likely to occur.
  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 II Contractions
  • 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? \16 Spoken English \
  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 some[1]one III 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 =Iam
  • 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:lre = you are
  we:lre = we are
  they:lre = 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 sup[1]posed 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! II Contractions
  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
  some time
  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 otT not going = He would be better off not
  gorng
  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 11 20 Spoken English II
  • 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’s what I have been think[1]mg
  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 go 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
  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 be[1]fore, 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 II Contractions
  would’ve = would have
  • I would’ve finished had I had the time = I would have fin[1]ished 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
  should’nt’ve = should not have (primarily spoken)
  She should’nt’ve introduced herself = She should not have intro[1]duced herself
  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 1122
  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.
  Spoken English II
  • 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.
  I ain’t going and you can’t make me.
  There’re = There are
  There’re some words that have no opposites = There are some
  words that have no opposites
  needn’t = need 1Wt
  • “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. II Contractions
  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