Contractions or Short Forms Here is a list of most of the contractions used in English speech and informal English writing: POSTIVE NEGATIVE QUESTION & OTHER FORMS he'd = he had/he would aren't = are not could’ve = could have he'll = he will/he shall can't = cannot here's = here is he's = he is/he has couldn't = could not how’s = how is i'd = i had/i would didn't = did not must’ve = must have i'll = i will/i shall doesn't = does not should’ve = should have i'm = i am don't = not that's = that is i've = i have hadn't = had not that’ll = that will it'd = it had/it would hasn't = has not there's = there is it’ll = it will haven't = have not this’ll = this will it's = it is isn't = is not what's = what is she'd = she had/she would mustn't = must not when’s = when is she'll = she will/she shall needn't = need not why’s = why is she's = she is/she has shan't = shall not who'd = who had/who would they'd = they had/they would shouldn't = should not who'll = who will/who shall they'll = they will/they shall wasn't = was not who're = who are they're = they are won't = will not *who's = who is they’ve = they have wouldn't = would not we'd = we had/we would we'll = we will/we shall we're = we are slang we've = we have ain’t = am not, is not, are not, have not or has not you'd = you had/you would you'll = you will/you shall you're = you are you've = you have * note: who has = whose not who's Remember 1: There is a difference between a contraction and a possessive noun Possessive Nouns John’s new car The boy’s ball The dog’s bone Andrew’s exercise book The new car belonging to John The ball belonging to the boy The bone belonging to the dog The exercise book belonging to Andrew Contractions John’s happy with his new car I thought she’d told you she’d be late The dog’s eating its bone I shan’t be going to class today John is happy with his new car I thought she had told you she would be late The dog is eating its bone I shall not be going to class today Remember 2: Possessive nouns can be used in formal writing Remember 3: Contractions are used in speech and in informal writing EXERCISE 1: Match up each contraction with its longer form POSITIVE FORMS (with I, you, we, etc) NEGATIVE FORM he’ll they have shan’t would not she’d you would won’t not it’ll she had couldn’t shall not we’re I would wouldn’t should not they’ve we are mustn’t will not I’d it will shouldn’t could not you’d he will don’t must not EXERCISE 2: Re-read the Short Forms list Write two sentences using a contraction from the positive and negative columns QUESTION FORMS How’s? What’s? When’s? Why’s? Who’s? Where’s? How’re? What’re? When’re? Why’re? Who’re? Where’re? How’d? What’d? When’d? Why’d? Who’d? Where’d? How’ll? What’ll? When’ll? Why’ll? Who’ll? Where’ll? EXERCISE 3: Which question form is missing? your mother Is she well? Yes, she’s very well those people? They are my friends my car keys? On the table you invite to the party? I think I’ll ask Sandra the next train due? In about 10 minutes, I think Other forms Some auxiliary verbs can be contracted with have (‘ve) And, in speech only, you will hear native English speakers use double-contractions with not have (n‘t’ve) Here are some examples: Postitive Negative could’ve couldn’t’ve must’ve mustn’t’ve should’ve shouldn’t’ve might’ve mightn’t’ve ought’ve/ought to’ve oughtn’t’ve/oughtn’t to’ve would’ve wouldn’t’ve Remember 4: You don’t need to use these double-contractions, but it’s important that you can understand them when used by a native English speaker Here’re some examples: o My sister drove in London – I couldn’t’ve done it! o What a lovely gift! But, you shouldn’t’ve spent so much! o My uncle has just bought a new car It cost him €30,000 I wouldn’t’ve paid that! EXERCISE 4: A bit of fun! Practice using double-contractions Write what you want to say below and then read it to your partner/teacher Go for it! _ _ _