Contractions

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Contraction

Contractions

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

1. Positive Contractions:

Contraction Original long form Example

I'm I am I'm waiting for my friend.

I've I have I've worked here for many years.

I'll I will/I shall I'll see you tomorrow.

I'd I would/I should/I had I'd better leave now.

I'd already eaten by the time he arrived.

you're you are You're joking!

you've you have You've been to London many times.

you'll you will You'll be sorry!

you'd you had/you would You'd left before he arrived, hadn't you?

he's he has/he is He's on the phone now.

Note that some contractions can have more than one meaning.

e.g. "he'd" can be "he had" or "he would"

Contractions

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

Contraction Original long form Example

He's been playing tennis since 10 this morning.

he'll he will He'll be here tomorrow.

he'd he had/he would He'd prefer to meet you later in the week.

He'd finished before the meeting began.

she's she has/she is She's watching TV at the moment.

She's had a lot of trouble lately.

she'll she will She'll be at the meeting.

she'd she had/she would She'd been working for two hours when he telephoned.

She'd like to have a glass of wine.

it's it has/it is It's been long time since we saw each other last.

It's very difficult to concentrate.

it'll it will It'll be raining soon.

Contractions

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Contraction Original long form Example

we're we are We're working hard on the Smith account this week.

we've we have We've been waiting for you!

we'll we will We'll begin when he arrives.

we'd we had/we would We'd better hurry up if we want to catch the train.

We'd finished the meeting before you arrived.

they're they are They're studying English this afternoon.

they've they have They've just purchased a new home.

they'll they will They'll finish soon if they concentrate.

they'd they had/they would They'd eaten their lunch when she stopped by to say

hello.

They'd rather not come to the meeting.

Contractions

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

Negative Contractions:

Contraction Original long form Example

aren't are not They aren't coming next week.

can't cannot I can't understand you.

couldn't could not He couldn't get his shoes on!

daren't dare not I daren't challenge my father.

didn't did not We didn't visit Rome. We went straight to Florence.

doesn't does not He doesn't play golf.

don't do not They don't like cheese.

hasn't has not She hasn't telephoned me yet.

haven't have not I haven't started reading the book yet.

Note that with the verb "be", two negative forms are possible.

e.g. "we are not" can be either "we aren't" or "we're not"

Contractions

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

Contraction Original long form Example

hadn't had not I hadn't thought of that!

isn't is not She isn't listening to you.

mustn't must not Children mustn't play with fire.

needn't need not You needn't worry about that.

shan't shall not I shan't go with you.

shouldn't should not You shouldn't smoke cigarettes.

wasn't was not I wasn't joking when I said that.

weren't were not They weren't invited to the party.

won't will not I won't be able to attend the conference.

wouldn't would not She wouldn't be surprised if he showed up at the party.

Contractions

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

3. Other Common Contractions:

Contraction Original long form Example

here's here is Here's your meal.

there'll there will There'll be nobody here tomorrow.

there's there is There's a taxi.

that's that is That's my car.

that'll that will That'll be $10, please.

how's how is? How's your wife?

what'll what will? What'll people think?

what's what is? What's the matter?

when's when is? When's the wedding?

Contractions

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

Contraction Original long form Example

where's where is? Where's the cinema?

who's who is? Who's your teacher?

who'd who would? Who'd like ice-cream?

who'll who will? Who'll be there?

Summary:

Contractions

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

4. Informal Contractions:

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Contractions

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

Contraction Original long form Example

ain't

am not/are not/is not I ain't sure.

You ain't my boss.

has not/have not I ain't done it.

She ain't finished yet.

gimme give me Gimme your money.

gotta (have) got a Have you gotta car?

(have) got to I've gotta go now.

gonna going to I'm not gonna tell you.

kinda kind of She's kinda cute.

wanna want a I wanna coffee.

want to I wanna go home.

Contractions

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

Contraction Original long form Example

lemme let me Lemme go!

whatcha what are you Whatcha going to do?

what have you Whatcha got there?

ya you Who saw ya?

dunno don't know I have a big problem, I dunno what to do.

Contractions

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited

Practice:

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Contractions

© 2014 Acadsoc Limited