Verb to be learning path · Step 5 of 8 · Level A1-A2
Contractions in English (with the verb to be)
A contraction in English joins two words and replaces one or more letters with an apostrophe: I am → I'm, is not → isn't. They are normal in speech and informal writing. The most frequent are those of the verb to be, the negatives with not and those of will, would and have.
The ones with to be
What contractions are and how they are formed
The apostrophe takes exactly the place of the letters that disappear. That is why is not is written isn't (the o disappears) and they are, they're (the a disappears). If you know which letters are missing, you will never put the apostrophe in the wrong place.
| Full form | Contraction | Letters that disappear |
|---|---|---|
| I am | I'm | a |
| is not | isn't | o |
| they are | they're | a |
| we will | we'll | wi |
| I would | I'd | woul |
| you have | you've | ha |
Contractions of the verb to be
These are the first ones to master because they appear in almost every conversation. Here you have the affirmative and the two possible negatives.
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative with not | Negative with 's / 're |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I'm | I'm not | — |
| you | you're | you aren't | you're not |
| he | he's | he isn't | he's not |
| she | she's | she isn't | she's not |
| it | it's | it isn't | it's not |
| we | we're | we aren't | we're not |
| they | they're | they aren't | they're not |
They also contract with nouns and question words in speech: My sister's a nurse, What's this?, Where's the station?, There's a problem. If choosing between am, is and are is still hard, go back to am, is and are; and to negate with to be you have all the negatives with contractions.
Negative contractions in English
Almost all auxiliaries contract with not by adding n't. There are three special cases worth memorising.
| Full form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| do not / does not | don't / doesn't | She doesn't eat meat. |
| did not | didn't | We didn't see it. |
| was not / were not | wasn't / weren't | They weren't at home. |
| have not / has not | haven't / hasn't | I haven't finished. |
| cannot | can't | I can't swim. |
| could not / should not | couldn't / shouldn't | You shouldn't worry. |
| will not | won't | It won't rain. |
| must not | mustn't | You mustn't smoke here. |
Won't
Irregular contraction of will not. Willn't does not exist.
Can't and cannot
The full form is written as one word: cannot. The contraction is can't.
Aren't I?
In questions with I we use aren't I?, because amn't is not used in standard English.
Other frequent contractions: 'll, 'd, 've and let's
| Contraction | Comes from | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'll | will | I'll call you later. | A promise for later. |
| 'd | would | I'd like a coffee. | A polite wish. |
| 'd | had | She'd already left. | An earlier action. |
| 've | have | We've got a dog. | Possession. |
| 's | has | He's been to Paris. | Experience. |
| let's | let us | Let's go! | A suggestion. |
When contractions should not be used
There are four situations where the full form is compulsory or clearly preferable.
| Situation | Like this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative short answer | Yes, I am. | Contracting here is a mistake: never Yes, I'm. |
| End of the sentence | I don't know where she is. | A contraction cannot close the sentence: not where she's. |
| Emphasis | I AM listening! | The full form is used and the verb is stressed to insist. |
| Formal text | We are pleased to inform you… | In formal letters, reports and academic texts, the full form is better. |
's and 'd: how to know which word they hide
's = is
It is followed by an adjective, a noun, a place or an -ing verb.
She's tired.
A state.
's = has
It is followed by a participle or got.
She's finished.
A completed action.
's possessive
It is attached to a noun and followed by another noun.
Anna's car.
Ownership.
'd = would or had
With a base verb it is would; with a participle, had.
I'd go / I'd gone.
Conditional / past perfect.
Contractions that get confused in writing: it's, you're, they're
They sound the same as other words, so the mistake is frequent even among native speakers. If you can replace it with the full form, it takes an apostrophe.
| Contraction | Means | Confused with | Correct example |
|---|---|---|---|
| it's | it is / it has | itspossessive (of a thing) | It's cold. The dog wagged its tail. |
| you're | you are | yourpossessive | You're late. Is this your bag? |
| they're | they are | their / therepossessive / place | They're here with their kids. |
| who's | who is / who has | whosepossessive question word | Who's that? Whose phone is this? |
| we're | we are | were / wherepast of be / question word | We're sure. Where were you? |
Informal contractions: gonna, wanna, gotta and ain't
You will hear them in series, songs and conversations, but they are not standard contractions. Understand them, and use them in writing only in very informal messages.
| Informal | Standard form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| gonna | going to | I'm gonna call her. |
| wanna | want to | Do you wanna come? |
| gotta | have got to | I've gotta go. |
| ain't | am not / isn't / aren't / haven't | That ain't true. |
| y'all | you all | Y'all are welcome. |
Contractions in 17 seconds
Two sticky notes merge into one, just like two words in a contraction. Press any of the three moments to jump straight to that part.
Captions included. Listen to how I'm, you're and she's are pronounced by a native speaker.
Read the transcript
- A contraction joins two words with an apostrophe.
- I am. I'm.
- This is how they sound in a conversation:
- You're right. She's here. It isn't far.
- But in an affirmative short answer, don't contract:
- Yes, I am.
Practice: match each form with its contraction
Tap a full form and then its contraction (or the other way round). Correct pairs stay fixed; if you miss, try another combination. Watch out for won't.
Full form
Contraction
Want more? There are contraction exercises in the final stage of the path, and the origin of it all in the general guide to the verb to be.
Frequently asked questions about contractions in English
What are contractions in English?
They are short forms that join two words and replace one or more letters with an apostrophe: I am → I'm, do not → don't. They are used in speech and informal writing, and they mean the same as the full form.
What are the contractions of the verb to be?
Affirmative: I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're. Negative: I'm not, isn't or 's not, aren't or 're not. In the past only the negatives contract: wasn't and weren't.
When should contractions not be used?
In affirmative short answers (Yes, I am), at the end of a sentence (I know where she is), when you want to emphasise (I AM listening) and in formal or academic texts.
What does 's mean in English?
It can be is (She's tired), has (She's finished, with a participle) or the possessive (Anna's car). The context makes it clear: if a participle follows, it is has.
What is the contraction of will not?
Won't. It is irregular: you never say willn't. For example: I won't be late.
Can I use contractions in an exam or in an email?
In speech, yes, and you will sound more natural. In writing it depends on the register: in an email to a friend or in an informal composition they are fine; in formal letters, reports or academic texts the full form is better.
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