Contractions for intermediate learners
You might wonder what the difference between formal and informal styles is. One of the elements that can make your writings informal is using contractions.
What Are Contractions?
When we want to shorten words and turn two words into one, it is called contraction. Take a look at the following examples:
He
Uses
We can use contractions in the following cases:
Now, let us analyze some of them below:
Auxiliary Verbs
To Be
We can shorten the 'to be' verb both with the subject pronoun and with the noun that has come before them. Below is a table of the contracted form of the 'to be' verb with subject pronouns:
Warning!
Please note that 'it's' is different from 'its' in that the second one is a possessive pronoun.
Now, let us see how they are used in sentences:
This auxiliary verb can also have a contracted negative form. Take a look at the following table:
Full form | Contracted form |
---|---|
I am not | - |
You are not | You aren't |
It is not | It isn't |
He is not | He isn't |
She is not | She isn't |
We are not | We aren't |
They are not | They aren't |
Now, study the following examples:
Tania
You
It
To Have
The next common auxiliary verb is 'to have'. It is useful to know that they can be combined with any subject. Take a look at the following table:
Full form | Contracted form |
---|---|
Have | 've |
Has | 's |
Had | 'd |
Now, let us take a look at some examples below:
Just like the other auxiliary verb, this one can have a contracted negative form. Take a look at the following table:
Full form | Contracted form |
---|---|
Have not | Haven't |
Has not | Hasn't |
Had not | Hadn't |
Now, let us analyze some examples below:
She
They
I
'To Do'
The next important auxiliary verb is 'to do'. However, this verb can only be contracted in the negative form. Take a look at the following table for more clarification:
Full form | Contracted form |
---|---|
Do not | Don't |
Does not | Doesn't |
Did not | Didn't |
Now, let us take a look at some examples below:
She
It
Interrogative Words
Warning!
Please note that only when we are asking 'wh-questions' we can use the contracted form of the 'to be' verb.
Now, let us take a look at some examples below:
Tip!
It is useful to know that some people may confuse these contractions with abbreviations. An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word that is uniquely for itself. Compare the following examples:
SKU
This is an abbreviation for Stock Keeping Unit
He's
This is just the combination of a subject pronoun and the 'to be' verb.