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 = do 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 * note: who has = whose not who's
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
Remember 1: There is a difference between a contraction and a possessive noun.
Possessive Nouns
John’s new car The new car belonging to John
The boy’s ball The ball belonging to the boy
The dog’s bone The bone belonging to the dog
Andrew’s exercise book The exercise book belonging to Andrew
Contractions
John’s happy with his new car John is happy with his new car
I thought she’d told you she’d be late I thought she had told you she would be late
The dog’s eating its bone The dog is eating its bone
I shan’t be going to class today 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 do 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.
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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?
1. .......................... your mother. Is she well? Yes, she’s very well.
2. ......................... those people? They are my friends.
3. ........................ my car keys? On the table.
4. ........................ you invite to the party? I think I’ll ask Sandra.
5. ....................... 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!
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