{"id":579228,"date":"2023-09-09T11:20:52","date_gmt":"2023-09-09T09:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.nl\/?p=579228"},"modified":"2023-10-09T18:59:25","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T16:59:25","slug":"contractions-grammar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/language-rules\/contractions-grammar\/","title":{"rendered":"Contractions (Grammar) | Definition & Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"
Contractions<\/strong> are words or phrases that have been shortened by omitting one or more letters. Typically, you can identify a contraction by the apostrophe<\/a> that is used to indicate the place of the missing letters.<\/p>\n It\u2019s<\/strong> getting dark.<\/p>\n They\u2019re <\/strong>not coming for dinner.<\/p>\n Our flight is at 7 o’clock<\/strong> .<\/figure>\n Contractions, which are sometimes called \u201cshort forms,\u201d are commonly used in everyday speech and certain types of writing to save us time and space.<\/p><\/div>\n \t <\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n A contraction is a combination of two or more existing words that creates a shorter word. Sometimes, a contraction can be a single word (e.g., \u201ckinda\u201d), but in most cases contractions are formed using words that often go together (e.g., \u201cdo not\u201d becomes \u201cdon\u2019t\u201d). Only specific words can be contracted, like personal pronouns<\/a> (e.g., \u201cI,\u201d \u201cyou,\u201d \u201cthey\u201d), auxiliary verbs<\/a> (e.g., \u201cbe,\u201d \u201cdo,\u201d \u201chave\u201d), and modal verbs <\/a>(e.g., \u201ccan,\u201d \u201cmust,\u201d \u201cwill\u201d)<\/p>\n The house wasn\u2019t<\/strong> what I remembered it to be.<\/p>\n She\u2019ll<\/strong> meet us at the park.<\/figure>\n In general, we use contractions in speech and writing because they help us convey our thoughts in fewer words.<\/p>\n Scribbr\u2019s free paraphrasing tool<\/a> can help you to maintain a consistent tone in your writing and explore new ways to express your ideas.<\/figure>\n The rules for using contractions vary depending on the type of contraction.<\/p>\n A positive contraction<\/strong> is a verb<\/a> construction that doesn\u2019t end in \u201c-n\u2019t\u201d (e.g., \u201che would join us\u201d becomes \u201che\u2019d join us\u201d). Positive contractions can never appear at the end of a sentence.<\/p>\n A negative contraction<\/strong> is a negative verb construction that ends in \u201c-n\u2019t\u201d (e.g., \u201che would not join us\u201d becomes \u201che wouldn\u2019t join us\u201d).<\/p>\n When forming a question with a negative contraction, the adverb \u201cnot\u201d is moved to join the modal or auxiliary verb at the start of the sentence.<\/p>\n Didn\u2019t<\/strong> he know? [contracted form]<\/p>\n Are<\/strong> they not<\/strong> coming? [uncontracted form]<\/p>\n Aren\u2019t <\/strong>they coming? [contracted form]<\/figure>\n Negative contractions can also be used in tag questions (i.e., short questions added to the end of a sentence to ask for confirmation from the listener). When a sentence has a negative tag question, the main part of the sentence is always affirmative.<\/p>\n You like cake, don\u2019t you<\/strong>?<\/figure>\n Contractions can vary depending on region and dialect. For example, \u201cy\u2019all\u201d (meaning \u201cyou all\u201d) and \u201cain\u2019t\u201d (meaning \u201cam\/are\/is not\u201d) are common in some parts of the United States, while \u201camn\u2019t\u201d (meaning \u201caren\u2019t\u201d) is common in Scotland and Ireland.<\/p>\n However, these forms are considered nonstandard and are typically avoided in writing. Scribbr\u2019s free grammar checker<\/a> can help you catch mistakes like these and offer correct alternatives.<\/p>\n Tom ain\u2019t<\/strong> a lawyer.<\/p>\n Amn\u2019t<\/strong> I great?<\/figure>\n In English, there are numerous words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. For example, contractions are often confused with:<\/strong><\/p>\n Possessive pronouns<\/strong><\/a> are often confused with contractions in writing because they sound exactly the same. However, contractions use apostrophes<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> while possessive pronouns do not.<\/p>\n They\u2019re <\/strong>is the contraction of \u201cthey are,\u201d while their<\/strong> is the possessive form of \u201cthey,\u201d meaning \u201cbelonging to them.\u201d<\/p>\n They\u2019re<\/strong> going on holiday.<\/figure>\n Its <\/strong>is the possessive form of \u201cit,\u201d meaning \u201cbelonging to it,\u201d while it\u2019s <\/strong>is the contraction of \u201cit is\u201d or \u201cit has.\u201d<\/p>\n The dog scratched its<\/strong> ear.<\/figure>\n Whose<\/strong> is the possessive form of \u201cwho,\u201d while who\u2019s<\/strong> is a contraction\u00a0 of \u201cwho is\u201d or \u201cwho has.\u201d<\/p>\n Who\u2019s<\/strong> cooking dinner tonight?<\/figure>\n Your <\/strong>is the possessive form of \u201cyou,\u201d meaning \u201cbelonging to you,\u201d while you\u2019re<\/strong> is a contraction of \u201cyou are.\u201d<\/p>\n You\u2019re<\/strong> always late.<\/figure>\n Possessive nouns<\/strong><\/a> are formed by adding an apostrophe and the letter \u201cs\u201d to a noun (e.g., \u201cmy neighbor\u2019s<\/strong> house\u201d).\u00a0 Because apostrophe s<\/a> can also be used as a contraction (e.g., \u201cshe\u2019s okay\u201d), people sometimes confuse these forms. However, the context of the sentence can help determine whether it is a contraction<\/span> or a possessive noun<\/span>.<\/p>\n The car\u2019s<\/span> engine [the engine of the car] is making a funny noise.<\/p>\n The dog\u2019s<\/span> stressed [the dog is stressed] because of the fireworks.<\/p>\n The dog\u2019s<\/span> toy [the toy of the dog]\u00a0 is under the couch.<\/figure>\n Here\u2019s a list of common contractions used in English:<\/p>\n Negative contractions include the word \u201cnot\u201d and negate the verb.<\/p>\n You can practice your understanding of contractions with the following questions. Fill in the correct answer:<\/p>\nWhat is a contraction?<\/h2>\n
How to use contractions<\/h2>\n
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Positive contractions<\/h3>\n
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Negative contractions<\/h3>\n
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Nonstandard contractions<\/h3>\n
Common mistakes with contractions<\/h2>\n
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Contractions and possessive pronouns<\/h3>\n
Their and they\u2019re\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Its and it\u2019s<\/h4>\n
Whose and who\u2019s<\/h4>\n
Your and you\u2019re<\/h4>\n
Contractions and possessive nouns<\/h3>\n
Common contractions list<\/h2>\n
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\n Contracted form<\/strong><\/td>\n Uncontracted form<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n \n I\u2019m<\/td>\n I am<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n I\u2019d<\/td>\n I had, I would<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n I\u2019ll<\/td>\n I will<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n I\u2019ve<\/td>\n I have<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n you\u2019re<\/td>\n you are<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n you\u2019d<\/td>\n you had,\u00a0 would<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n you\u2019ll<\/td>\n you will<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n you\u2019ve<\/td>\n you have<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n he\u2019s\/she\u2019s\/it\u2019s<\/td>\n he\/she\/it is<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n he\u2019ll\/she\u2019ll\/it\u2019ll<\/td>\n he\/she\/it will (or shall)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n he\u2019d\/she\u2019d<\/td>\n he\/she had (or would)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n we\u2019re<\/td>\n we are<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n we\u2019ve<\/td>\n we have<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n we\u2019d<\/td>\n we had (or would)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n they\u2019re<\/td>\n they are<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n they\u2019ll<\/td>\n they will<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n they\u2019ve<\/td>\n they have<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n they\u2019d<\/td>\n they had (or would)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n let\u2019s<\/td>\n let us<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n that\u2019s<\/td>\n that is<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n there\u2019s<\/td>\n there is<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n what\u2019ll<\/td>\n what will (or shall)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n what\u2019s<\/td>\n what is<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n what\u2019ve<\/td>\n what have<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n who\u2019re<\/td>\n who are<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Negative contractions list<\/h3>\n
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\n Contracted form<\/strong><\/td>\n Uncontracted form<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n \n isn\u2019t<\/td>\n is not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n aren\u2019t<\/td>\n are not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n weren\u2019t<\/td>\n were not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n wasn\u2019t<\/td>\n was not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n don\u2019t<\/td>\n do not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n doesn\u2019t<\/td>\n does not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n can\u2019t<\/td>\n cannot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n couldn\u2019t<\/td>\n could not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n haven\u2019t<\/td>\n have not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n hadn\u2019t<\/td>\n had not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n won\u2019t<\/td>\n will not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n wouldn\u2019t<\/td>\n would not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n mustn\u2019t<\/td>\n must not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n shouldn\u2019t<\/td>\n should not<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Worksheet: Contractions<\/h2>\n