What is the contraction for had not?
List o’ Common Contractions:
WORDS (negating a verb) | CONTRACTION |
---|---|
were not | weren’t |
have not | haven’t |
has not | hasn’t |
had not | hadn’t |
Is had a contraction?
The contraction I’d can mean “I would” or “I had”. The contraction ‘d can mean would or had. …
What is the contraction for they had?
This is an explanatory supplement to the Wikipedia:Manual of Style guideline.
Contraction | Meaning |
---|---|
they’d | they had / they would |
they’ll | they shall / they will |
they’re | they are / they were |
they’ve | they have |
Should you always use contractions?
We use contractions (I’m, we’re) in everyday speech and informal writing. Contractions, which are sometimes called ‘short forms’, commonly combine a pronoun or noun and a verb, or a verb and not, in a shorter form. Contractions are usually not appropriate in formal writing.
When should contractions be used in academic writing?
Contractions, in which two words are shortened and combined into one word (e.g., “I’m” and “isn’t”), are usually reserved for informal communication. Since academic writing typically has a formal style, contractions should generally be avoided. Instead, spell out the words in full: “I am” and “is not”.
Are you a formal contraction?
Avoid “You’re” in Formal Writing As a general rule, contractions (e.g., “you’re,” “isn’t,” “can’t,” “don’t,” “it’s”) are not used in formal writing. In official correspondence, the normal practice is to expand them to their full forms.
Who is contraction in grammar?
Who’s is a contraction of who is or who has. A contraction is a shortened form of two or more words where the omitted letter (or letters) is replaced by an apostrophe.
Can contractions be used in narrative essays?
Yes, you can use contractions.
Should I avoid contractions in college essays?
Academic essays are supposed to be composed in formal English. Contractions are applied in informal writing and speech and most instructors don’t approve their application in essays, especially application essays. Contractions should also be avoided in journal and business articles.
Can you use contractions in creative writing?
Even aside from the fact that their prevalence necessitates their use in any sort of realistic dialogue or narrative voice, contractions are a tremendous tool for writers. A clever use and choice of contractions in dialogue will allow you to flavor your characters’ voices in unique and specific ways.
Are contractions bad in academic writing?
in scientific writing. It takes only a little thought, though, to realize that this logic is completely circular: we avoid contractions in scientific writing because they sound informal, but they sound informal to us only because we’re used to avoiding them in scientific writing!
Can the narrator use contractions?
Both the narrator and characters use contractions. Even though I’m using my own projects as examples, the point is still that there’s no real rule in fiction as long as you can justify your choice and make it work in its context. Unless you want a character or narrator to sound super formal, use contractions.
Are contractions bad in essays?
Most English teachers say contractions should never be used in writing, at least not in formal writing (see here, here, and here). However, the reality is that contractions have been used in English writing for over 1,400 years.
Why do poets use contractions?
Poetic contractions are contractions of words found in poetry but not commonly used in everyday modern English. Also known as elision, these contractions are usually used to lower the amount of syllables in a particular word in order to adhere to the meter of a composition.
Can you use contractions in a children’s book?
Contractions are and should be used in dialogue, because that’s just how people speak; however, in children’s books it is preferable not to use contractions in the narrative. Vary the rhythm and length of your sentences. Mix up long and short ones.
Should you use contractions in dialogue?
Whether to use contractions or not in dialogue is a style choice. There are no rules. However, a style choice that renders dialogue stilted and unrealistic is not good dialogue.
This is an explanatory supplement to the Wikipedia:Manual of Style guideline.
Contraction | Meaning |
---|---|
had’ve | had have |
hasn’t | has not |
haven’t | have not |
he’d | he had / he would |
Would and had contraction?
The auxiliary verbs would and had are both contracted to ‘d. Would is always followed by a verb in the infinitive without the to: I’d like some sugar please.
What is the contraction for had not?
List o’ Common Contractions:
WORDS (negating a verb) | CONTRACTION |
---|---|
has not | hasn’t |
had not | hadn’t |
will not | won’t |
would not | wouldn’t |
Is ‘i’d I would or I had?
The contraction I’d can mean either ‘I would’ or ‘I had’. If you’re unable to understand the meaning of I’d (or he’d, she’d, we’d, etc.) from the context of a sentence, try looking at the verb form that follows it: would is followed by the bare infinitive (infinitive without to)
What is the difference between I have had and I had?
Have had is in the present perfect tense. Had is the past form of the verb ‘to have’ which is also used as an auxiliary verb in the past perfect tense. Have had is only used with plural nouns and pronouns while had is used with both singular and plural nouns and pronouns.
How do you use would and had?
When to use “Would Have Had” “Would have had” is a type 3 conditional phrase that is used for situations that did not happen – an unreal, past situation. It’s used to describe a situation that “would have” happened if another situation were to take place.
When to use have had or had?
In the present perfect, the auxiliary verb is always have (for I, you, we, they) or has (for he, she, it). In the past perfect, the auxiliary verb is always had. We use have had in the present perfect when the main verb is also “have”: I’m not feeling well.
When should you not use contractions?
Avoid using contractions in formal writing. A contraction is a combination of two words as one, such as “don’t,” “can’t,” and “isn’t.” The use of contractions is inappropriate in formal legal writing. Replace them with the two-word version of the contraction.
How do you use have had?
We use have had in the present perfect when the main verb is also “have”:
- I’m not feeling well. I have had a headache all day.
- She has had three children in the past five years.
- We have had some problems with our computer systems recently.
- He has had two surgeries on his back.
Is contractions 1 or 2 words?
Do contractions count as one word or two? Contracted words count as the number of words they would be if they were not contracted. For example, isn’t, didn’t, I’m, I’ll are counted as two words (replacing is not, did not, I am, I will).
What two words make contractions?
A contraction is a single word made by combining two other words using an apostrophe. For example, “can’t” is the contraction for “can” and “not”.
Which contractions are formal?
1. Avoid using contractions in formal writing. A contraction is a combination of two words as one, such as “don’t,” “can’t,” and “isn’t.” The use of contractions is inappropriate in formal legal writing. Replace them with the two-word version of the contraction.
Where do we use has had?
We use have had in the present perfect when the main verb is also “have”: I’m not feeling well. I have had a headache all day. She has had three children in the past five years.
What is the meaning of had not?
/ˈhæd. ənt/ short form of had not: If you hadn’t told him he would never have known. More examples.
What kind of word is had not?
contraction of had not.
Which type of verb is had?
The verb have has the forms: have, has, having, had. The base form of the verb is have. The present participle is having. The past tense and past participle form is had….Have – Easy Learning Grammar.
have = ‘ve | I’ve seen the Queen. |
---|---|
had = ‘d | You’d better go home. |
Ian’d left them behind. |
Has been done or had been done?
“Has been done” is a present perfect passive tense, which should be used for an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past. You should not use this tense when the time is specified. Use the simple past passive “was done” instead.
Was been or had been?
Had/has/have been is usually used for something that was done in the past and still applies (multiple events). Was/were usually applies to something done in the past that no longer applies (single event).
What’s the contraction for the word has not?
List o’ Common Contractions: WORDS (negating a verb) CONTRACTION has not hasn’t had not hadn’t will not won’t would not wouldn’t
Is the word AMN a contraction of are not?
^ Amn’t is primarily used in Scottish and Irish English. ^ Aren’t is usually a contraction of “are not”; however, it can be used as a contraction of “am not” in questions (e.g. “Aren’t I the greatest?”), though this is often considered colloquial.
Which is an example of a contraction grammar?
What is a Contraction Grammar? “A contraction is an abbreviated version of a word or words. We use contractions (I’m, we’re) in everyday speech and informal writing.” A contraction is a word made by shortening and combining two words. Words like can’t (can + not), don’t (do + not), and I’ve (I + have) are all contractions.
Are there any words that start with a negative contraction?
Negative Contractions contracted short form original long form aren’t are not can’t cannot, can not couldn’t could not daren’t dare not
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The contraction is hadn’t. The word hadn’t is sometimes used idiomatically with the adverb better to mean shouldn’t. («Hadn’t you better check the door?»)
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Q: What is the contractions for had not?
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«Han’t» or «ha’n’t», an early contraction for «has not» and «have not», developed from the elision of the «s» of «has not» and the «v» of «have not».
What is the short form of has not?
Meaning of hasn’t in English
short form of has not: He hasn’t done his homework.
What has contracted form?
The contracted form, also known as contractions in English grammar, refers to when a word is made by combining two words together, omitting some letters and replacing them with an apostrophe.
Would you have a contracted form?
have = ‘ve I’ve we’ve, you’ve, they’ve has = ‘s he’s, she’s, it’s would = ‘d I’d he‘d, she’d, it’d we’d, you’d, they’d will = ‘ll I’ll he’ll, she’ll, it’ll we’ll, you’ll, they’ll Short forms (contractions) of negatives: Page 4 don’t, doesn’t, haven’t, etc.
What are the contracted words?
Contracted words (sometimes called contractions) are short words made by putting two words together.
…
- are not → aren’t.
- was not → wasn’t.
- were not → weren’t.
- have not → haven’t.
- has not → hasn’t.
- had not → hadn’t.
- will not → won’t (this is a tricky one!)
- would not → wouldn’t.
15 related questions found
Do contractions count as one word?
Do contractions count as one word or two? Contracted words count as the number of words they would be if they were not contracted. … Where the contraction replaces one word (e.g. can’t for cannot), it is counted as one word.
Is there a contraction for she has?
Contraction of she has . She’s is a contraction of either she is or she has. … An example of she’s is the contraction form of the phrase “She is the best.”
Is blush a contraction?
Never miss a Moment
Never is a contraction of «not ever»; Blush is a contraction of «blood rush»; Studying is a contraction of «student dying».
CAN has be contracted?
We’ve got good news. Has can never be contracted with its subject (he, she, or it) when it is the main verb in the sentence and is in the present tense. He has chocolate. … However, these contractions are possible when HAVE is the auxiliary verb in the sentence.
What is the contracted form of he would?
he’d = he would or he had.
How do you teach contracted forms?
Use an apostrophe to form contractions and frequently occurring possessives. Teachers may introduce children to contracted forms by talking about two words being ‘squashed together‘, especially when people are talking.
What is hasn’t short for?
the usual way of saying or writing ‘has not‘. This is not usually used in formal writing.
What’s meaning of hasn t?
: has not.
Is hasn’t a correct word?
contraction of has not.
Is shouldn’t a contraction?
contraction of should not.
Is would a contraction?
The most common contractions are made up of verbs, auxiliaries, or modals attached to other words: He would=He’d. … Remember, could’ve, should’ve, and would’ve are contractions that mean could have, should have, and would have.
How many contractions are there?
Contraction words are made out of common words, and there are a little over 90 standard contractions.
Is a contraction 2 words?
A contraction is a word made by shortening and combining two words. Words like can’t (can + not), don’t (do + not), and I’ve (I + have) are all contractions. People use contractions in both speaking and writing.
Is should’ve one word?
Writing could’ve and should’ve is standard, even if the spellcheckers say differently. The contractions just emphasize the pronunciation of the words.
Is he one word or two?
He is. He has.
Are contracted words informal?
Contractions in English are words or phrases that are shortened by dropping one or more letters and replacing the letters with an apostrophe. This short form is often used in speaking and in informal writing.
How do you use contracted in a sentence?
Contracted sentence example
- Her stomach contracted at his tone and the look on his face. …
- Her stomach contracted and then twisted into a knot. …
- The smelting zone always has a bosh and a contracted tuyere section. …
- I sold nearly everything and even contracted four portrait commissions.
What does it mean when a patient is contracted?
[kon´trakt-ing] negotiating and establishing an agreement. patient contracting in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as negotiating an agreement with a patient to reinforce a specific behavior change.
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Summary
Contractions are shortened forms of words, in which some letters are omitted. An apostrophe generally marks the omission. Standard contractions include those that shorten the word not, the verbs be and have, and modal verbs. Here is a list of commonly used contractions.
Contraction | Full form | Examples |
---|---|---|
n’t | not | don’t (do not), isn’t (is not) |
’s | is, has | she’s (she is, she has), what’s (what is, what has) |
’re | are | you’re (you are), we’re (we are) |
’ve | have | I’ve (I have), could’ve (could have) |
’d | had, would | I’d (I had, I would), we’d (we had, we would) |
’ll | will | I’ll (I will), you’ll (you will) |
I’m | I am | |
let’s | let us | |
ma’am | madam |
(See also: List of standard contractions in English)
Contractions are often used in speech and lend an informal, personal tone to writing. Avoid using contractions in formal texts, such as academic papers.
Example
- Informal: We haven’t accounted for changes in pressure in this study.
Formal: We have not accounted for changes in pressure in this study.
What is a contraction in grammar?
A contraction is a word in which some sounds or letters are omitted. An apostrophe generally replaces the omitted letters. Contractions are common in speech and informal writing.
Examples
- What’s going on?
what is = what’s (an apostrophe replaces the “i” in is)
- I don’t know.
do not = don’t (an apostrophe indicates the omitted “o” in not)
I’m happy to help.
I am = I’m (an apostrophe replaces “a”)
Common contractions in English shorten the word not (isn’t, shouldn’t), the be verb (I’m, she’s, we’re), the have verb (you’ve, could’ve), and modal verbs (we’ll, they’d).
When should contractions be used?
Contractions lend an informal tone to writing and replace talking to your reader. In messages and personal communication, contractions sound normal and natural.
Examples
- I’m on my way.
- That’s fine. Don’t worry.
- It’s all right.
- Sorry I couldn’t take your call.
In contrast, in academic and other formal texts, avoiding contractions lends an air of formality to the document.
Examples
- Informal: We couldn’t collect sufficient real-world data.
Formal: We could not collect sufficient real-world data. - Informal: It’s important to account for bias.
Formal: It is important to account for bias.
In ad copy, marketing slogans, and other signage, contractions can help save space and make your message sound more friendly.
Examples
- It’s finger lickin’ good. (KFC)
- I’m lovin’ it. (McDonald’s)
- Because you’re worth it. (L’Oreal)
In creative writing as well, contractions, which are common in speech, can make dialogue sound more natural.
Example
- “Now you said you’d do it, now let’s see you do it.”
“Don’t you crowd me now; you better look out.”
“Well, you said you’d do it—why don’t you do it?”— Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)
Caution
Avoid using contractions in formal texts, such as academic papers, cover letters, and business proposals.
Example
- Informal: We haven’t reviewed the financial statements of the subsidiaries yet.
Formal: We have not reviewed the financial statements of the subsidiaries yet.
In this article, we discuss common contractions in English and when they are used.
Contractions with not
Not can be contracted to n’t when it is used with an auxiliary verb like can and have.
Examples
- I can’t believe you don’t have a phone. (cannot, do not)
- Haven’t you pressed the button yet? (have not)
- I won’t tell anyone what happened. (will not)
- Nesbit shouldn’t spend all his time indoors. (should not)
Can, which already ends in n, combines with not to form can’t. Will and shall lose their endings and combine with not to form won’t and shan’t.
Here is a list of not contractions in English: note how the adverb not combines with both primary (be, have, do) and modal auxiliary verbs (like can and could).
Contraction | Full form |
---|---|
don’t | do not |
didn’t | did not |
isn’t | is not |
wasn’t | was not |
aren’t | are not (also am not) |
weren’t | were not |
hasn’t | has not |
haven’t | have not |
hadn’t | had not |
can’t | cannot |
couldn’t | could not |
shan’t | shall not |
shouldn’t | should not |
won’t | will not |
wouldn’t | would not |
mightn’t | might not |
mustn’t | must not |
needn’t | need not |
Be verb with not
The be verb contracts with not in two ways: you can either contract the verb form itself (is, are, am) or contract not.
Examples
- Contracted not: Anita isn’t ready.
- Contracted be verb: She’s not ready.
The word not is contracted more often with nouns.
Examples
- Farley isn’t happy.
Seen more often than “Farley’s not happy.” (The name “Farley” of course is a noun.)
- The books aren’t here.
Seen more often than “The books’re not here.” (“The books” is a noun phrase.)
The be verb is contracted more often with pronouns.
Examples
- She’s not happy.
Seen more often than “She isn’t happy” (where “she” is a pronoun).
- They’re not here.
Seen more often than “They aren’t here.”
Amn’t or aren’t?
With the pronoun I, use aren’t not amn’t to frame questions.
Examples
- Aren’t I clever?
- I’m your friend, aren’t I?
for “I’m your friend,
am I not
?”
However, when the sentence is not a question but a statement, “I am not” is usually contracted to “I’m not” rather than “I aren’t.”
Example
- I’m not joking.
Generally preferred to “I aren’t joking.”
In some dialects (Scottish and Irish), amn’t is acceptable in speech but still avoided in writing.
Ain’t (nonstandard)
Ain’t is a nonstandard contraction used colloquially in some dialects, where it replaces the relatively more formal contractions isn’t and aren’t.
Examples
- I ain’t dead.
- They ain’t listenin’.
- That ain’t important now, is it?
- It ain’t done till I say it’s done.
It may occasionally also replace hasn’t or haven’t.
Example
- They ain’t made a lock yet our Nesbit can’t pick.
Caution
The contraction ain’t is considered nonstandard and used only very informally.
Be and have contractions
Be and have, which take the verb forms am, is, are, has, have, and had, can contract and combine with a noun or pronoun (and occasionally, an adverb).
Examples
- Lulu’s a dancer. (Lulu is)
- Your order’s being processed. (order is)
- I’m not ready. (I am)
- They’re already here. (they are)
- Lulu’s been baking again. (Lulu has been)
- They’ve found the answer. (they have found)
- She’d called me already before you got here. (she had called)
- Here’s your money. (here is)
- There’s no money in this purse. (there is)
- That’s the restaurant I was telling you about. (that is)
Note that the have verb is not contracted in writing when it is the main verb and means “to possess.”
Example
- Poor: Poco’s seven cars in his garage.
The main verb is has: Poco
has
. Don’t contract it.
Better: Poco has seven cars in his garage.
- Poor: We’d no money.
Better: We had no money. - Acceptable: Poco’s bought another car.
The main verb is bought: Poco has bought. Has functions as an auxiliary (or helping) verb and can be contracted.
- Acceptable: We’d discovered the cure by then.
but
Tip
Don’t use affirmative contractions at the end of a clause or a sentence.
Examples
- Incorrect:“Have you ordered the shoes?” “Yes, I’ve.”
Correct:“Have you ordered the shoes?” “Yes, I have.” - Incorrect:“Are you ready?” “I don’t know that I’m.”
Correct:“Are you ready?” “I don’t know that I am.” - Incorrect:“Would you help me if you could?” “Of course I’d.”
Correct: “Would you help me if you could?” “Of course I would.”
In contrast, negative contractions are acceptable at the end of a clause or a sentence.
Examples
- Correct: No, I haven’t.
- Correct: Of course I wouldn’t.
Contractions with pronouns
Personal pronouns like I, you, and they combine with the be and have verbs (am, is, are, has, have) to form standard contractions. These pronouns also combine with the modal verbs will and would.
Examples
- Hi, I’m Maya. (I am)
- You’re coming with me. (you are)
- It’s my first day at work. (it is)
- We’re happy to help. (we are)
- She’s had a long day. (she has)
- They’ve all gone on a picnic together. (they have)
- I knew he’d been fighting. (he had)
- Of course I’ll help you. (I will)
- She’d know if we were lying. (she would)
The following table shows how contractions for personal pronouns are formed.
Contraction | Full form | Pronoun contraction |
---|---|---|
’m | am | I’m |
’s | is, has | she’s, he’s, it’s |
’re | are | we’re, you’re, they’re |
’ve | have | I’ve, you’ve, we’ve, they’ve |
’d | had, would | I’d, you’d, he’d, she’d, it’d, we’d, they’d |
’ll | will | I’ll, you’ll, he’ll, she’ll, it’ll, we’ll, they’ll |
Note how contractions with ’s can be short for either is or has: “He’s” can mean “he is” or “he has.” Similarly, contractions with ’d can stand for either had or would: “I’d” means both “I had” and “I would.”
Caution
The contraction of “you are” is you’re, not your.
Examples
- Incorrect: Your not wrong.
Correct: You’re not wrong. (you are) - Incorrect: Your your own worst enemy.
Correct: You’re your own worst enemy. (you are)
Your is a possessive that appears before a noun.
Examples
- Your answers are not wrong.
- The enemy of your enemy is your friend.
Tip
Insert an apostrophe in its only if it is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.” Omit the apostrophe when it is a possessive.
Examples
- It’s raining.
it’s = it is (contraction)
- It’s stopped raining.
it’s = it has (contraction)
The kitten is chasing its tail.
its tail = the kitten’s tail (possessive; no apostrophe)
Other pronouns like that, which, and who can also form contractions with be and have in informal usage.
Examples
- That’s not true! (that is)
- The report that’s being released today is misleading. (that is)
- My friend Farley, who’s an astronaut, is afraid of heights. (who is)
- The person who’s been eating all the cookies is me. (who has)
- These reports, which’ve already been released, are misleading. (which have)
Contractions with nouns
In speech, nouns form contractions with is and has (singular forms of the be and have verbs). These contractions are not generally seen in writing, and never in formal texts.
Examples
- Rita’s my sister. (Rita is)
- Farley’s in quarantine this week. (Farley is)
- Your money’s on the way. (money is)
- My daughter’s going to Thailand in May. (daughter is)
- The cat’s been eating all the cheese again. (cat has)
- Anita’s found the answer! (Anita has)
It is rarer for the plural verbs are and have to join with nouns (cakes’re baked; the cats’ve been eating).
Contractions with adverbs
Adverbs like now, here, and there combine with is to form contractions in informal usage.
Examples
- Now’s your chance! (now is)
- Here’s the entrance to the cave. (here is)
- There’s a slight chance I might be wrong. (there is)
There can also form a contraction with has.
Example
- There’s been no change in status since we last spoke. (there has)
Plural contractions are rarer: there’re, there’ve.
Contractions with modal verbs
Modal verbs like could and would combine with have.
Examples
- You could’ve done better, but you didn’t even try. (could have)
- (would have)
- You should’ve given her a chance to explain. (should have)
Caution
Could have and should have are contracted to could’ve and should’ve, not could of or should of. Could’ve is sometimes incorrectly written as could of because of how this contraction is pronounced.
Examples
- You
could of/could’ve told me you had an extra phone. - I
should of/should’ve realized this would be a problem.
Will and would are contracted to ’ll and ’d in casual communication.
Examples
- Anita’ll never believe what just happened. (Anita will)
- I’ll buy the flowers myself. (I will)
- You’ll call me, won’t you? (you will)
- They’ll call us tomorrow. (they will)
- You’d never know she was lying. (you would)
- We’d like to cancel our membership. (we would)
Modal verbs can also form contractions with not.
Examples
- Farley can’t find his shoes. (cannot)
- She won’t tell anyone. (will not)
- I wouldn’t know where to begin. (would not)
- It shouldn’t be this hard. (should not)
Here is a list of contractions with modal verbs.
Contraction | Full form |
---|---|
could’ve | could have |
should’ve | should have |
would’ve | would have |
might’ve | might have |
must’ve | must have |
’ll | will (I’ll, you’ll, we’ll) |
’d | would (I’d, she’d, they’d) |
can’t | cannot |
couldn’t | could not |
shan’t | shall not |
shouldn’t | should not |
won’t | will not |
wouldn’t | would not |
mightn’t | might not |
mustn’t | must not |
oughtn’t | ought not |
needn’t | need not |
Contractions in questions
Negative forms using not are contracted in questions, not only in speech but also in formal usage.
Examples
- Hasn’t Rita returned from Neptune yet?
Not “
Has not
Rita returned yet?,” which would sound odd and archaic.
- Don’t you want to get paid?
- Couldn’t you find the answer?
- Can’t you see I’m busy?
Negative question tags are also always contracted.
Examples
- Farley should be given another chance, shouldn’t he?
Not “Should not he?”
- Rita has come back, hasn’t she?
- Help me out, won’t you?
Forms of be and have can combine with question words like who and what in speech.
Examples
- What’s going on? (what is)
- What’s happened to him? (what has)
- What’ve you done? (what have)
- Where’s Anita when you need her? (where is)
- Where’s she gone? (where has)
- Where’ve you been? (where have)
- Who’s that? (who is)
- Who’s been eating all my porridge? (who has)
- Who’ve you been talking to? (who have)
Contractions of words like what, where, and there with the plural verb are (what’re, where’re, there’re) are less common than singular forms (what’s, where’s, there’s).
Tip
Who’s is a contraction of who is, while whose is a possessive.
Examples
- Who’s/
Whosethat at the window?who’s = who is (contraction)
- Who’s/
Whosebeen sitting in my chair?who’s = who has (contraction)
Who’s/Whose chair is this?whose = whom does it belong to (possessive)
Double contractions
Double contractions with have occur in speech but not in writing.
Examples
- Rita couldn’t’ve planned this all by herself. (could not have)
- Poco shouldn’t’ve bought that new car. (should not have)
- I’d’ve known if she’d been lying. (I would have)
The be verb doesn’t form double contractions.
Examples
- Incorrect: She’sn’t not happy.
Correct: She’s not happy.
Correct: She isn’t happy. - Incorrect: I’mn’t going on holiday this year.
Correct: I’m not going on holiday this year.
Other contractions
Certain words like ma’am are contracted in speech. An apostrophe is used to signify the omitted sounds.
Examples
- Yes, ma’am. I’ll send you the report today. (for madam)
- Call the bo’s’n! (for boatswain)
Let’s
The contraction let’s, used often in speech, is a contraction of let us, not let is. Use let’s to make suggestions.
Examples
- Let’s go watch a movie. (let us)
- Let’s play a game, shall we? (let us)
O’clock (contracted of)
The contraction o’clock is short for “of the clock” and is used to indicate time.
Examples
- Is it nine o’clock already?
- I usually wake up at six o’clock.
The word of is also contracted in other terms like man-o’-war, will-o’-the-wisp, cat-o’-nine-tails, and jack-o’-lantern.
G-dropping
In some dialects of English, the final sound of a word ending in -ing is not pronounced. When such speech is transcribed, an apostrophe is used to indicate the omitted “g.”
Examples
- We were just singin’ and dancin’ in the rain.
- Well, you know he’s a ramblin’ man.
Relaxed pronunciation
Phrases such as kind of and sort of, commonly used in casual conversation, are often contracted to kinda and sorta.
Examples
- I’m kinda confused about this layout.
- I’m sorta impressed by what she has done here.
- Would you like a cuppa tea?
In everyday speech, the infinitive marker to is sometimes combined with words such as going and want. Note that these are colloquialisms never used in formal writing.
Examples
- I wanna fly like a bird.
- I’m gonna go now.
- I hafta find out what happened.
Aphaeresis, syncope, apocope
In informal speech, the first unstressed syllable of a word is sometimes dropped (by a process called aphaeresis.) An apostrophe marks the missing syllable.
Examples
- I ain’t talkin’ ’bout that.
about
- You’ll do it ’cause I asked you to.
because
When a syllable or sound from the middle of a word is dropped, it is called syncope. An apostrophe marks the elision. It is often found in poetry, where meter is helped by the dropping of a sound.
Examples
- They flew o’er hills and mountains.
- Yes, ma’am, we have rooms available.
The omission or elision of syllables at the end of a word is called apocope.
Examples
- Did you watch the match on tele last night? (short for television)
- Have you uploaded the photo? (for photograph)
Poetic contractions
Words may be contracted in poetry for the sake of rhythm and meter. Such contractions are not otherwise found in writing. These include words like o’er (over), ’tis (it is), ’twas (it was), e’er (ever), and ne’er (never). Note that modern poets do not often require or use poetic contractions.
Examples
It ate the food it ne’er had eat,
And round and round it flew.I, smiling at him, shook my head:
’Tis now we’re tired, my heart and I.Gliding o’er all, through all,
Through Nature, Time, and Space . . .
Note
A contraction is a form of elision, in which sounds or syllables are elided or omitted for ease of speaking or for the sake of meter.
List of standard contractions in English
Here is a list of over 70 commonly used contractions in English.
Contraction | Full form |
---|---|
don’t | do not |
didn’t | did not |
isn’t | is not |
wasn’t | was not |
aren’t | are not (also am not) |
weren’t | were not |
hasn’t | has not |
haven’t | have not |
hadn’t | had not |
can’t | cannot |
couldn’t | could not |
shan’t | shall not |
shouldn’t | should not |
won’t | will not |
wouldn’t | would not |
mightn’t | might not |
mustn’t | must not |
oughtn’t | ought not |
needn’t | need not |
could’ve | could have |
should’ve | should have |
would’ve | would have |
might’ve | might have |
must’ve | must have |
I’m | I am |
you’re | you are |
she’s | she is, she has |
he’s | he is, he has |
it’s | it is, it has |
we’re | we are |
they’re | they are |
I’ve | I have |
you’ve | you have |
we’ve | we have |
they’ve | they have |
I’ll | I will |
you’ll | you will |
he’ll | he will |
she’ll | she will |
it’ll | it will |
we’ll | we will |
they’ll | they will |
I’d | I had, I would |
you’d | you had, you would |
she’d | she had, she would |
he’d | he had, he would |
it’d | it had, it would |
we’d | we had, we would |
they’d | they had, they would |
that’s | that is, that has |
that’ve | that have |
that’d | that would |
which’ve | which have |
who’s | who is, who has |
who’re | who are |
who’ve | who have |
who’d | who had, who would |
who’ll | who will |
what’s | what is, what has, what does |
what’re | what are |
what’ll | what will |
where’s | where is, where has |
where’d | where did |
when’s | when is, when has |
why’s | why is, why has |
why’d | why did |
how’s | how is, how has |
here’s | here is |
there’s | there is, there has |
there’ll | there will |
there’d | there had, there would |
let’s | let us |
ma’am | madam |
o’clock | of the clock |
In English grammar, we might use the contracted form of a verb when we are speaking or writing informally.
Let’s look at a list of contracted forms of verbs (with their expanded form) so you know how to use them:
What is the contracted form of a verb?
A contraction is a shortened form of a verb that is used when two words are combined to form one.
This involves removing one or more letters and adding an apostrophe to create a new word. For example, “I am” becomes “I’m.”
When are contracted forms used?
Contracted forms are used frequently in everyday spoken language and informal written language, such as e-mails and text messages.
They cannot be used in formal, academic writing, or professional documents where each word needs to be spelled out completely.
The following is a list of common contracted forms of verbs:
- I am – I’m
- I am not – I ain’t
- Let us – Let’s
- I will – I’ll
- We will – We’ll
- I would – I’d
- We are – We’re
- You will – You’ll
- You would – You’d
- He is – He’s
- She is – She’s
- It is – It’s
- She has – She’s
- He has – He’s
- It has – It’s
- We have – We’ve
- They have – They’ve
- Where is – Where’s
- Who is – Who’s
- There is – There’s
- They are – They’re
- They will – They’ll
- Might have – Might’ve
- Must have – must’ve
Negative Common Contractions
- Is not – Isn’t
- Are not – Aren’t
- Can not – Can’t
- Was not – Wasn’t
- Could not – Couldn’t
- Did not – Didn’t
- Have not – Haven’t
- Had not – Hadn’t
- Has not – Hasn’t
- Should not – Shouldn’t
- Would not – Wouldn’t
- Were not – Weren’t
- Will not – Won’t
While contracted forms of verbs are usually informal in nature, it is always best to use the full form in a formal context.
Contractions With The Verb HAVE
Here are some shortened forms of the verb “have.”
- I have – I’ve
- You have – You’ve
- He has – He’s
- She has – She’s
- It has – It’s
- We have – We’ve
- They have – They’ve
- I have not – I haven’t – I’ve not
- You have not – You haven’t – You’ve not
- He has not – He hasn’t – He’s not
- She has not – She hasn’t – She’s not
- It has not – It hasn’t – It’s not
- We have not got – We haven’t – We’ve not
- They have not got – They haven’t – they’ve not
The contracted form “haven’t” is more common than the contraction with not. However, this may vary depending on the region you are living.
Example sentences:
We have not met. We’ve not met (less common). We haven’t met (more common).
Contractions With The Verb HAVE (Past Form)
- I had – I’d
- You had – You’d
- He had – He’d
- She had – She’d
- It had – It’d
- We had – We’d
- They had – They’d
- I had not – I hadn’t – I’d not
- You had not – You hadn’t – You’d not
- He had not – He hadn’t – He’d Not
- She had not – She hadn’t – She’d Not
- It had not – It hadn’t – It’d Not
- We had not – We hadn’t – We’d Not
- They had not – They hadn’t – They’d Not
In American English, instead of saying:
“I have a new toy” they prefer to say, “I’ve got a new toy.” This is informal. However, “I’ve a new toy” is also correct; it’s just less common.
However, “has” can never be contracted when it’s the main verb in the sentence and in the third person present tense (he, she, it).
For example:
- She has food.
“She’s food.” This is incorrect. Instead, we can say, “She’s got food”
- He has a bicycle.
“He’s a bicycle.” This is incorrect. Instead, we can say, “He’s got a new bicycle.”
However, if “have” is the auxiliary (helping) verb, then we can contract the verb:
- He has arrived.
“He’s arrived.” This is correct, as the main verb is “arrive” and not have.
- It has snowed.
“It’s snowed.” This is correct as the main verb is “snow” and not have.
Contractions With The Verb BE
- I am – I’m
- You are – You’re
- He is – He’s
- She is – She’s
- It is – It’s
- We are – We’re
- They are – They’re
- There is – There’s
- How is – How’s
- What is – What’s
- Where is – Where’s
- Here is – Here’s
- You are not – you aren’t – you’re not
- He is not – he isn’t – he’s not
- She is not – she isn’t – she’s not
- It is not – it isn’t – it’s not
- We are not – we aren’t – we’re not
- They are not – they aren’t – they’re not
The contracted form “isn’t/aren’t” and “not” are used interchangeably and you will hear both said.
If you want to emphasize that you are not involved in something, you might be more inclined to use the “not” contracted form when speaking, although either contracted form is perfectly fine.
For example, “she’s not a liar.”
Contractions with the Verb BE (Past Form)
- I was not – I wasn’t
- You were not – You weren’t
- He was not – he wasn’t
- She was not – she wasn’t
- It was not – it wasn’t
- We were not – we weren’t
- They were not – they weren’t
You can also use the contracted form with a noun, for example, “the dog’s on the sofa” (the dog is on the sofa) and “Alice’s here” (Alice is here).
Again this is informal and is more common when speaking.
Contractions with the verb DO
- I do not – I don’t
- You do not – You don’t
- He does not – He doesn’t
- She does not – She doesn’t
- We do not – We don’t
- They do not – They don’t
Contractions with the Verb DO (Past Form)
- I did not – I didn’t
- You did not – You didn’t
- He did not – He didn’t
- She did not – She didn’t
- It did not – It didn’t
- We did not – We didn’t
- They did not – They didn’t
Contractions With The Modal Verb WILL
- I will – I’ll
- He will – He’ll
- She will – She’ll
- It will – It’ll
- We will – We’ll
- They will – They’ll
- I will not – I won’t – I’ll not
- He will not – He won’t – He’ll not
- She will not – She won’t – She’ll not
- It will not – It won’t – It’ll not
- We will not – We won’t – We’ll not
- They will not – They won’t – They’ll not
Nowadays, most people say “won’t” instead of “not.
For example,
- “I’ll not go to the dance.” (old-fashioned; not common)
- I won’t go to the dance.” (more common)
Contractions with the modal verb WOULD
- I would – I’d
- He would – He’d
- She would – She’d
- It would – It’d
- We would – We’d
- They would – They’d
- I would not – I wouldn’t – I’d not
- He would not – He wouldn’t – He’d not
- She would not- She wouldn’t- She’d not
- It would not – It wouldn’t – It’d not
- We would not – We wouldn’t – We’d not
- They would not – They’d not- They’d not
“I’d not” is grammatically correct but sounds odd to native English speakers as it is not used. It is most more common to say I wouldn’t, he wouldn’t, she wouldn’t, etc.
Contractions with the modal verb WOULD (Past Form)
- I would have – I would’ve – I’d have
- You would have – You would’ve – You’d have
- He would have – He would’ve – He’d have
- She would have – She would’ve – She’d have
- It would have – It would’ve – It’d have
- We would have – We would’ve – We’d have
- They would have- They would’ve – They’d have
- I would not have – I wouldn’t have- I’d not have
- He would not have – He wouldn’t have- He’d not have
- She would not have – She wouldn’t have- She’d not have
- It would not have – It wouldn’t have- It’d not have
- We would not have – We wouldn’t have- We’d not have
- They would not have – They would’ve – They’d not have
“I’d not have” is grammatically correct but sounds strange to native English speakers as it is not spoken. It is most more common to say I wouldn’t have, he wouldn’t have, she wouldn’t have, etc.
Short Forms of Other Modal Verbs
The modals can, may, must, should, and can also be contracted when used as auxiliaries. For example, “He can’t do it,” “She shouldn’t have come,” and “I wouldn’t have done it.”
- Cannot – Can’t
- Can Not Have – Can’t’ve
- Must not – Mustn’t
- Must not have – Mustn’t’ve
- Should not- Shouldn’t
- Should not have – Shouldn’t’ve
- Shall not – Shan’t
- Shall not have – Shalln’t’ve
- Used not – Usen’t – Usedn’t
- Could not – Couldn’t
- Could not have – Couldn’t’ve
- Might not – Mightn’t
- Might not have – Mightn’t’ve
- Ought not to – Oughtn’t to
- Ought not have – Oughtn’t’ve
- Need not – Needn’t
- Need not have – Needn’t’ve
- Will not – Won’t
- Will not have – Won’t’ve
- Dare not – Daren’t
- Dare not have – Daren’t’ve
- Had Not – Hadn’t
Some of the contractions are rare and awkward, like “oughtn’t’ve” and “usedn’t.”
In Conclusion
The contracted forms of verbs are informal and are used more commonly in speech.
It is good to know them in case you hear them in spoken English, and their usage varies depending on the region.
I’m an Irish tutor and founder of TPR Teaching. I started teaching in 2016 and have since taught in the UK, Spain, and online.
I love learning new things about the English language and how to teach it better. I’m always trying to improve my knowledge, so I can better meet the needs of others!
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This lesson explains how to make contractions with the verb HAVE and a subject pronoun or the negative adverb not. Before you continue, review these lessons: Contractions | Verb HAVE.
The simple present of the verb HAVE (have | has) is frequently contracted with a subject. Join the conjugated verb to the subject and replace the first two letters of the verb with an apostrophe.
not contracted | words joined |
delete first two letters |
contracted | |||
I have | Ihave | Ihave | I’ve | |||
They have | Theyhave | Theyhave | They’ve |
In American English, has is not usually contracted with a subject when it is the main verb in a sentence.
uncontracted (common) | contracted (not common) | |
I have a blue car. | I’ve a blue car. | |
We have good news. | We’ve good news. |
Instead, Americans prefer using the present perfect with got (past participle of the verb GET).
uncontracted | contracted | American English | ||
I have a blue car. | I’ve a blue car. | I’ve got a blue car. | ||
We have good news. | We’ve good news. | We’ve got good news. |
Has can never be contracted with its subject (he, she, or it) when it is the main verb in the sentence and is in the present tense.
uncontracted | ≠ | incorrect |
He has chocolate. | He’s chocolate. | |
She has a car. | She’s a car. |
These false contractions look the same as contractions made with BE and change the meaning:
He+is | = | He’s |
She+is | She’s | |
It+is | It’s |
However, these contractions are possible when HAVE is the auxiliary verb in the sentence.
uncontracted | = | contracted |
He has left. | He’s left. | |
It has rained. | It’s rained. |
We know these contractions are formed with has because they are followed by past participles (left | rained).
In negative statements, the auxiliary verb HAVE is often contracted with the negative adverb not. Join not to the conjugation and replace the o with an apostrophe.
uncontracted | words joined |
delete the o |
contracted | |||
have not | havenot | havenot | haven’t | |||
has not | hasnot | hasnot | hasn’t |
Here are examples of both forms of contraction: (subject + HAVE) and (HAVE + not).
uncontracted | less common | more common | ||
I have not finished. | I’ve not finished. | I haven’t finished. | ||
You have not eaten. | You’ve not eaten. | You haven’t eaten. | ||
He has not started. | He’s not started. | He hasn’t started. | ||
It has not rained. | It’s not rained. | It hasn’t rained. | ||
We have not seen it. | We’ve not seen it. | We haven’t seen it. | ||
They have not met. | They’ve not met. | They haven’t met. |
There is no difference in meaning between these two forms of contraction, but the contractions with not are more common.
Related lessons:
- Verb HAVE
- Contractions with BE
- Contractions with DO
Yeah baby I’m tired of your negative reaction
So I wrote a list of your negative contractions
And I felt the need to give you the full list, baby
So here we go…
1, 2, 3
aren’t, are not
can’t, can not
couldn’t, could not
daren’t, dare not
didn’t, did not
doesn’t, does not
don’t, do not
hasn’t, has not
haven’t, have not
hadn’t, had not
isn’t, is not
mayn’t, may not
mightn’t, might not
mustn’t must not
needn’t, need not
oughtn’t, ought not
shan’t, shall not
shouldn’t, should not
wasn’t, was not
weren’t, were not
won’t, will not
wouldn’t, would not
Baby the only thing I ever get from you is no
So I’m going to repeat myself one last time
And then I’m gonna go
1, 2, 3
aren’t, are not
can’t, can not
couldn’t, could not
daren’t, dare not
didn’t, did not
doesn’t, does not
don’t, do not
hasn’t, has not
haven’t, have not
hadn’t, had not
isn’t, is not
mayn’t, may not
mightn’t, might not
mustn’t, must not
needn’t, need not
oughtn’t, ought not
shan’t, shall not
shouldn’t should not
wasn’t, was not
weren’t, were not
won’t, will not
wouldn’t, would not
There you go baby
All 22 of your negative contractions
That’s the lot
And I guess it’s time for me and you to stop
But let’s end our song on a positive note, baby
Me and you. We’re through. Oh yeah.