Two words become one word

Contractions are shortcuts. When we use them in English we are joining two words together. Then, they become one word. This is not the same as a compound word. In a compound words, both words are joined together with no changes.

When we use contractions, we leave out one or more letters of the second word. We replace those letters with an apostrophe (‘). For example, if we contract did and not, it becomes didn’t. In this posting I talk about how to form and use these words.

In addition, I talk about types of contractions. The download at the end will contain a list of common English contractions and their meanings.

When can we use contractions?

Contractions are easy to use.We can use them most of the time in our daily use of English. We can use them in conversation. In addition, we can talk to anyone about anything using contractions. These shortcut words are also work well  in informal writing (such as this posting). Use them in informal articles, notes, e-mails, texts, Facebook postings, and tweets. The only time we don’t use them is in very formal or academic writing.

How do we form contractions?

Contractions are easy to form. When we join two words together, we leave out one or more letters form the second word. We replace those letters with an apostrophe. Here are some examples.

cannot     do not     did not   should not   are not   I am   she is   will not

can’t        don’t       didn’t      shouldn’t     aren’t     I’m     she’s     won’t (This is an exception.)

Types of contractions–Positive

Positive contractions are often made with the following verbs: be, have, would, will. They are use in affirmative sentences.

Types of contractions–Negative

Negative contractions contain the word not. They are used in negative sentences.

Types of contractions–Others

Below are some other contractions. They are positive, but are a little different from the ones listed above.

Using contractions with nouns

We can use contractions with nouns. We can do this with both people’s names and with common nouns.

Two ways to use negative contractions

We can use negative contraction with be verb in two ways. The following sentences will give you examples.

Using contractions at the end of a sentence.

A sentence can end with a negative contraction.

• My sister can speak Spanish, but I can’t.
• Most people drink coffee, but I don’t.

We never, however, and an English sentence with a positive contraction. In that case we say or write out both words fully with out leaving out letters and without an apostrophe.

I asked her is she was married, and she told he that she is. (Not she’s)

Some very informal contractions

Some contractions are very informal. They are not real words, but they are still often used in conversation. Many of them do not contain an apostrophe.

Some very old contractions

Some common English words are actually contractions! No one ever uses the full two or three words. Here are some examples.

o’clock (This means of the clock). I’ll see you at two o’clock.

Halloween (This means hallowed or holy evening. Halloween is the evening before All Saints’ Day) My brother word a scary costume for Halloween.

ma’am (This means madam.It is a polite way of addressing a woman you don’t know.). Good morning, ma’am. May I help you?

The contraction it’s

It is easy to confuse the contraction it’s with the pronoun its. Many native speaker make this mistake. It’s means it is.

It’s a beautiful day today. This means, “It is a beautiful day today.

Its is a pronoun that means belonging to it.

The dog wagged its tail. You could never say,”the dog wagged it is tail.” That doesn’t make sense.

You now know how to form and use contractions. Contractions are shortcuts. When we form them, we join two words together. We leave out one of more letters in the second word, and replace those letters with an apostrophe (‘). Contractions may be positive or negative. We can also use these words with people’s names and common nouns. We can end a sentence with a negative contraction, but never a positive one. Finally, some common very old or very informal words in English are actually contractions. The download will give you a list of many common English contractions and their meanings.

You can download the practice sheet now!

Idiom of the day

1. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.  This means don’t assume everything will work out until you know all the facts. My brother applied for a new job. He thought he was going to get it,so he ordered a new car. But they hired someone else. So I told him, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
2. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.  This means it’s hard to replace old habits with new one. My friend was late to work everyday. He tried to get there on time, but he was still late everyday. The boss fired him. I guess you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Study English Contractions from this lesson with these flashcards

It’s possible to combine two words into one when you want to convey a specific meaning relating to both. You can turn something like “list” and “article” into “listicle.” This article will explore the best terms you can use to combine two words into one.

The best terms for combining two words into one are “blend word,” “blending,” and “portmanteau word.” These are the best ways to refer to a word that’s been made out of two completely different words. It’s a great way to show that both words impact the new word’s meaning.

1. Blend Word

“Blend word” is a great phrase to use when words are combined into one. It’s an informal construct, allowing you to create new words based on the fundamental sounds and letters that come from two completely different words.

For example, a “blend word” would be “brunch.” It takes “breakfast” and “lunch” and combines the two words into one. This is an efficient way of using both words more recognisably.

“Blending” is the official term for combining words in this way.

It works best informally because you need to overlook specific grammatical rules to accept certain blend words. For example, “frenemy” means “friend” and “enemy.” It’s not an official word, but it’s widely regarded and understood because of how common the blend is.

The definition of “blend word,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “a word formed by combining two other words.”

• I think they called it “chillaxation.” It’s a blend word combining “chill” and “relaxation.” I think it has a ring to it.
• What is it with all these blend words becoming more popular? I’m not sure I can keep up with the youth of today and their lingo.
• I thought of a few new blend words that could work quite well in these contexts. Let me know which ones you like the best.

2. Blending

“Blending” is the term used when combining two words into a shorter form. You can use it to refer to the action of grouping two words as “blending” is the verb gerund form.

“Blend word” is the noun form, and “blending” is the verb. They both mean the same thing. They allow you to group words to create smaller, informal words and phrases that help you get your point across more efficiently.

• Blending words is super easy. You can say something like “sitcom” or “cosplay.” They take little bits and create big words.
• I love blending words to create new ideas. It’s always exciting to come up with words that nobody has thought of before.
• Blending words is a lot of fun when you know what you’re doing. You should try it sometime to see if it works for you.

3. Portmanteau Word

“Portmanteau word” is a great way to refer to two combined words. It has a French origin relating to a suitcase that opens in two equal parts.

“Portmanteau” is French for “carry case” or “suitcase.” It refers to a suitcase that can be opened into two equal parts. It evolved to mean that two words could combine to create a new word and hold a new meaning that takes equal parts from the original word.

It’s a very common way to refer to a blended word. You could combine something like “jeans” and “leggings” into the popular portmanteau word “jeggings.” It takes an equal meaning from both original words to create a new one.

Nowadays, “portmanteau” is much more common to refer to combined words rather than a suitcase. Most native speakers know it as the phrase used when words like “brunch” or “jeggings” are created.

The definition of “portmanteau word,” according to The Cambridge Dictionary, is “a word formed by combining two other words.”

• What portmanteau words do you know? I’ve heard “biopic” lately, and I’ve been pronouncing it wrong for the longest time!
• I think you should come up with a portmanteau word for that. It’s too wordy, and people will remember it easier if it is shortened.
• This portmanteau word comes from “drama” and “comedy.” A “dramedy” is a great form of theatre that you must watch!

4. Coining

“Coining” is a great phrase to use when new words are developed. It doesn’t refer to combining two words, but it allows you to “coin” a new word if you’ve made one yourself.

For example, if you combine “breakfast” and “lunch” into “brunch,” you could “coin” that word. However, it only applies when you are the first person to do it. Since “brunch” is already accepted as a portmanteau word, you can’t “coin” it yourself.

That doesn’t mean you can’t try to find other words that you can “coin.” There’s no limit to what words you can combine.

• I’m coining a new word from these two. It’s stupid to have to say them individually after all this time.
• You should try coining your own blend of the words. I think it’ll be really interesting to come up with something new.
• He’s managed to coin that word on his own. I was quite surprised that he was able to be that creative with it.

5. Compounding

“Compounding” refers to combining two words into one. However, it works very differently from the other words in this article. You need to know the difference before using “compounding” correctly.

“Compounding” takes two full words and combines them without removing any letters. For example, “back” and “drop” can compound to become “backdrop.”

You cannot call it “compounding” when combining two words into a more informal word (i.e. “chill” and “relax” becoming “chillax” is not compounding).

“Compounding” is the official grammatical term used when two words combine to become a compound noun or adjective. You might also find a hyphen comes between the words (mainly when using adjectives).

• Compounding words only work when you need them to be in the same breath. Something like “football” or “cupcake” works here.
• You should try compounding those words. They’re used together enough times that people expect them to be written like that.
• I’m not sure what compounding those words is going to do for the sentence. You should try something else.