What is the contraction word for were not

List o’ Common Contractions:

Is it acceptable to use contractions in formal writing?

Yes. The MLA allows contractions in its publications. In professional scholarly writing, sometimes a formal tone is desired, but often a more conversational approach is taken. When overused, contractions can be distracting.

WORDS (negating a verb)	CONTRACTION
were not	weren’t
have not	haven’t
has not	hasn’t
had not	hadn’t

Is Don’t a formal contraction?

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.

Is Won’t informal?

Won’t is simply a contraction of the words will not. They have the exact same meaning. Won’t is more informal; if you’re writing an essay, in most cases you’re advised not to use any contractions. Beyond that, there’s no reason not to choose whichever you like.

Is you’ll a formal contraction?

Contractions are shortened words that use an apostrophe to combine two words into one. You hear contractions in conversation and see them in writing. Understanding the proper use of contractions can help you master the English language….List of Common Contractions.

Contraction Word	Base Words
you’ll	you will

Are double contractions grammatically correct?

Double contractions are not used in writing. They may be grammatically correct, but a professor would not allow you to use them in an essay. Typically, even single contractions are avoided in formal writing.

Can you have a double contraction?

Double contractions are those words which contain two contractional clitics, such as n’t and ‘ve. Both contractions are marked with apostrophes.

Is wouldn’t’ve a contraction?

Contractions (e.g., wouldn’t) change the pronunciation of a word, and it is for that reason that they are deemed as non-standard usage in formal English. So, when it comes to double contractions (e.g., wouldn’t’ve), you can image the double outrage it would evoke in speakers who subscribe to such beliefs.

Is Twasn t a word?

Contraction of it was not.

What are two contractions?

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.

How do you teach contractions in Year 2?

6 Ways to Teach Contractions

1. Use a rubber band to demonstrate to your student the concept of expanding and contracting.
2. Demonstrate the concept of contractions by writing he is on a piece of paper, or use letter tiles if you have them.
3. Explain that an apostrophe is a type of punctuation mark.

What is the opposite of a contraction in grammar?

The opposite of contraction is expansion.

What is the rule of contractions?

The 5-1-1 Rule: The contractions come every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute each, for at least 1 hour. Fluids and other signs: You might notice amniotic fluid from the sac that holds the baby.

When did contractions start in English?

17th century

What part of speech are 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.

What type of words are often confused with contractions?

Explanation: Possessive words utilize apostrophes to show possession. So it is the family’s car, or the sister’s friend.

What’s the difference between a contraction and a possessive noun?

The possessive form is, for example, “your,” “their,” and “its,” whereas the contractions would be “you’re,” “they’re,” and “it’s.” Remember, the possessive form of a word shows ownership or possession of something. A contraction is a shortened combination of two ordinarily separate words and contains an apostrophe.

Can you end a sentence with a contraction?

You can end a sentence with a NEGATIVE contraction (Is he here? No he isn’t), but not a POSITIVE one (Is he here? Yes he’s). “It’s” is only used when something more follows, you wouldn’t use that at the end of a sentence.

Why do we use contractions in English?

Contractions are associated with casual conversation, so they can make formal writing seem sloppy or unprofessional. Regardless of the formality of the writing, writers can use contractions when writing dialogue or documenting speech. Contractions in Speech. Contractions are most commonly used in spoken English.

What is the contraction of we would?

(wid) contraction of we had, we should, or we would.

What two words make up they re?

contraction of they have.

Although -n’t was originally a clitic, a reduced form of not, in Present-Day English it has become an inflectional suffix that attaches to auxiliary verbs. In other words, the negative auxiliary weren’t is a single word, and it undergoes subject–auxiliary inversion like any other auxiliary:

1a. You weren’t able to log into your online account.
1b. Weren’t you able to log into your online account?

In example 1a the main clause is declarative. In example 1b, the subject you is inverted with the negative auxiliary weren’t, marking the main clause as interrogative.

If you start with an uncontracted example, not doesn’t move; it’s a separate word and not part of the auxiliary:

2a. You were not able to log into your online account.
2b. Were you not able to log into your online account?

Again, in example 2a the main clause is declarative. In example 2b, the subject you is inverted with the auxiliary were, marking the main clause as interrogative.

Not cannot move with were:

​3. *Were not you able to log into your online account?​ (ungrammatical)

This example is ungrammatical in Present-Day English, but it’s a common mistake among English language learners.

Note that if the subject noun phrase is particularly «heavy» (lengthy or syntactically complex), it can be moved to the right of its basic position, reuniting the auxiliary and negator after inversion, but that doesn’t apply in your example, as the subject you is not particularly heavy.

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.