Language/English/Grammar/Contractions - Revision history

Maintenance script: Quick edit

2023-03-26T20:12:49Z

Quick edit

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:12, 26 March 2023
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	Here are the common contractions:		Here are the common contractions:

			Upon acquiring a comprehensive understanding of this material, you might be intrigued by these relevant areas: [[Language/English/Grammar/Verbosity-or-Circumlocution\|Verbosity or Circumlocution]], [[Language/English/Grammar/Irregular-Verbs\|Irregular Verbs]], [[Language/English/Grammar/Nouns\|Nouns]] & [[Language/English/Grammar/Definite-Article\|Definite Article]].
	==-'d (had / would)==		==-'d (had / would)==
	''Followed by an infinitive verb (without'' to'') (e.g.'' be'','' do'','' have'','' go'','' eat'','' open''),'' -'d ''is short for'' would''. Followed by the past participle (e.g.'' been'','' done'','' had'','' gone'','' eaten'','' opened''), it is short for'' had''. If the verb is irregular and the infinitive is the same as the past participle, you may have to use context to determine the best interpretation.''		''Followed by an infinitive verb (without'' to'') (e.g.'' be'','' do'','' have'','' go'','' eat'','' open''),'' -'d ''is short for'' would''. Followed by the past participle (e.g.'' been'','' done'','' had'','' gone'','' eaten'','' opened''), it is short for'' had''. If the verb is irregular and the infinitive is the same as the past participle, you may have to use context to determine the best interpretation.''
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	* I'd trust you if you smiled more - I would trust you if you smiled more		* I'd trust you if you smiled more - I would trust you if you smiled more
	* You'd have been better off if you'd finished what you'd started - You would have been better off if you had finished what you had started		* You'd have been better off if you'd finished what you'd started - You would have been better off if you had finished what you had started



	==-'ll (will)==		==-'ll (will)==
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	*Tomorrow I'll go to the store, because my refrigerator is almost empty!		*Tomorrow I'll go to the store, because my refrigerator is almost empty!
	*They'll start tomorrow - They will start tomorrow		*They'll start tomorrow - They will start tomorrow


	==-'m (am)==		==-'m (am)==
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	=== Example ===		=== Example ===
	*I'm utterly exhausted, but I'm not giving up.		*I'm utterly exhausted, but I'm not giving up.


	==-'re (are)==		==-'re (are)==
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	* Why're - Why are		* Why're - Why are
	* How're - How are		* How're - How are



	==-'s (has / is)==		==-'s (has / is)==
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	*Sam's dog is grey ''(That is, Sam has a dog, which is grey - this is the possessive marker and it is not considered a contraction!)''		*Sam's dog is grey ''(That is, Sam has a dog, which is grey - this is the possessive marker and it is not considered a contraction!)''



	==-'ve (have)==		==-'ve (have)==
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	* Won't ever - Will never		* Won't ever - Will never
	* Wouldn't - Would not		* Wouldn't - Would not



	=='t- (it)==		=='t- (it)==
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	*'Twas a cold winter's night, and all the stars did cry.		*'Twas a cold winter's night, and all the stars did cry.
	*'Tisn't as far as he thinks. ''(Yes,'' -n't ''can be added to '<nowiki/>''tis ''and '''twas''.)''		*'Tisn't as far as he thinks. ''(Yes,'' -n't ''can be added to '<nowiki/>''tis ''and '''twas''.)''


	==gonna (going to)==		==gonna (going to)==
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	*I'm gonna go home now.		*I'm gonna go home now.
	*He gonna make it?		*He gonna make it?



	==wanna (want to)==		==wanna (want to)==
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	*You wanna try?		*You wanna try?
	*Don't wanna go to bed! Wanna watch the movie!		*Don't wanna go to bed! Wanna watch the movie!


	Finally, I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but these should help get you started on using Contractions in English!		Finally, I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but these should help get you started on using Contractions in English!

	==~~Related~~ Lessons==		==Other Lessons==
	* [[Language/English/Grammar/Ask\|Ask]]		* [[Language/English/Grammar/Ask\|Ask]]
	* [[Language/English/Grammar/Nouns\|Nouns]]		* [[Language/English/Grammar/Nouns\|Nouns]]
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	* [[Language/English/Grammar/Mass-noun\|Mass noun]]		* [[Language/English/Grammar/Mass-noun\|Mass noun]]
	* [[Language/English/Grammar/Countable-and-Uncountable-Nouns\|Countable and Uncountable Nouns]]		* [[Language/English/Grammar/Countable-and-Uncountable-Nouns\|Countable and Uncountable Nouns]]
			<span links></span>

Maintenance script: Quick edit

2023-02-26T14:47:29Z

Quick edit

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:47, 26 February 2023
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	Finally, I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but these should help get you started on using Contractions in English!		Finally, I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but these should help get you started on using Contractions in English!

			==Related Lessons==
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Ask\|Ask]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Nouns\|Nouns]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Adjectives-ending-in-ly\|Adjectives ending in ly]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Meanings-of-YET\|Meanings of YET]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/At:-place\|At: place]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Miscellaneous-collocations\|Miscellaneous collocations]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/THE:-use-it-or-not\|THE: use it or not]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Prepositions-of-Position\|Prepositions of Position]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Mass-noun\|Mass noun]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Countable-and-Uncountable-Nouns\|Countable and Uncountable Nouns]]

Vincent at 19:25, 23 December 2022

2022-12-23T19:25:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:25, 23 December 2022
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	* You'd have been better off if you'd finished what you'd started - You would have been better off if you had finished what you had started		* You'd have been better off if you'd finished what you'd started - You would have been better off if you had finished what you had started

	~~<hr />~~

	==-'ll (will)==		==-'ll (will)==
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	*They'll start tomorrow - They will start tomorrow		*They'll start tomorrow - They will start tomorrow

	~~<hr />~~

	==-'m (am)==		==-'m (am)==
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	*I'm utterly exhausted, but I'm not giving up.		*I'm utterly exhausted, but I'm not giving up.

	~~<hr />~~

	==-'re (are)==		==-'re (are)==
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	* How're - How are		* How're - How are

	~~<hr />~~

	==-'s (has / is)==		==-'s (has / is)==
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	*Sam's dog is grey ''(That is, Sam has a dog, which is grey - this is the possessive marker and it is not considered a contraction!)''		*Sam's dog is grey ''(That is, Sam has a dog, which is grey - this is the possessive marker and it is not considered a contraction!)''

	~~<hr />~~

	==-'ve (have)==		==-'ve (have)==
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	* Wouldn't - Would not		* Wouldn't - Would not

	~~<hr />~~

	=='t- (it)==		=='t- (it)==
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	*'Tisn't as far as he thinks. ''(Yes,'' -n't ''can be added to '<nowiki/>''tis ''and '''twas''.)''		*'Tisn't as far as he thinks. ''(Yes,'' -n't ''can be added to '<nowiki/>''tis ''and '''twas''.)''

	~~<hr />~~
	==gonna (going to)==		==gonna (going to)==

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	*He gonna make it?		*He gonna make it?

	~~<hr />~~

	==wanna (want to)==		==wanna (want to)==
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	*Don't wanna go to bed! Wanna watch the movie!		*Don't wanna go to bed! Wanna watch the movie!

	~~<hr />~~

	Finally, I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but these should help get you started on using Contractions in English!		Finally, I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but these should help get you started on using Contractions in English!

Vincent at 19:24, 23 December 2022

2022-12-23T19:24:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:24, 23 December 2022
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			<div class="pg_page_title">Contractions in English</div>
	[[File:Contractions-in-English-Polyglot-Club-Wiki.png\|thumb]]		[[File:Contractions-in-English-Polyglot-Club-Wiki.png\|thumb]]
	~~<div style="font-size:250%;">Contractions in English~~		Contractions are shortened words or groups of words, and they are always informal. In most cases, they are formed by adding a contracted suffix, usually beginning with an apostrophe, to another word. Since contractions are not required in English, it is more important to be able to interpret them than to produce them. In fact, contractions should be avoided altogether in formal texts.
	~~</div>~~

	Contractions are shortened words or groups of words, and they are always informal. In most cases, they are formed by adding a contracted suffix, usually beginning with an apostrophe, to another word.

	Since contractions are not required in English, it is more important to be able to interpret them than to produce them. In fact, contractions should be avoided altogether in formal texts.

	Here are the common contractions:		Here are the common contractions:

Vincent at 19:23, 23 December 2022

2022-12-23T19:23:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:23, 23 December 2022
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	Contractions are shortened words or groups of words, and they are always informal. In most cases, they are formed by adding a contracted suffix, usually beginning with an apostrophe, to another word.		Contractions are shortened words or groups of words, and they are always informal. In most cases, they are formed by adding a contracted suffix, usually beginning with an apostrophe, to another word.


	Since contractions are not required in English, it is more important to be able to interpret them than to produce them. In fact, contractions should be avoided altogether in formal texts.		Since contractions are not required in English, it is more important to be able to interpret them than to produce them. In fact, contractions should be avoided altogether in formal texts.


	Here are the common contractions:		Here are the common contractions:
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	==-'ll (will)==		==-'ll (will)==

	He'll - He will		* He'll - He will
			* I'll - I will
	I'll - I will		* It'll - It will
			* She'll - She will
	It'll - It will		* They'll - They will
			* We'll - We will
	She'll - She will		* You'll - You will
			* What'll - What will
	They'll - They will

	We'll - We will

	You'll - You will

	What'll - What will

			=== Examples ===
	*Tomorrow I'll go to the store, because my refrigerator is almost empty!		*Tomorrow I'll go to the store, because my refrigerator is almost empty!
	*They'll start tomorrow - They will start tomorrow		*They'll start tomorrow - They will start tomorrow
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	I'm - I am		I'm - I am

			=== Example ===
	*I'm utterly exhausted, but I'm not giving up.		*I'm utterly exhausted, but I'm not giving up.

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	==-'re (are)==		==-'re (are)==
	~~They're - They are~~

	We're - We are		* They're - They are
			* We're - We are
	Where're - Where are		* Where're - Where are
			* What're - What are
	What're - What are		* Why're - Why are
			* How're - How are
	Why're - Why are

	How're - How are

	<hr />		<hr />
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	==-'s (has / is)==		==-'s (has / is)==

	''Don't confuse this with the possessive marker'' 's''!''		Don't confuse this with the possessive marker 's!

	*Sam's a great friend - Sam is a great friend		*Sam's a great friend - Sam is a great friend
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	==-'ve (have)==		==-'ve (have)==

	Could've - Could have		* Could've - Could have
			* I've - I have
	I've - I have		* Should've - Should have
			* They've - They have
	Should've - Should have		* Would've - Would have
			* You've - You have
	They've - They have

	Would've - Would have

	You've - You have

			=== Example ===
	*I could've gone to the gym, I should've gone to the gym, and I would've gone to the gym, but I didn't. Now I've gained weight!		*I could've gone to the gym, I should've gone to the gym, and I would've gone to the gym, but I didn't. Now I've gained weight!

	~~<hr />~~

	==-n't (not)==		==-n't (not)==
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	''As a general rule, -n't takes priority over other contractions. For example, "I have not" usually contracts to "I haven't" rather than "I've not". However, "It is not" can contract to either "It isn't" or "It's not", "We/you/they are not" can contract to either "We/you/they aren't" or "We're/you're/they're not", and "I am not" usually contracts to "I'm not".''		''As a general rule, -n't takes priority over other contractions. For example, "I have not" usually contracts to "I haven't" rather than "I've not". However, "It is not" can contract to either "It isn't" or "It's not", "We/you/they are not" can contract to either "We/you/they aren't" or "We're/you're/they're not", and "I am not" usually contracts to "I'm not".''

	Ain't - Am not ''(This one is very, very informal. I would recommend avoiding it.)''		* Ain't - Am not ''(This one is very, very informal. I would recommend avoiding it.)''
			* Can't - Cannot
	Can't - Cannot		* Couldn't - Could not
			* Didn't - Did not
	Couldn't - Could not		* Doesn't - Does not
			* Hadn't - Had not
	Didn't - Did not		* Hasn't - Has not
			* Haven't - Have not
	Doesn't - Does not		* Isn't - Is not
			* Oughtn't - Ought not
	Hadn't - Had not		* Shan't - Shall not
			* Shouldn't - Should not
	Hasn't - Has not		* Wasn't - Was not
			* Weren't - Were not
	Haven't - Have not		* Won't - Will not
			* Won't ever - Will never
	Isn't - Is not		* Wouldn't - Would 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

	Won't ever - Will never

	Wouldn't - Would not

	<hr />		<hr />
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	''This contraction is archaic. You may find it in old stories or in poetry, but it no longer exists in everyday speech. If you like learning obscure features that you don't really need to bother knowing, this is for you.''		''This contraction is archaic. You may find it in old stories or in poetry, but it no longer exists in everyday speech. If you like learning obscure features that you don't really need to bother knowing, this is for you.''

	'Tis - It is ''(Everyday equivalent:'' It's'')''		* 'Tis - It is ''(Everyday equivalent:'' It's'')''
			* 'Twas - It was ''(No everyday equivalent contraction; just use'' It was'')''
	'Twas - It was ''(No everyday equivalent contraction; just use'' It was'')''		* 'Twill - It will ''(Everyday equivalent:'' It'll'')''

	'Twill - It will ''(Everyday equivalent:'' It'll'')''

			=== Examples ===
	*'Twas a cold winter's night, and all the stars did cry.		*'Twas a cold winter's night, and all the stars did cry.
	*'Tisn't as far as he thinks. ''(Yes,'' -n't ''can be added to '<nowiki/>''tis ''and '''twas''.)''		*'Tisn't as far as he thinks. ''(Yes,'' -n't ''can be added to '<nowiki/>''tis ''and '''twas''.)''

Vincent at 17:01, 20 February 2021

2021-02-20T17:01:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:01, 20 February 2021
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	* I'd trust you if you smiled more - I would trust you if you smiled more		* I'd trust you if you smiled more - I would trust you if you smiled more
	* You'd have been better off if you'd finished what you'd started - You would have been better off if you had finished what you had started		* You'd have been better off if you'd finished what you'd started - You would have been better off if you had finished what you had started
	~~
			<hr />

	==-'ll (will)==		==-'ll (will)==
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	*They'll start tomorrow - They will start tomorrow		*They'll start tomorrow - They will start tomorrow

	~~		<hr />

	==-'m (am)==		==-'m (am)==
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	*I'm utterly exhausted, but I'm not giving up.		*I'm utterly exhausted, but I'm not giving up.

	~~		<hr />

	==-'re (are)==		==-'re (are)==
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	How're - How are		How're - How are

	~~		<hr />

	==-'s (has / is)==		==-'s (has / is)==
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	*Sam's dog is grey ''(That is, Sam has a dog, which is grey - this is the possessive marker and it is not considered a contraction!)''		*Sam's dog is grey ''(That is, Sam has a dog, which is grey - this is the possessive marker and it is not considered a contraction!)''

	~~		<hr />

	==-'ve (have)==		==-'ve (have)==
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	*I could've gone to the gym, I should've gone to the gym, and I would've gone to the gym, but I didn't. Now I've gained weight!		*I could've gone to the gym, I should've gone to the gym, and I would've gone to the gym, but I didn't. Now I've gained weight!

	~~		<hr />

	==-n't (not)==		==-n't (not)==
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	Wouldn't - Would not		Wouldn't - Would not

	~~		<hr />

	=='t- (it)==		=='t- (it)==
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	*'Tisn't as far as he thinks. ''(Yes,'' -n't ''can be added to '<nowiki/>''tis ''and '''twas''.)''		*'Tisn't as far as he thinks. ''(Yes,'' -n't ''can be added to '<nowiki/>''tis ''and '''twas''.)''

	~~		<hr />

	==gonna (going to)==		==gonna (going to)==

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	*He gonna make it?		*He gonna make it?

	~~		<hr />

	==wanna (want to)==		==wanna (want to)==
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	*Don't wanna go to bed! Wanna watch the movie!		*Don't wanna go to bed! Wanna watch the movie!

	~~		<hr />

	Finally, I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but these should help get you started on using Contractions in English!		Finally, I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but these should help get you started on using Contractions in English!

Vsevuskav: Cleaned up some stylistic irregularities, reapplied some alphabetical order and added a couple of contractions and usage notes.

2021-02-20T16:39:01Z

Cleaned up some stylistic irregularities, reapplied some alphabetical order and added a couple of contractions and usage notes.

Show changes

Vincent: /* 's - is / has */

2021-02-15T13:54:06Z

's - is / has

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:54, 15 February 2021
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	*Sam's dog is grey - (Sam has a dog, which is grey)		*Sam's dog is grey - (Sam has a dog, which is grey)

	~~==='s - Is===~~

	~~Note: This contraction can be particularly difficult to learn for non-native speakers. Don't worry, with exposure and time you will learn how to apply it properly!~~

	~~He's - He is~~

	~~How's - How is~~

	~~It's - It is~~

	~~She's - She is~~

	~~What's - What is~~

	~~When's - When is~~

	~~Where's - Where is~~

	~~Who's - Who is~~

	~~Why's - Why is~~

	~~====Example====~~

	*Person 1 - What's up? How's it going?

	*Person 2 - It's not bad. I'm just tired because of my baby. She's crying all night long, preventing me from sleeping!

	~~====Tough Example====~~

	*Person 1 - What is that dog doing? Why is it running in circles like that?

	*Person 2 - It's chasing its own tail!

	*Note that in this case, "it's" means it is, while the possessive "its" does not use an apostrophe. This is one of the most common mistakes made by English speakers, even natives!


	~~		~~

Vincent at 13:52, 15 February 2021

2021-02-15T13:52:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:52, 15 February 2021
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	Here are the common contractions ~~(Sorted Alphabetically by Contracted Word)~~:		Here are the common contractions:

	=='re - Are==		=='re - Are==

Vincent at 13:52, 15 February 2021

2021-02-15T13:52:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:52, 15 February 2021
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	~~		~~

	==~~Will -~~ 'll==		=='ll - Will==

	He'll - He will		He'll - He will

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:47, 26 February 2023
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	Finally, I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but these should help get you started on using Contractions in English!		Finally, I'm sure there are more that I've missed, but these should help get you started on using Contractions in English!

			==Related Lessons==
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Ask\|Ask]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Nouns\|Nouns]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Adjectives-ending-in-ly\|Adjectives ending in ly]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Meanings-of-YET\|Meanings of YET]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/At:-place\|At: place]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Miscellaneous-collocations\|Miscellaneous collocations]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/THE:-use-it-or-not\|THE: use it or not]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Prepositions-of-Position\|Prepositions of Position]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Mass-noun\|Mass noun]]
			* [[Language/English/Grammar/Countable-and-Uncountable-Nouns\|Countable and Uncountable Nouns]]