Native English speakers tend to speak quickly, and part of that speed comes from the fact that they employ common English contractions. This makes their conversation sound faster and more fluid.
Contractions are an important part of English grammar because they make speech and writing more conversational and concise, especially in casual conversations . Contractions also help to convey tone and improve the flow of communication so that you don’t sound robotic.
However, as with all elements of English grammar, contractions come with rules. Join us as we take a look at how contractions function within the English language as well as 35 of the most common contractions used by native English speakers.
What Are Contractions? Contractions are words created by combining multiple words into one, while also omitting certain letters. The original words are then joined with an apostrophe.
While contractions help English flow more smoothly, they are not always appropriate in formal writing like academic papers or business proposals. Some contractions are appropriate in various settings, while others are strictly informal contractions. Others, like "y'all," depend greatly based on the speaker's location and regional accent .
There are several types of contractions in English, with the most common ones being:
Pronoun-Verb Contractions
These contractions typically combine a subject pronoun (e.g., I, you, he) with auxiliary verbs (e.g., is, have, will). For example:
Negative Contractions
Negative contractions combine a main verb with the word “not” to create a shorter negative form. The “o” in not is often replaced by an apostrophe. For example:
Future Tense Contractions
These are shortened phrases that express future actions, typically using auxiliary verbs like "will." For example:
Double Contractions
There are rare cases where two English contractions are combined. They would have more than one apostrophe, denoting that there are more than two words being combined. For example:
Now that you understand the grammar rules surrounding standard contractions, let’s explore some of the most common contractions in everyday speech and writing.
1. I’m /aɪm/ "I’m" is a pronoun-verb contraction comprising the words "I" and "am."
This word is used when a speaker refers to themselves in the present tense while carrying out actions, states, or descriptions.
“I’m going to the store.”
2. He’s /hiːz/ This word is also a pronoun-verb contraction that serves two purposes, depending on the context.
It can be used as "he is," referring to a state, description, or condition of a male subject.
It could also be used as "he has" and combined with past participles to indicate actions that have been completed. Here’s how you can use “he’s” in both contexts:
He has: “He’s been waiting for you.”
He is: “He’s tired today.”
3. She’s /ʃiːz/ Just like “he is,” this word expresses either the female subject’s state (she is) or an action they completed in the past (she has).
She has: “She’s called twice today.”
She is: “She’s very happy.”
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4. We’d’ve /wiːdəv/ The term “we’d’ve” is a double contraction that combines the words “we would have.” The combination is often used in regretful statements, emphasizing a missed opportunity, like in the sentence, “We’d’ve gone to the concert if we’d had tickets.”
Note that while you might encounter this double contraction from time to time, it's not an essential part of everyday speech. You're more likely to hear "we would've," though when spoken quickly by native speakers, it'll morph into "we'd've."
This contraction is pronounced /wiːdəv/ , with a schwa sound inserted between the /d/ and /v/ sound . Here's BoldVoice coach Ron demonstrating the schwa sound:
VIDEO
5. Wouldn’t /ˈwʊd ənt/ “Wouldn’t” is a negative contraction that merges “would not.” It expresses a hypothetical situation where one opts not to do something.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. "
6. Aren’t /ɑːrnt/ This negative word combines "are not." We use "aren’t" to deny an action associated with plural subjects or the second-person pronoun "you."
“You aren’t listening to me! ”
The /rnt/ combination of sounds can be challenging for non-native speakers to pronounce, since unlike American English, not all languages feature complex consonant clusters. Take a look at Coach Ron from BoldVoice explaining English consonant clusters:
VIDEO
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7. You’re /jʊr/ This word is the contraction of "you are," often used to describe the person being addressed. It describes a current state and is used in affirmative and negative sentences to communicate information directly about the subject.
“You’re my best friend
"You’re" is also one of the pronoun-verb contractions in English with the challenging "American 'R'" sound. Sometimes, people mispronounce the word as /jʊər/, placing too much emphasis on the "R".
8. Isn’t /ˈɪz.ənt/ "Isn’t" is another contraction used to negate statements made in the present tense.
Assuming something does not go as planned, you could say, “This isn’t what I expected.”
This word combines "is" and "not" and is appropriate in casual conversations as well as in written texts.
9. They’re /ðer/ This is one of the tricky contractions in English because many non-native speakers confuse it with "their" and "there." All three words are homophones that sound the same, but they mean different things.
“They’re” is a combination of "they" and "are" that refers to a group of people, animals, or things and describes their state.
“They’re coming to the party later.”
10. Can’t /kænt/ You can use "can’t" in both formal and informal contexts, but it is especially prevalent in speech.
This word is a contracted form of the word cannot, which makes it a negative contraction.
“I can’t believe she responded to a client that way!”
11. Won’t /woʊnt/ "Won’t" comprises the phrase "will not" which simply means the refusal to do something. It falls into the negative contraction grouping.
“I won’t forget to call you.”
12. You’ll /jul/ This future tense contraction combines "you will.” It is used to indicate an action that should happen in the future.
"You’ll love this new restaurant.”
13. Don’t /doʊnt/ This word is primarily used to express negation in the present tense. In both spoken and informal written English, "don’t" indicates that an action is not being performed by combining "do" and "not."
It's most commonly used in the imperative tense, used to give someone instructions.
"Don't forget to bring your wallet!"
14. Didn’t /ˈdɪd.ənt/ Unlike "don't," this word expresses negation in the past. It indicates that an action did not occur during a specific time in the past.
This negative contraction is a combination of the words "did" and "not."
“I didn’t see you there.”
15. I’d /aɪd/ Depending on context, "I’d" could stand for "I would" or "I had."
If you’re referring to future intentions, or hypotheticals, it means "I would." However, when you’re discussing past experiences or conditions, it usually represents "I had."
I would: “I’d love to join you for dinner."
I had: “I’d finished my homework before the movie started."
16. Ma’am /mæm/ This word is a contraction of the singular word, madam. "Ma'am" is politely used to show respect in certain contexts, particularly in more professional settings.
Assuming you’re a call center agent , it’s considered appropriate to address a customer by saying, “Excuse me, ma'am, can I help you?”
17. You’d /juːd/ "You’d" is a contraction that combines "you" with either "would" or "had."
When used to express a suggestion or hypothetical situation, it generally means "you would." Conversely, when discussing past actions or conditions, it signifies "you had."
You would: “You’d enjoy the concert; the band is amazing.”
You had: “You’d already left by the time I arrived.”
18. He’ll /hiːl/ This future tense contraction is a combination of the phrase "he will." The word means that a male subject will perform an action in the future.
“He’ll finish the project by Friday.”
19. She’ll /ʃiːl/ "She’ll" means the same as "he’ll," with the only difference being that the subject is female. This word contracts the phrase "she will."
“She’ll help us tomorrow.”
20. It’s /ɪts/ This word is a past- or present-tense contraction that could be used in two ways.
When it describes a current state or action, it stands for "it is." For example, “It’s a beautiful day outside.”
When "it’s" refers to a completed action or possession, it stands for "it has," as in “It’s been a long day.”
Note that the contraction "it's" is a homophone with "its," which is used as a possessive determiner.
21. Let’s /lɛts/ “Let’s" is a contraction of the phrase "let us."
You can use this word when you want to express a suggestion or proposal for a joint action.
For instance, you could say to your colleague at work, “Let’s work together to finish this project ,” to create a more inclusive tone and encourage them to participate.
22. There’s The contraction “there’s” combines “there is” or “there has.”
When used as "there is," it indicates that something exists or is present, like in the sentence, “There’s a cat on the roof.”
In the "there has" form, this word indicates that an action has been completed. For example, “There’s been a mistake.”
23. I’ve /aɪv/ "I’ve" is one of the contractions in English frequently used in American English .
This pronoun-verb contraction combines “I” and “have.” “I’ve” means the speaker has completed an action at some point in the past.
For example, “I’ve seen that movie before.”
24. We’ve This word performs the same function as "I’ve" and is typically used the same way. However, "we’ve" combines "we" and "have" and it includes the speaker and others, used in a first-person plural sense.
“We’ve finished our homework.”
25. They’ve The contraction “they’ve” is a combination of the pronoun “they” and the auxiliary verb “have.”
Pay attention—although it uses the word "have," it's only used in an auxiliary sense. It can't be employed to indicate that someone possesses something.
“They’ve moved to a new house. "
26. That’s /ðæts/ This contraction could stand for “that is” or “that has.”
You could say, “That’s exactly what I thought,” (that is) to make a statement or declaration about something.
You could also say, “That’s never happened before,” (that has) to refer to something you have previously mentioned.
27. Mustn’t /ˈmʌs.ənt/ This negative word is a contraction of “must not.” The word is often used to express prohibition or strong advice against doing something.
It indicates that an action is strongly discouraged, and it's a more formal short form than the others on this list. You're less likely to hear this in casual conversation .
“You mustn’t tell anyone.”
28. Might’ve /maɪt.əv/ "Might’ve" is a single contraction formed by combining the modal verb "might" with the auxiliary verb "have."
This word is pronounced with the schwa sound (/ə/) , and it expresses the possibility of something that could have happened but isn’t certain.
“I might’ve missed it.”
29. Would’ve /ˈwʊd.əv/ Like “might’ve,” “would’ve” expresses past conditional actions or missed opportunities, or hypothetical scenarios.
It is a contracted form of "would have."
"I would’ve gone to the party if I hadn’t been sick.”
30. Ain’t /eɪnt/ Informal and sometimes considered slang , this word is commonly a substitute for various forms of negation, including "am not," "is not," "are not," "has not," or "have not."
This contraction is common among certain regional dialects and within African American Vernacular English .
“He ain't all that."
31. Y’all /jɔːl/ Many people consider “y’all” to be slang just like “ain’t,” as a contraction that combines "you" and "all" to refer to a group of people.
This word is only appropriate in informal settings, and similar to "ain't," its use varies based on region.
“What are y’all doing tonight?”
32. O’clock /əˈklɑːk/ “O’clock” is a unique contraction because it comprises three words: "of the clock."
However, there is only one apostrophe indicating one contraction. This word tells the exact hour in time, and in fact, the full phrase "of the clock" is essentially never used.
"The interview is at three o’clock. ”
This word refers collectively to a group of people, including the speaker. It is a shortening of the words “we are.’”
“We’re going to the movies tonight.”
34. Who’s /huz/ Like many contractions with apostrophe-S, this word has two meanings.
It can stand for “who has” and is used to ask about someone who has done something. It could also mean “who is” when you’re asking about a person’s identity.
Who is: “Who’s at the door?”
Who has: “Who’s been to the store?”
Be careful not to confuse this with the word "whose," which sounds the same but acts as a possessive pronoun.
35. Should've /ʃʊd əv/ A contraction of the phrase “should have,” “should’ve” expresses something that was expected but didn’t happen.
Let’s assume a person failed their TOEFL exams because they didn’t prepare; they could say, “I should’ve studied harder for the exam.”
Grammar Tips for Correct Usage of Contractions Contractions are so common in English, but it's very easy to commit blunders when using them. Here are a few tips to help you use contractions the right way.
Don’t overuse contractions in formal writing
While contractions can add a friendly and informal tone, they are generally avoided in professional texts like work emails or legal documents.
They can be appropriate in moderation, but keep this in mind for professional and academic writing.
Apostrophe placement matters
Apostrophes in contractions replace and indicate missing letters. They show where a part of a word has been omitted, which helps avoid confusion.
You therefore want to always double-check your contractions to ensure the apostrophe is placed correctly. Misplacing apostrophes can cause confusion and hurt your credibility.
“You're amazing!" (You are amazing) "Your’e amazing!" (Incorrect usage)
Some contractions sound like other words
Many contractions in English are confusing because they're homophones with other English words. Look out for these, especially in written communication.
For instance, "they’re" vs. "their" vs. "there":
They’re = They areTheir = possessive pronoun (belonging to them)There refers to a place.
"They’re heading to their house, which is over there."
Avoid double contractions in writing
Double contractions reflect real-life speech patterns but it’s better to use full words in all types of writing, whether formal or informal. This is especially important if you want to maintain clarity and professionalism.
Practice Contractions with BoldVoice Like many other English concepts, you can master contractions if you immerse yourself in proper English and practice often.
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