Contractions used in English

Contractions in English are shortened forms of words or combinations of words where one or more letters are omitted, and an apostrophe is used in place of the omitted letters. They are used to make speech and writing more informal and easier to pronounce. However, it’s worth noting that while contractions are common in conversational English and informal writing, they are usually avoided in very formal writing like academic papers or official documents. However, in modern English usage, the line between formal and informal can often be blurred, especially in digital communication. This article will give you a comprehensive list of contractions used in English.

Contractions with “not“

• am not → aren’t (used in questions, e.g., “Aren’t I invited?”) Please note informally we have “ain’t”. This is part of a regional dialect. Example: I ain’t doing that.
• are not → aren’t
• is not → isn’t
• was not → wasn’t
• were not → weren’t
• have not → haven’t
• has not → hasn’t
• had not → hadn’t
• do not → don’t
• does not → doesn’t
• did not → didn’t
• cannot → can’t
• could not → couldn’t
• will not → won’t (irregular form)
• would not → wouldn’t
• shall not → shan’t (more common in British English)
• should not → shouldn’t
• might not → mightn’t (less common in American English)
• must not → mustn’t

Contractions with pronouns and “be” verbs

• 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

Contractions with pronouns and “have” or “would”

• 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 would → I’d
• you would → you’d
• he would → he’d
• she would → she’d
• it would → it’d (less common)
• we would → we’d
• they would → they’d

Contractions with “will”

• I will → I’ll
• you will → you’ll
• he will → he’ll
• she will → she’ll
• it will → it’ll
• we will → we’ll
• they will → they’ll

Contractions with “shall“

• I shall → I’ll (less common in American English)
• we shall → we’ll (less common in American English)

Other contractions

• let us → let’s
• there is → there’s
• there has → there’s
• there will → there’ll
• there would → there’d
• that is → that’s
• that has → that’s
• what is → what’s
• what has → what’s
• who is → who’s
• who has → who’s
• where is → where’s
• when is → when’s
• how is → how’s

Please note

• The use of some contractions can be more common in certain dialects or less formal contexts. For instance, “shan’t” is more prevalent in British English, while “mightn’t” might be less used in American English.
• Some contractions like “it’d” are less common in writing but can be heard in speech.
• Contractions help make language more conversational and can vary in usage based on the speaker’s preference, regional differences, and the level of formality.

In summary

This article offers a comprehensive overview of contractions in English, highlighting their role in informal communication and their construction through the omission of letters marked by apostrophes. It categorizes contractions into groups, including those with “not” (e.g., “aren’t,” “can’t,” “won’t”), pronouns paired with “be” verbs (e.g., “I’m,” “you’re”), “have” or “would” (e.g., “I’ve,” “I’d”), “will” (e.g., “I’ll,” “she’ll”), and “shall” (e.g., “shan’t”), alongside miscellaneous forms like “let’s” and “there’s.” It notes variations in usage, such as the British preference for “shan’t” or the informal “ain’t” tied to specific dialects. While contractions enhance conversational ease, their frequency and acceptance depend on formality, regional differences, and individual choice, with some—like “mightn’t” or “it’d”—being less common in certain contexts or regions.