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This blog, ‘Common English Contractions’ will explain what contraction stands for in English language usage. It also throws some light on some common English words that are combined and used in contracted form.

As you interact with native English speakers, you will notice that they use a variety of contractions in their conversations. Contractions are shortened versions of words and phrases, typically formed by replacing letters with apostrophes. They are used to make speech more natural and fluid, as well as to save time and effort. In this blog post, we will explore the most common contractions used by native English speakers and how they are formed.

Common English Contractions

Some Common Contractions

1. Contraction of “will” and “not” to “won’t” “Will not” is often contracted to “won’t” in spoken English. This contraction is used to express a negative future action or possibility. For example:

• “I won’t be able to attend the party tonight.”
• “He won’t tell me the answer.”

2. Contraction of “do” and “not” to “don’t” “Do not” is commonly contracted to “don’t” in spoken English. This contraction is used to express a negative command, request or prohibition. For example:

• “Don’t touch that!”
• “I don’t want to go to the movies.”

3. Contraction of “is” and “not” to “isn’t” “Is not” is often contracted to “isn’t” in spoken English. This contraction is used to express a negative statement about the present. For example:

• “She isn’t feeling well today.”
• “It isn’t my favorite color.”

4. Contraction of “are” and “not” to “aren’t” “Are not” is commonly contracted to “aren’t” in spoken English. This contraction is used to express a negative statement about the present or the future. For example:

• “We aren’t going to the beach today.”
• “They aren’t happy with the results.”

5. Contraction of “have” and “not” to “haven’t” “Have not” is often contracted to “haven’t” in spoken English. This contraction is used to express a negative action or event in the past or present. For example:

• “I haven’t seen that movie before.”
• “She hasn’t finished her homework yet.”

6. Contraction of “had” and “not” to “hadn’t” “Had not” is commonly contracted to “hadn’t” in spoken English. This contraction is used to express a negative action or event in the past. For example:

• “I hadn’t realized how late it was.”
• “He hadn’t visited his family in years.”

7. Contraction of “will” and “have” to “will’ve” “Will have” is sometimes contracted to “will’ve” in spoken English. This contraction is used to express a future action or possibility that is expected to happen. For example:

• “I’ll have finished the project by tomorrow.”
• “They’ll have arrived at the airport by now.”

8. Contraction of “would” and “have” to “would’ve” “Would have” is often contracted to “would’ve” in spoken English. This contraction is used to express a past action or possibility that did not happen. For example:

• “If I had known, I would’ve come to the party.”
• “She would’ve been disappointed if she didn’t get the job.”

9. Combining of “there” and “is” to “there’s” “There is” is commonly contracted to “there’s” in spoken English. This contraction is used to indicate the existence or presence of something or someone. For example:

• “There’s a book on the table.”
• “There’s a lot of traffic today.”

10. Combining of “let” and “us” to “let’s” “Let us” is often contracted to “let’s” in spoken English.This contraction is used to make a suggestion or a proposal. For example:

• “Let’s go to the movies tonight.”
• “Let’s finish this project before the deadline.”

11. Combining of “I” and “am” to “I’m” “I am” is commonly contracted to “I’m” in spoken English. This contraction is used to express a personal statement or opinion. For example:

• “I’m feeling tired today.”
• “I’m not sure if I can make it to the meeting.”

12. Combining of “you” and “are” to “you’re” “You are” is often contracted to “you’re” in spoken English. This contraction is used to ask or express something about someone or a group of people. For example:

• “You’re so kind to help me with this.”
• “Are you ready for the exam?”

13. Combining of “he”, “she”, “it”, “who”, and “that” and “is” to “he’s”, “she’s”, “it’s”, “who’s”, and “that’s” “He is”, “she is”, “it is”, “who is”, and “that is” are commonly contracted to “he’s”, “she’s”, “it’s”, “who’s”, and “that’s” in spoken English. These contractions are used to describe someone or something. For example:

• “She’s a great singer.”
• “That’s a good idea.”

Contractions are a natural part of spoken English and are used by native speakers to make conversations more natural and fluid. By understanding the most common contractions used in English, you can improve your understanding of spoken English and communicate more effectively with native speakers.

Common English Contractions | Ways to Combine Words

In addition to using contractions to combine words in spoken English, there are other ways to combine words in sentences that can help make your speech more natural and fluent.

Some examples

1. Using phrasal verbs Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that together create a different meaning from the original verb. Here are some examples:

• “I need to look up the word in the dictionary.” (look up = search for information)
• “Can you turn off the lights, please?” (turn off = switch off)
• “I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.” (get back to = respond to)

2. Using compound nouns Compound nouns are nouns made up of two or more words that together create a new meaning. Here are some examples:

• “I’m going to buy some sunblock.” (sunblock = lotion that protects skin from the sun)
• “She’s a high school teacher.” (high school = secondary school)
• “I bought a bookshelf for my room.” (bookshelf = a piece of furniture used for storing books)

3. Using relative pronouns Relative pronouns are used to connect clauses to form complex sentences. Here are some examples:

• “The man who is standing there is my boss.” (who = refers to the subject of the sentence)
• “The book that I’m reading is really interesting.” (that = refers to a specific object)
• “I like the restaurant where we had dinner last night.” (where = refers to a place)

4. Using coordinating conjunctions Coordinating conjunctions are used to connect two independent clauses to form a compound sentence. Here are some examples:

• “I’m going to the gym, but first, I need to finish my work.” (but = indicates a contrast)
• “I’m going to the beach, and I’m going to swim in the ocean.” (and = indicates addition)
• “I’m going to the store, or I can order it online.” (or = indicates an alternative)

5. Using subordinating conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions are used to connect a dependent clause to an independent clause to form a complex sentence. Here are some examples:

• “Because it’s raining, I’m going to stay inside.” (because = indicates a reason)
• “Although I’m tired, I’m going to finish my work.” (although = indicates a contrast)
• “If you need help, I’m here for you.” (if = indicates a condition)

In conclusion, combining words in sentences can help make your speech more natural and fluent. By using phrasal verbs, compound nouns, relative pronouns, coordinating conjunctions, and subordinating conjunctions, you can create more complex sentences and express yourself more effectively in English.