In spoken English and informal context often contractions are used. Non-native speakers like me sometimes find it difficult to guess the meaning specially for those cases where multiple full form exist for the English contractions.
Grasping and memorizing these English contractions can be helpful in understanding fast speaking native speaker may in movies, web series or in real life. In no time you will also sound fluent in spoken English as you continue growing your vocabulary, increase comprehension skills in terms of reading and listening.
English Contractions
| Ain’t – (1) am not; is not; are not # We ain’t trying to be something we’re not. # We ain’t running from nothing. We ain’t worried about nothing. Ain’t – (2) has not; have not. # They ain’t got nothing to say. # He ain’t won a fight in years. # Hey sis, I ain’t forgotten about ya. I still love you. |
| Contraction of am = …’m I’m = I am # Trust me, I’m an engineer! |
| Contraction of are = …’re You’re = you are #You’re cold – look, you’ve got Goosebumps! We’re = we are #We’re going on holiday tomorrow. They’re = they are |
| Contraction of had = …’d and would = …’d and should = …’d They’d = they had || they would # They’d almost won the cup. [they had] # They’d be sitting outside. [they would] # I got the impression that they’d rather be alone. [they would] # They’d had some peg of drinks and were in high spirits. [they had] You’d = you had || you would # You’d better remember it. [had] # I was afraid you’d ask me that. [would] # I wasn’t sure whether you’d like it. [would] He’d = he had || he would # He’d seen all he wanted. [had] # He’d like to see you. [would] I’d = I had || I should or I would # I’d agreed to go. [had] # Back when I was fifteen, the music that meant the most to me was by bands I’d never heard. [had] # I’d like a bath. [would] # Judging by the amount of swearing he didn’t do while he was setting it all up I’d say it’s a civilised machine. [would] # In fact, I’d suggest he takes a leap of faith and challenges his convictions, but that’s just me. [would] She’d = she had # A few seconds later my wife jumped as though she’d been goosed. [had] We had not got = we’d not got = we hadn’t got |
| Contraction of have = …’ve I’ve = I have # I’d love to go with you. The Trouble is, I’ve got to work on Saturday this week. We’ve = we have You’ve = you have They’ve = they have should’ve = should have # You should’ve seen Charlie dancing! # I should’ve got there earlier. # You should’ve locked the door. # You should’ve seen Katy’s face when the announcement was made! # I should’ve bought more milk. must’ve = must have # She must’ve got it wrong. # He must’ve kept it somewhere else. # It must’ve been around 11:00 pm. |
| Contraction of is = …’s and has = …’s He’s = he is She’s = she is It’s = it is Here’s = here is That’s = that is # I’ll be here for your birthday. That’s a promise! There’s = there is & there has # There’s (= there is) no place like home. # There’s (= there has) never been such an exciting election as this. Who’s = who is # Who’s you best friend? What’s = what is |
| Contraction of not = …n’t Aren’t = are not # They aren’t here. Aren’t = am not (only used in questions) # I’m right, aren’t I? Isn’t = is not # He is funny, isn’t he? Wasn’t = was not # He wasn’t at all happy. Weren’t = were not Haven’t = have not Hasn’t = has not Hadn’t = had not Don’t = do not # Don’t be late in class everyday. Doesn’t = does not Didn’t = did not # She didn’t finish her homework, did she? Can’t = cannot # I can’t read that without my glasses. Couldn’t = could not Shan’t = shall not Won’t = will not Shouldn’t = should not Wouldn’t = would not # Wouldn’t that be amazing? Mayn’t = may not Mightn’t = might not Oughtn’t = ought not Mustn’t = must not Usedn’t = used not Needn’t = need not Daren’t = dare not |
| Contraction of will = …’ll and shall = …’ll I’ll = I will || I shall # I promise I’ll buy you a iPhone. We’ll = we will || we shall # We’ll send you the contract tomorrow. # We’ll ring you when we get to Hyderabad. Who’ll = who will # Who’ll be at the party tomorrow? # Who’ll help me with the washing up? # Who’ll be the next president? # There’s a woman who’ll always help others. # These are the people who’ll being doing the course next term. |
| Gotta – have got a || have got to # I gotta licence. (=I have got a licence) # You gotta be careful. (=You have got to be careful) |
| Let’s = let us [Let’s is a contraction of “let us.” You use it to make suggestions about what you and someone else should do.] # Let’s go to the movies. # Let’s invite Mom. Lets = [Lets is the third-person singular present tense form of verb let, which means to allow or give permission. ] # If Mom lets us go to the movies without her, I’ll be surprised. # Let’s all remember that ‘lets’ means ‘allow’. |
| So’s = so as. It’s used in the sense of so that, in order that # A: Has he been working? B: Not so’s you’d notice. So’s = so is # My father’s at work right now. So’s my mother. So’s = so has # My father’s gone away on holiday. So’s my mother. |
| Tryna – trying to # Marco was getting on my nerves, tryna make up with Nolan in every other scene. # I only bring those two up cause they all tryna make the same kind of music. # What I’m tryna say is cherish the ones in life who cherish you and take good care of yourself. |
| ’twas = it was # ‘Twas the night before Christmas. # It was a sight that ’twas wonderful to see. |
| Woulda = would have Shoulda = should have Coulda = could have |
The short/contracted forms ‘s and ‘d have two different long forms:
he‘s = he is or he has
he‘d = he would or he had
We rarely use short or contracted forms after a person’s names and nouns.
# Peter has got a book. = Peter‘s got a book.
# The children have visited London. = The children‘ve visited London.
If have is a full verb, we do not use the short form.
# They have breakfast at 6 o’clock.
You may check out our other vocabulary post from the below link.
Idioms and Phrases for competitive exams like SSC, CAT, GMAT, etc.