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Contractions with I, you, he, she, it, we, and they
1. ’m = am (I’m)
2. ’re = are (you’re, we’re, they’re)
3. ’s = is and has (he’s, she’s, it’s)
4. ’ve = have (’ve, you’ve, we’ve, they’ve)
5. ’ll = will (I’ll, you’ll, he’ll, she’ll, it’ll, we’ll, they’ll)
6. ’d = had and would (I’d, you’d, he’d, she’d, it’d, we’d, they’d)

Contractions with auxiliary verb and not
The contraction for not is n’t:
1. aren’t = are not (we aren’t, you aren’t)
2. can’t = cannot
3. couldn’t = could not
4. didn’t = did not (I didn’t, they didn’t)
5. hasn’t = has not
6. haven’t = have not
7. isn’t = is not (she isn’t, it isn’t)
8. mustn’t = must not
9. shan’t = shall not
10. shouldn’t = should not
11. wasn’t = was not
12. weren’t = were not
13. won’t = will not
14. wouldn’t = would not

Alphabetical list of contractions
are not = aren’t
cannot = can’t
could not =couldn’t
did not = didn’t
do not = don’t
does not = doesn’t
had not = hadn’t
have not = haven’t
he is = he’s
he has = he’s
he will = he’ll
he would = he’d
he had = he’d
here is = here’s
I am = I’m
I have = I’ve
I will = I’ll
I would = I’d
I had = I’d
is not = isn’t
it is = it’s
it has = it’s
it will = it’ll
must not = mustn’t
she is = she’s
she has = she’s
she will = she’ll
she would = she’d
she had = she’d
should not = shouldn’t
that is = that’s
there is = there’s
they are = they’re
they have = they’ve
they will = they’ll
they would = they’d
they had = they’d
was not = wasn’t
we are = we’re
we have = we’ve
we will = we’ll
we would = we’d
we had = we’d
were not = weren’t
what is = what’s
where is = where’s
who is = who’s
who will = who’ll
will not = won’t (irregular)
would not = wouldn’t
you are = you’re
you have = you’ve
you will = you’ll
you would = you’d
you had = you’d

An apostrophe does not always signal a contraction. Apostrophes are also added to nouns to show ownership.
Examples:
Bill’s house (The house belongs to Bill. This is not a contraction.)
The cats’ food (The food belongs to the cats. This is not a contraction.)
The boy’s ball (The ball belongs to the boy. This is not a contraction.)

​Exercises
A. Write the following sentences in contracted form.
1. You …………………………. to have offended her.
a. oughtnt’
b. oughtn’t
c. ought n’t
2. ……………………………… waiting in the hall.
a. They’are
b. They’re
3. If you don’t behave, ……………………………. trouble.
a. there’d be
b. there would’be
c. there’ld
4. ………………………………. be happy when this is finished.
a. I’will
b. I’ll
c. I ‘ll
5. ……………………………… definitely pay you back next week.
a. We ‘will
b. We’ill
c. We’ll
6. ……………………………. you have some more wine?
a. Will’not
b. Won’t
c. Will n’t
7. In a situation like that ………………………………… scream until somebody came to help me.
a. I’would
b. I’d
c. I’ld
8. This is a lovely party, but ……………………………….. got to go home because of the baby-sitter.
a. we’have
b. we’ve
c. we ‘ve
9. I’ve not heard Sally moving about. She …………………………. be awake yet.
a. must n’t
b. mustn’t
c. must’t

B. Form common contractions to make these sentences seem more natural. One is done for you.
1. She is my sister. She’s my sister.
2. He is fifteen years old.
3. That is an extra slice of pizza.
4. Is not this a friendly dog?
5. Do not knock the glass over!
6. Jenny cannot drive yet.
7. It did not rain last night.
8. I will go with you to the park.
9. He will like this present.
10. She will need a winter coat.
11. We will keep you company.
12. You will enjoy the book.
13. I am very happy.

C. What do the contractions in these sentences stand for?
1. I don’t understand what you mean.
2. She’ll come over tomorrow.
3. I could’ve gone to the football game.
4. You shouldn’t talk with your mouth full.
5. I won’t be home until Thursday.
6. She’s gone to the bank already.
7. They weren’t in the kitchen.
8. Billy wasn’t eating any of the cake.
9. I’ve already cleaned the dishes.
10. We’d better not make too much noise.
11. It’s been a gloomy day.
12. It’ll be a sunny day tomorrow.