Contractions

A1 · BeginnerSpoken English Grammar

I am becomes I'm, do not becomes don't — the everyday shortcuts of spoken and informal English.

What you'll learn

  • A contraction fuses two words into one, marking the missing letters with an apostrophe: I am → I'm
  • Subject + verb contractions: I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're, I've, we'll, I'd
  • Verb + not contractions: don't, doesn't, didn't, isn't, aren't, wasn't, weren't, can't, won't, shouldn't
  • 'Won't' (will not) and 'can't' (cannot) are irregular — they don't just glue the two words together
  • Contractions are standard in speech and informal writing; full forms are preferred in formal writing (reports, essays, official letters)

Fusing two words into one

A contraction takes two words that are almost always said together and fuses them into one shortened word, replacing the missing letters with an apostrophe. English speakers use contractions constantly in speech — avoiding them can actually sound stiff or overly formal in casual conversation.

"I am → I'm"
"do not → don't"

Subject + verb contractions

The most common type joins a subject pronoun to a form of 'be,' 'have,' or 'will': I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're, I've, you've, we've, they've, I'll, you'll, he'll, we'll, I'd, you'd, she'd.

"I am tired. → I'm tired."
"She has already left. → She's already left."
"We will call you. → We'll call you."

Verb + not contractions

The other common type joins a verb to 'not': don't, doesn't, didn't, isn't, aren't, wasn't, weren't, haven't, hasn't, hadn't, can't, couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't, mustn't. Two of these are irregular in spelling: 'will not' becomes 'won't' (not 'willn't'), and 'cannot' becomes 'can't' as one word.

"I do not know. → I don't know."
"She is not ready. → She isn't ready."
"I will not go. → I won't go."

Watch out

✗dont, cant, wont (missing apostrophe)
✓don't, can't, won't

The apostrophe marks exactly where letters were removed — leaving it out is a spelling error, not just a style choice.

✗Its raining. (missing apostrophe, meant as 'it is')
✓It's raining. (it is) — vs. The dog wagged its tail. (possessive, no apostrophe)

'It's' with an apostrophe always means 'it is' or 'it has'; 'its' without an apostrophe is the possessive form. Mixing these up is one of the most common contraction mistakes.

Real life — Choosing the right register

"Can you fix the intro paragraph? It still says 'do not' and 'cannot' everywhere — it sounds a bit stiff for a blog post."

"Oh, good catch — I'll swap those for 'don't' and 'can't.' Should I do the same for the formal report I sent yesterday?"

"No, leave the report as it is — full forms are actually expected there."

"Got it — contractions for the blog, full forms for the report."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct contraction

Choose the contraction of 'I am.'

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct contraction

Choose the contraction of 'she is.'

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct contraction

Choose the contraction of 'do not.'

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct contraction

Choose the contraction of 'they will.'

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct contraction

Choose the contraction of 'cannot.'

Exercise 6 · Choose the more formal option

Which sentence is MORE appropriate in a formal report?

Exercise 7 · Choose the more natural spoken option

Which sentence sounds MORE natural in casual spoken conversation?

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct meaning

'It's' (with an apostrophe) is a contraction of...

Exercise 9 · Write the contraction

Write the contraction of 'we have.'

Exercise 10 · Write the contraction

Write the contraction of 'should not.'

Exercise 11 · Sort the contractions into groups

I'm
you're
he's
don't
can't
won't
we've
they'd

0 / 8 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the contraction of 'will not' (an irregular form, not simply 'will'+'n't').

You learned

  • A contraction fuses two words into one, marking missing letters with an apostrophe.
  • Subject + verb contractions: I'm, you're, he's, we've, they'll, I'd.
  • Verb + not contractions: don't, isn't, can't, won't, shouldn't.
  • 'Won't' and 'can't' are irregular spellings, not simple fusions.
  • Use contractions in speech and informal writing; use full forms in formal writing.

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