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What Are Contractions? (with Examples)
A contraction is an abbreviated version of a word or words.Examples of Contractions
There are two main kinds:1) Those formed by replacing missing letter(s) with an apostrophe. (These contractions are formed either by shortening a word or merging two words into one.) For example:
- don't
- can't
- shouldn't
- he's
(2) Those formed by compressing a word (i.e. without apostrophes)/ For example:
- Mr.
- Dr.
- Prof.
- Rev.
Read more about full stops (periods) after contractions.
Only Use Apostrophes to Replace Letters in Standard Contractions
When an apostrophe replaces a letter, a new word is formed (most often, but not always, from two words originally). The new word is called a contraction.You cannot invent your own contractions. Here is a list of common contractions in English:
Contraction | Original |
---|---|
aren't | are not |
can't | cannot |
couldn't | could not |
didn't | did not |
doesn't | does not |
don't | do not |
hadn't | had not |
hasn't | has not |
haven't | have not |
he'd | he had, he would |
he'll | he will, he shall |
he's | he is, he has |
I'd | I had, I would |
I'll | I will, I shall |
I'm | I am |
I've | I have |
isn't | is not |
it's | it is, it has |
let's | let us |
mustn't | must not |
shan't | shall not |
she'd | she had, she would |
she'll | she will, she shall |
she's | she is, she has |
shouldn't | should not |
that's | that is, that has |
there's | there is, there has |
they'd | they had, they would |
they'll | they will, they shall |
they're | they are |
they've | they have |
we'd | we had, we would |
we're | we are |
we've | we have |
weren't | were not |
what'll | what will, what shall |
what're | what are |
what's | what is, what has |
what've | what have |
where's | where is, where has |
who'd | who had, who would |
who'll | who will, who shall |
who're | who are |
who's | who is, who has |
who've | who have |
won't | will not |
wouldn't | would not |
you'd | you had, you would |
you'll | you will, you shall |
you're | you are |
you've | you have |