How to Use Contracted Forms in English Speech?

Target Audience: Polytechnic Teachers and Students in Tamilnadu and general learners of English.
Subject: English-1, II YEAR MOP, M SCHEME
Objective: Students should be able to recognise and use the contracted forms in English speech.
Question Pattern in Exam: I. d. Write the following sentences in contracted forms: (3 marks)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is a Contracted Form?

'Contracted form' refers to the short form of auxiliary verb used in spoken English and in informal 
written English.  For example, We use  "He's my friend" instead of "He is my friend."

Points to Remember!

1. Contracted forms are used only in fluent English Speech and in informal writing, not in formal writing.

2.  An apostrophe ( ' ) must be used to mark the contraction in the place of missing letter(s).

  

3. When the subject has two nouns or pronouns, contractions should not be used.  Example: Mala and I have seen him before.  (Mala and I' ve seen him before.)

4. More than one contraction is wrong.  Contractions are used with the subject (She's) or with the negative 'not' (isn't). They should not be used with both.( She is not a student = She’s not a student or She isn’t a student. She’sn’t a student. 

5. I am not is contracted into I’m not only. (not: I amn’t )

6. Short answers take contracted forms only in negatives, not in positive answers. Right expressions: Yes, he is. No, he hasn’t.  Wrong expression: Yes, he’s.  

7. In questions, contracted form of 'not' should be before the subject. (Why couldn’t he come?)

Rule 1: Contracted forms along with the subject

Normal  -  Contractions  -             Examples

am        -            'm        -            I am = I'm

is          -             's        -            He is = He's, She is = she's, there is = there's

are       -           're       -           They are= they're, we are = we're

have     -           've       -           I have= I've, they have = they've

has       -           ‘s         -           He has = He’s, she has = she’s

had       -           ‘d         -           He had = he’d, she had = she’d

will       -           ‘ll         -           He will = He’ll, they will = they’ll

would   -           ‘d         -           We would = We’d, You would = You’d

Rule 2 : Contracted forms used with auxiliary verb and  “not”

Negatives                     Contractions

am not              =          amn’t

is not                =          isn’t

are not              =          aren’t

was not            =          wasn’t

were not           =          weren’t

does not           =          doesn’t

do not              =          don’t

did not              =          didn’t

have not           =          haven’t

has not             =          hasn’t

had not             =          hadn’t

shall not            =          shan’t

should not         =          shouldn’t

will not             =          won’t

would not         =          wouldn’t

cannot              =          can’t

could not          =          couldn’t

need not           =          needn’t

must not           =          mustn’t

dare not            =          daren’t

ought not          =          oughtn’t

Rule 3: Contracted forms used after “here”, “there”, “now”, “question words” and “let”

Here is your money.      =          Here’s your money.

There is my house.        =          There’s my house.

Now is your turn           =          Now’s your turn.

Where is he?                =          Where’s he?

What is your name?      =          What’s your name?

Let us go.                     =          Let’s go.

Exercises with answers:

1. I am waiting for the bus.

Answer: I’m waiting for the bus.

2. She will reject it.

Answer: She’ll reject it.

3. They have just returned from the trip.

Answer: They’ve just returned from the trip.

4. Let us not quarrel.

Answer: Let’s not quarrel.

5. He will not appreciate this.

Answer : He won’t appreciate this.

6. I shall not come to you again.

Answer: I shan’t come to you again.

7. They cannot reach us.

Answer: They can’t reach us.

8. You ought not to be so late.

Answer: You oughtn’t to be so late.

9. You need not worry.

Answer: You needn’t worry.

10. Who is there?

Answer: Who’s there?

More Exercises for you:

Write the following sentences in contracted forms:

1. He is pleased with the award he has received.

2. They will reach the station at eight.

3. She says he is going away tomorrow.

4. That is the only chance they have got.

5. They are sure he will find a solution to the problem.

6. We have plenty of work to do.

7. I am sure she will succeed.

8. No one can tell us where he has gone.

9. We are sure he will be careful in future.

10. Why could you not come for the party?

Check your answers:

1. He’s pleased with the award he’s received.

2. They’ll reach the station at eight.

3. She says he’s going away tomorrow.

4. That’s the only chance they’ve got.

5. They’re sure he’ll find a solution to the problem.

6. We’ve plenty of work to do.

7. I’m sure she’ll succeed.

8. No one can tell us where he’s gone.

9. We’re sure he’ll be careful in future.

10. Why couldn’t you come for the party?