What Are Contractions in English?

Contractions are a way to make two words into one shorter word. We use an apostrophe (‘) to show where letters are missing.

English speakers use contractions all the time. They make conversations faster and more natural.

• You will hear them a lot when people speak.
• You will see them in informal writing, like emails to friends or text messages.

Common Contractions with 'to be' (am, is, are)

Many contractions use forms of the verb to be.

• I am se convierte en I'm.
  Ejemplo: I'm happy to be here.
• You are se convierte en You're.
  Ejemplo: You're a good student.
• He is se convierte en He's.
  Ejemplo: He's my brother.
• She is se convierte en She's.
  Ejemplo: She's going to the shop.
• It is se convierte en It's.
  Ejemplo: It's a beautiful day.
• We are se convierte en We're.
  Ejemplo: We're ready for the test.
• They are se convierte en They're.
  Ejemplo: They're coming later.

Common Contractions with 'have' and 'has'

We also make contractions with have y has, especially in the present perfect tense.

• I have se convierte en I've.
  Ejemplo: I've finished my homework.
• You have se convierte en You've.
  Ejemplo: You've seen this movie before.
• We have se convierte en We've.
  Ejemplo: We've been waiting for an hour.
• They have se convierte en They've.
  Ejemplo: They've already eaten.
• He has se convierte en He's.
  Ejemplo: He's got a new car.
• She has se convierte en She's.
  Ejemplo: She's never visited London.
• It has se convierte en It's.
  Ejemplo: It's been a long day.

Important: He's, She's, y It's can mean is o has. Look at the next word to know the meaning. If the next word is a past participle (like been, finished), it means has. If it's an adjective (like happy) or going, it means is.

Common Contractions with 'will'

We use contractions with will to talk about the future.

• I will se convierte en I'll.
  Ejemplo: I'll call you later.
• You will se convierte en You'll.
  Ejemplo: You'll be fine.
• He will se convierte en He'll.
  Ejemplo: He'll arrive soon.
• She will se convierte en She'll.
  Ejemplo: She'll help us.
• It will se convierte en It'll.
  Ejemplo: It'll rain tomorrow.
• We will se convierte en We'll.
  Ejemplo: We'll see you there.
• They will se convierte en They'll.
  Ejemplo: They'll probably win.

Contractions with 'would' and 'had'

The contraction 'd can mean would o had. Again, look at the next word.

• I would se convierte en I'd.
  Ejemplo: I'd like a coffee, please. (followed by a verb in base form)
• I had se convierte en I'd.
  Ejemplo: I'd already eaten when they arrived. (followed by a past participle)
• You would se convierte en You'd.
  Ejemplo: You'd better hurry.
• He had se convierte en He'd.
  Ejemplo: He'd never seen snow before.

Negative Contractions (not)

We often contract verbs with not. The o en not changes to an apostrophe (') and joins the verb with n't.

• do not se convierte en don't.
  Ejemplo: I don't understand.
• does not se convierte en doesn't.
  Ejemplo: She doesn't like pizza.
• did not se convierte en didn't.
  Ejemplo: We didn't go out last night.
• is not se convierte en isn't.
  Ejemplo: It isn't raining now.
• are not se convierte en aren't.
  Ejemplo: They aren't here yet.
• was not se convierte en wasn't.
  Ejemplo: He wasn't at home.
• were not se convierte en weren't.
  Ejemplo: You weren't listening.
• cannot se convierte en can't.
  Ejemplo: I can't swim.
• will not se convierte en won't.
  Ejemplo: She won't be late.
• could not se convierte en couldn't.
  Ejemplo: I couldn't find my keys.
• should not se convierte en shouldn't.
  Ejemplo: You shouldn't worry.
• would not se convierte en wouldn't.
  Ejemplo: They wouldn't agree.

When NOT to Use Contractions

While contractions are common, there are times when it's better to use the full forms.

• Formal Writing: Avoid contractions in academic essays, official reports, or formal letters.
• Emphasis: If you want to emphasize a word, use the full form.
  Ejemplo: I AM going! (not I'm going!)
• Respuestas breves: Do not use contractions at the end of a short answer.
  Correcto: Yes, I am. (NOT Yes, I'm.)
  Correcto: No, she isn't. (NOT No, she's not.)

Ejemplos

• I'm tired, so I'll go to bed early tonight.
• They're not ready for the party yet.
• He's been waiting for you for an hour.
• It's a secret, so you mustn't tell anyone.
• We'd love to visit Spain again soon.
• She doesn't like coffee, but I do.

Práctica

Errores habituales de los hispanohablantes

Spanish speakers sometimes prefer to use the full forms of words, as contractions are not as common in Spanish grammar. However, in English, using contractions is natural and expected in most informal situations.

• Confusing similar-sounding words: Be careful with words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.
  • It's (it is/it has) vs. Its (possessive, like su in Spanish).
    Wrong: The dog wagged it's tail.
    Right: The dog wagged its tail.
  • You're (you are) vs. Your (possessive, like tu/su in Spanish).
    Wrong: Your a great friend.
    Right: You're a great friend.
  • They're (they are) vs. Their (possessive) vs. There (place).
    Wrong: Their going to the park.
    Right: They're going to the park.
• Using contractions in formal writing: Remember to use full forms in academic essays or formal emails.
• Not using contractions in speech: While grammatically correct, always using full forms can make your English sound less natural to native speakers. Try to practice using contractions when you speak.

Preguntas más frecuentes

What is a contraction in English?

A contraction is a shortened form of two words, usually a pronoun and a verb, or a verb and not. An apostrophe (') replaces the missing letters. For example, I am se convierte en I'm.

Why do English speakers use contractions?

English speakers use contractions to make their speech faster, more fluent, and more natural. They are a common part of everyday conversation and informal writing.

Are contractions informal?

Yes, contractions are generally considered informal. They are perfect for speaking and casual writing (like emails to friends or text messages), but you should avoid them in formal academic writing or official documents.

How do I know if 'he's' means 'he is' or 'he has'?

You need to look at the word that comes after he's. If it's followed by a verb in the '-ing' form or an adjective, it means he is (p. ej., He's running, He's happy). If it's followed by a past participle (e.g., been, finished), it means he has (p. ej., He's been there, He's finished his work).

Can I use contractions in the A2 Key (KET) exam?

Yes, you can use contractions in the A2 Key (KET) exam, especially in informal writing tasks like an email to a friend. However, if you are asked to write something more formal, like a short story or an article, it's safer to use full forms.