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

Common Contractions with 'have' and 'has'

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

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

Important: He's, She's, e It's can mean is ou 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 torna-se I'll.
  Exemplo: I'll call you later.
• You will torna-se You'll.
  Exemplo: You'll be fine.
• He will torna-se He'll.
  Exemplo: He'll arrive soon.
• She will torna-se She'll.
  Exemplo: She'll help us.
• It will torna-se It'll.
  Exemplo: It'll rain tomorrow.
• We will torna-se We'll.
  Exemplo: We'll see you there.
• They will torna-se They'll.
  Exemplo: They'll probably win.

Contractions with 'would' and 'had'

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

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

Negative Contractions (not)

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

• do not torna-se don't.
  Exemplo: I don't understand.
• does not torna-se doesn't.
  Exemplo: She doesn't like pizza.
• did not torna-se didn't.
  Exemplo: We didn't go out last night.
• is not torna-se isn't.
  Exemplo: It isn't raining now.
• are not torna-se aren't.
  Exemplo: They aren't here yet.
• was not torna-se wasn't.
  Exemplo: He wasn't at home.
• were not torna-se weren't.
  Exemplo: You weren't listening.
• cannot torna-se can't.
  Exemplo: I can't swim.
• will not torna-se won't.
  Exemplo: She won't be late.
• could not torna-se couldn't.
  Exemplo: I couldn't find my keys.
• should not torna-se shouldn't.
  Exemplo: You shouldn't worry.
• would not torna-se wouldn't.
  Exemplo: 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.
  Exemplo: I AM going! (not I'm going!)
• Short Answers: Do not use contractions at the end of a short answer.
  Correto: Yes, I am. (NÃO Yes, I'm.)
  Correto: No, she isn't. (NÃO No, she's not.)

Exemplos

• 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.

Prática

Erros comuns entre falantes de espanhol

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).
    Errado: The dog wagged it's tail.
    Direita: The dog wagged its tail.
  • You're (you are) vs. Your (possessive, like tu/su in Spanish).
    Errado: Your a great friend.
    Direita: You're a great friend.
  • They're (they are) vs. Their (possessive) vs. There (place).
    Errado: Their going to the park.
    Direita: 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.

Perguntas frequentes

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 torna-se 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 (e.g., He's running, He's happy). If it's followed by a past participle (e.g., been, finished), it means he has (e.g., 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.