Contractions
A contraction is the combination of two words.
Certain verbs, pronouns, and nouns may be contracted in English. Contractions are used in informal communication.
- are not (aren’t)
- cannot (can’t)
- could not (couldn’t)
- must not (mustn’t)
- will not (won’t)
- she would (she’d, he’d)
- they would (they’d)
- we would (we’d)
- I would (I’d)
- they have (they’ve)
- we have (we’ve)
- I have (I’ve)
- you are (you’re)
- she is (she’s, he’s)
- they are (they’re)
- David is (David’s)
- where is (where’s)
The apostrophe in each contraction replaces a letter or letters. The one exception is will not (won’t), which adds a letter.