English Contractions for ESL

English contractions are shortened forms of helping or auxiliary verbs in both positive and negative sentences. Contractions are generally used in spoken English, but not in formal written English. However, written English is becoming more informal (emails, notes to friends, etc.) and you will often see these forms in print. Heres an example from a business email: Ive been working on a new project. It hasnt been easy, but next week Ill finish. This example shows three contractions: Ive / hasnt / Ill. Learn the rules of contraction use in English below. Each of the following English contractions includes an explanation of the full form and example sentences to provide context for understanding. Positive Contractions Im --- I am --- Example: Im waiting for my friend.Ill --- I will --- Example: Ill see you tomorrow.Id --- I had / I would --- Example: Id better leave now. OR Id already eaten by the time he arrived.Ive --- I have --- Example: Ive worked here for many years. Youre --- You are --- Example: Youre joking!Youll --- You will --- Example: Youll be sorry!Youd --- You had / would --- Example: Youd left before he arrived, hadnt you? OR Youd better hurry up.Youve --- You have --- Example: Youve been to London many times. Hes --- He is / has --- Example: Hes on the phone now. OR Hes been playing tennis since 10 this morning.Hell --- He will --- Example: Hell be here tomorrow.Hed --- He had / would --- Example: Hed prefer to meet you later in the week. OR Hed finished before the meeting began. Shes --- She is / has --- Example: Shes watching TV at the moment. OR Shes had a lot of trouble lately.Shell --- She will --- Example: Shell be at the meeting.Shed --- She had / would --- Example: Shed been working for two hours when he telephoned. OR Shed like to have a glass of wine. Its --- It is / has --- Example: Its been long time since we saw each other last. OR Its very difficult to concentrate.Itll --- It will --- Example: Itll be here soon.Itd --- It would / had --- Example: Itd be difficult to say no. OR Itd been a long time. Were --- We are --- Example: Were working hard on the Smith account this week.Well --- We will --- Example: Well begin when he arrives.Wed --- We had / would --- Example: Wed better hurry up if we want to catch the train. OR Wed finished the meeting before you arrived.Weve --- We have --- Example: Weve been waiting for you! Theyre --- They are --- Example: Theyre studying German this afternoon.Theyll --- They will --- Example: Theyll finish soon if they concentrate.Theyd --- They had / would --- Example: Theyd eaten their lunch when she stopped by to say hello. OR Theyd rather not come to the meeting.Theyve --- They have --- Example: Theyve just purchased a new home. Theres --- There is / has --- Example: Theres a hotel in the next town. OR Theres been too many telephone calls today!Therell --- There will --- Example: Therell be a price to pay!Thered --- There had / would --- Example: Thered better be a good explanation for this. OR Thered be some reason for that. Thats --- That is / has --- Example: Thats been on my mind lately. OR Thats why I cant come.Thatll --- That will --- Example: Thatll happen sooner than you think.Thatd --- That had / would --- Example: Thatd be the reason why. OR Thatd happened before my time. Negative Contractions arent --- are not --- Example: They arent coming next week.cant --- can not --- Example: I cant understand you.couldnt --- could not --- Example: He couldnt get his shoes on!didnt --- did not --- Example: We didnt visit Rome. We went straight to Florence.doesnt --- does not --- Example: He doesnt play golf.dont --- do not --- Example: They dont like cheese.hadnt --- had not --- Example: I hadnt thought of that!hasnt --- has not --- Example: She hasnt telephoned yet.isnt --- is not --- Example: She isnt listening to you.mustnt --- must not --- Example: Children mustnt play with fire.neednt --- need not --- Example: You neednt worry about that.shouldnt --- should not --- Example: You shouldnt smoke cigarettes.wasnt --- was not --- Example: I wasnt joking when I said that.werent --- were not --- Example: They werent invited to the party.wont --- will not --- Example: I wont be able to attend the conference.wouldnt --- would not --- Example: She wouldnt be surprised if he showed up at th e party. Contractions in Speech English learners should become familiar with contractions in order to understand the grammar of what is said quickly. Native English speakers tend to speak quickly and glide over function words such as helping verbs. Most English contractions are contractions of helping verbs, so an understanding of the role these contracted helping verbs play in grammar can help you better understand spoken English. English learners should feel free to use contractions whenever they speak, but the use of contractions is not required. If you prefer to speak using full helping verb forms, continue to do so, but become familiar with contractions in order to help your understanding.