Contractions

Contractions Two words that are combined to form a more naturally sounding speech or writing are called contractions. The combined words are set apart by an apostrophe and some letters (usually from the second word) are subtracted to form the contraction. The following are the most common examples of contractions: Isn’t Is not Aren’t

Are not

Weren’t

Were not

Wasn’t

Was not

They’re

They are

It’s

It is

That’s

That is

Can’t

Can not

Would’ve

Would have

Should’ve

Should have

Wouldn’t

Would not

Shouldn’t

Should not

Didn’t

Did not

Doesn’t

Does not

He’d/She’d

He had/She had

He’ll/She’ll

He will/She will

How’d

How did

How’ll

How will

I’m

I am

I’ll

I will

I’d

I would

I’m

I am

Ain’t

Am not

*Avoid mistaking contractions from possessive words. Although possessive words also have an apostrophe between the noun and the letter s (ex. Mike's clothes), it is still not a combination of words. *Contractions are not used in formal speech (such as job interviews) and formal writing (such as resumes and formal letters).