Study materials
In conversation English speakers rarely say I am or do not in full. Two words join into one.
I'm tired.
I am tired.
She's got a cat.
She has got a cat.
We won't tell anyone.
We will not tell anyone.
This article explains how contractions are formed, contractions with not, what 's and 'd mean, why there is no amn't, and when contractions are not used.
How a contraction is formed
A contraction joins a pronoun or a noun with a helping verb, a short word such as am, is, are, have, has, will, would or had. The apostrophe stands where letters are left out.
| Full | Contracted |
|---|---|
| I am | I'm |
| you are, we are, they are | you're, we're, they're |
| he is, she is, it is | he's, she's, it's |
| I have, they have | I've, they've |
| he has, she has | he's, she's |
| I will, you will | I'll, you'll |
| I had, I would | I'd |
We're from Ukraine.
They've bought a new car.
I'll order a pizza.
Your without an apostrophe means belonging to you, while you're means you are. Were is the past of are, while we're means we are.
Contractions with not
Not joins the verb before it and becomes n't.
| Full | Contracted |
|---|---|
| is not, are not | isn't, aren't |
| do not, does not, did not | don't, doesn't, didn't |
| have not, has not | haven't, hasn't |
| cannot | can't |
| will not | won't |
Two forms need learning separately. Will not becomes won't, and cannot, written as one word, becomes can't. A negative with is or are can be shortened in two ways: she isn't and she's not mean the same.
My parents haven't seen this film.
Taras hasn't got a car.
What 's and 'd mean
's can mean is or has. If got or the third form of a verb follows, a form such as finished, gone or seen, it is has. If a noun or an adjective follows, it is is.
She's finished her homework.
She has finished. A third form follows.
My brother's a doctor.
My brother is. A noun follows.
'd means had or would. Had is followed by the third form, would by the base form. To check, expand the contraction in your head.
I'd already left when you called.
I had left.
I'd love a coffee.
I would love.
Why there is no amn't
There is no amn't in standard English. People say I'm not. In a question tag, the short question at the end of a sentence, they say aren't I.
I'm not sure.
I'm next, aren't I?
When contractions are not used
A short answer repeats the verb from the question. A positive short answer is never contracted, because the last word is said in full. A negative one can be.
Are you ready? Yes, I am.
Not Yes, I'm.
Is she at home? No, she isn't.
A contraction is fine here.
Common mistakes
The first mistake is the form amn't.
I amn't sure. → I'm not sure.
Amn't does not exist.
The second mistake is a contraction in a positive short answer.
Are you ready? Yes, I'm. → Yes, I am.
The end of the answer is full.
The third mistake is the second form after I'd.
I'd went home. → I'd gone home.
I had gone.
The first mistake shows after I. There is no amn't, so I'm not, and aren't I in a question. The second shows at the end of the answer. A positive short answer ends with the full form. The third shows if you expand I'd. I had is followed by the third form gone, not went.