Contractions are shortened forms made by combining two words and replacing missing letters with an apostrophe. They are common in speech and informal writing, and they help English sound smoother and faster. Understanding contractions also helps with listening, because the contracted forms are often more frequent than the full forms.

In contractions, the apostrophe shows where letters have been removed, not where a pause happens. The pronunciation usually follows natural speech rhythm, so the apostrophe does not tell you how to stress the word. Learning what the apostrophe replaces helps you expand the contraction when reading and choose the correct spelling when writing.

Forms of be often contract with subject pronouns and with question words, creating very common spoken patterns. These contractions typically sound like one unit with weak pronunciation of the be part. In careful speech you may use the full form, but in everyday conversation contractions are the default.

Subject	Form	Example
I	I'm	I'm ready.
you	you're	You're early.
he	he's	He's at work.
she	she's	She's tired.
it	it's	It's cold today.
we	we're	We're outside.
they	they're	They're busy.

Have contracts in two main ways: as a main verb meaning possession and as an auxiliary in perfect tenses. In connected speech, contracted have can sound very short and may blend into nearby consonants. This can make listening difficult because the contracted part may be barely audible.

Subject	Form	Example
I	I've	I've finished.
you	you've	You've seen it.
he	he's	He's eaten already.
she	she's	She's been here.
it	it's	It's worked so far.
we	we've	We've decided.
they	they've	They've left.

Will commonly contracts after pronouns and question words to express the future or willingness. The contracted sound is short and usually unstressed, so the main stress stays on the content words. In fast speech, the contraction often links closely to the next word.

Subject	Form	Example
I	I'll	I'll call later.
you	you'll	You'll like it.
he	he'll	He'll be back.
she	she'll	She'll help you.
it	it'll	It'll rain soon.
we	we'll	We'll meet there.
they	they'll	They'll understand.

Would contracts after pronouns and question words and is common for polite requests, conditionals, and reported speech. The contracted form is typically weak and blends into the surrounding sounds. Because would and had can share the same written contraction with some subjects, context tells you the meaning.

Subject	Form	Example
I	I'd	I'd like some tea.
you	you'd	You'd enjoy this.
he	he'd	He'd call if he could.
she	she'd	She'd rather stay.
it	it'd	It'd be easier.
we	we'd	We'd better go.
they	they'd	They'd already left.

Not often contracts to n't after auxiliary verbs and modals, forming a single word in spelling and a tight unit in pronunciation. In speaking, the vowel can reduce and the final t may be weak or disappear depending on the next sound. Some negative contractions are irregular and must be learned as fixed forms.

Rule	Example
Add n't to auxiliaries and modals	They don't agree.
be + not contracts regularly	She isn't here.
will not becomes won't	I won't go.
cannot is written can't	We can't wait.
am not has no standard amn't in most English	I'm not ready.

The contraction 'd can mean would or had, and the spelling is the same in both cases. You identify the meaning by the grammar that follows: would is followed by a base verb, while had is followed by a past participle. In speech, both are usually weak and may be hard to hear, so listening for the next verb form is essential.

Rule	Example
'd = would before a base verb	I'd go now.
'd = had before a past participle	I'd finished before noon.
Some contexts allow either meaning, so the sentence may be unclear without more words	She'd left early.

Linking is the way sounds connect across word boundaries in natural speech, making phrases flow like one continuous string. Contractions increase linking because they remove syllables and bring consonants and vowels together. Learning common linking patterns helps you recognize words in fast speech and produce more natural rhythm.

Rule	Description	Notation	Example
Consonant to vowel linking	A final consonant moves smoothly into the next vowel sound	C‿V	pick‿it
Vowel to vowel linking with glide	A small y or w sound may appear between vowels	V‿V with /j/ or /w/	go‿out, see‿it
Intrusive linking after contractions	Contracted endings attach tightly to the next word and may reduce further	'll‿, 've‿, 'd‿	I'll‿ask, we've‿all
/t/ and /d/ weakening	Final t or d may be softened or lost before another consonant	t,d → weak or Ø	won't go, can't be

Contractions are normal in conversation, texting, and informal emails, but they are less common in very formal writing and some academic styles. In pronunciation, both contracted and full forms can occur, but full forms often add emphasis or contrast. Choosing between them is mainly a style decision, not a grammar change.

Rule	Example
Use contractions in informal writing to match natural speech	We can't make it.
Prefer full forms for emphasis or contrast in speech	I am ready, but he isn't.
Prefer full forms in very formal documents unless the style allows contractions	We cannot accept the terms.