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	🇨🇳 中文 主语	Form	🇨🇳 中文 形式	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例句
I	👤 我	I'm	🧩 是	I'm ready.	💬 我准备好了。
you	👤 你	you're	🧩 你是	You're early.	💬 你来得很早。
he	👤 他	he's	🧩 他是	He's at work.	💬 他在工作。
she	👤 她	she's	🧩 她是	She's tired.	💬 她累了。
it	👤 它	it's	🧩 它是	It's cold today.	💬 今天很冷。
we	👤 我们	we're	🧩 我们是	We're outside.	💬 我们在外面。
they	👤 他们	they're	🧩 他们是	They're busy.	💬 他们很忙。

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	🇨🇳 中文 主语	Form	🇨🇳 中文 形式	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例句
I	👤 我	I've	🧩 我有	I've finished.	💬 我有完成过。
you	👤 你	you've	🧩 你有	You've seen it.	💬 你已经看见它。
he	👤 他	he's	🧩 他有	He's eaten already.	💬 他已经吃过。
she	👤 她	she's	🧩 她有	She's been here.	💬 她已在这里。
it	👤 它	it's	🧩 它有	It's worked so far.	💬 至今，它已经工作。
we	👤 我们	we've	🧩 我们有	We've decided.	💬 我们已经决定了。
they	👤 他们	they've	🧩 他们有	They've left.	💬 他们已经离开。

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	🇨🇳 中文 主语	Form	🇨🇳 中文 形式	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例句
I	👤 I	I'll	🧩 I'll	I'll call later.	💬 I'll call later.
you	👤 你	you'll	🧩 you'll	You'll like it.	💬 You'll like it.
he	👤 他	he'll	🧩 he'll	He'll be back.	💬 He'll be back.
she	👤 她	she'll	🧩 she'll	She'll help you.	💬 She'll help you.
it	👤 它	it'll	🧩 it'll	It'll rain soon.	💬 It'll rain soon.
we	👤 我们	we'll	🧩 we'll	We'll meet there.	💬 We'll meet there.
they	👤 他们	they'll	🧩 they'll	They'll understand.	💬 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	🇨🇳 中文 主语	Form	🇨🇳 中文 形式	Example	🇨🇳 中文 例句
I	👤 I	I'd	🧩 I'd	I'd like some tea.	💬 I'd like some tea.
you	👤 你	you'd	🧩 you'd	You'd enjoy this.	💬 You'd enjoy this.
he	👤 他	he'd	🧩 he'd	He'd call if he could.	💬 He'd call if he could.
she	👤 她	she'd	🧩 she'd	She'd rather stay.	💬 She'd rather stay.
it	👤 它	it'd	🧩 it'd	It'd be easier.	💬 It'd be easier.
we	👤 我们	we'd	🧩 we'd	We'd better go.	💬 We'd better go.
they	👤 他们	they'd	🧩 they'd	They'd already left.	💬 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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Add n't to auxiliaries and modals	📏 向助动词和情态动词添加 n’t	They don't agree.	🗣️ 他们不同意。
be + not contracts regularly	📏 be + not 常规收缩	She isn't here.	🗣️ 她不在这里。
will not becomes won't	📏 will not 将变成 won't	I won't go.	🗣️ 我不会去。
cannot is written can't	📏 cannot 写成 can't	We can't wait.	🗣️ 我们不能等。
am not has no standard amn't in most English	📏 am not 在大多数英语中没有标准 *amn't*	I'm not ready.	🗣️ 我还没准备好。

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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
'd = would before a base verb	📏 'd = would 置于一个基本动词之前	I'd go now.	🗣️ I'd go now.
'd = had before a past participle	📏 'd = had 置于一个过去分词之前	I'd finished before noon.	🗣️ I'd finished before noon.
Some contexts allow either meaning, so the sentence may be unclear without more words	📏 某些语境允许任一含义，因此若缺少更多词句就可能不清楚	She'd left early.	🗣️ 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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Description	🇨🇳 中文 描述	Notation	🇨🇳 中文 记法	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Consonant to vowel linking	🔗 辅音到元音的连音	A final consonant moves smoothly into the next vowel sound	一个最终辅音平滑地过渡到下一个元音音素	C‿V	C‿V	pick‿it	挑选‿它
Vowel to vowel linking with glide	🔗 元音到元音的连音并带滑音	A small y or w sound may appear between vowels	元音之间可能出现一个小的 y 或 w 音	V‿V with /j/ or /w/	V‿V with /j/ or /w/	go‿out, see‿it	去‿出, 看‿它
Intrusive linking after contractions	🔗 收缩后的插入连音	Contracted endings attach tightly to the next word and may reduce further	收缩的词尾紧贴下一个词，可能进一步减弱	'll‿, 've‿, 'd‿	'll‿, 've‿, 'd‿	I'll‿ask, we've‿all	I'll‿ask, we've‿all
/t/ and /d/ weakening	🔗 /t/ 与 /d/ 的弱化	Final t or d may be softened or lost before another consonant	末尾的 t 或 d 在另一个辅音前可能被弱化或消失	t,d → weak or Ø	t,d → 弱化或 Ø	won't go, can't be	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	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use contractions in informal writing to match natural speech	📝 在非正式写作中使用缩略形式以符合自然口语	We can't make it.	🗣️ 我们不能让它。
Prefer full forms for emphasis or contrast in speech	📝 在口语中为强调或对比偏好完整形式	I am ready, but he isn't.	🗣️ 我准备好了，但他没准备好。
Prefer full forms in very formal documents unless the style allows contractions	📝 在非常正式的文档中，除非风格允许缩略，否则偏好完整形式	We cannot accept the terms.	🗣️ 我们不能接受条款。