English Contractions: I'm, Don't, Can't

Quick Answer: An English contraction joins two words and replaces the missing letters with an apostrophe: I'm (I am), don't (do not), can't (cannot), won't (will not). The most common ones combine a pronoun with be, have, will or would, or a verb with not. Use them in speech and everyday writing, and use full forms in very formal texts.

Key takeaways

• The apostrophe replaces the missing letters, so it is don't, not do'nt.
• 's can mean is, has or the possessive: she's tired (is), she's left (has), Ali's car (possessive).
• 'd can mean would or had: I'd like (would), I'd eaten (had). A past participle after it means had.
• Amn't is not standard English. Say I'm not, and use aren't I in questions and tags: I'm late, aren't I?
• Never end a sentence with a positive contraction: Yes, I am, not Yes, I'm.
• It's means it is or it has; its is possessive and never takes an apostrophe.

Key takeaways

• The apostrophe replaces the missing letters, so it is don't, not do'nt.
• 's can mean is, has or the possessive: she's tired (is), she's left (has), Ali's car (possessive).
• 'd can mean would or had: I'd like (would), I'd eaten (had). A past participle after it means had.
• Amn't is not standard English. Say I'm not, and use aren't I in questions and tags: I'm late, aren't I?
• Never end a sentence with a positive contraction: Yes, I am, not Yes, I'm.
• It's means it is or it has; its is possessive and never takes an apostrophe.

Compare I am not sure, it is fine with I'm not sure, it's fine. Both are correct, but in conversation native speakers almost always choose the second, and you need to recognize contractions to follow fast speech.

How contractions work

You join two words and replace one or more letters with an apostrophe.

• I am becomes I'm (the a is missing)
• do not becomes don't (the o is missing)
• they have becomes they've (ha is missing)

The apostrophe goes where the letters were removed, not between the two words. Wrong: do'nt. Right: don't.

Contractions with be

Full form	Contraction
I am	I'm
you are	you're
he is, she is, it is	he's, she's, it's
we are	we're
they are	they're
is not	isn't
are not	aren't
was not	wasn't
were not	weren't

Note: amn't is not standard English (you may hear it in Scotland and Ireland). Say I'm not. In questions and question tags, standard English uses aren't I, even though it looks irregular: Aren't I invited? I'm late, aren't I?

Contractions with have

Full form	Contraction
I have	I've
you have	you've
he has, she has	he's, she's
we have	we've
they have	they've
have not	haven't
has not	hasn't
I had, you had, she had	I'd, you'd, she'd

Be careful: he's can mean he is or he has. Look at the next word: a past participle such as finished or been means has. Also, has as a main verb meaning possess is rarely contracted: say He has a car, not He's a car.

• He's tired. (he is)
• He's finished his work. (he has, because finished is a past participle)

Contractions with do

Full form	Contraction
do not	don't
does not	doesn't
did not	didn't

Contractions with modal verbs

Full form	Contraction
will	I'll, you'll, they'll
will not	won't
would	I'd, you'd, we'd
would not	wouldn't
cannot	can't
could not	couldn't
should not	shouldn't
must not	mustn't
would have	would've
could have	could've
should have	should've

Two meanings of 'd

I'd can mean I would or I had.

• I'd like a coffee. (I would)
• I'd already eaten. (I had, because eaten is a past participle)

Contractions with nouns and question words

Contractions are not only for pronouns. In speech, people also contract is, has and will after nouns and question words.

• My brother's a doctor. (my brother is)
• The bus'll be here soon. (the bus will, very informal)
• Where's the station? (where is)
• What's happened? (what has)
• Who'd like tea? (who would)
• How's your mother? (how is)
• Who's coming tonight? (who is)

In writing, the noun forms like the bus'll are rare, but where's, what's and who's are completely normal.

Common mistakes

Its vs it's

• It's = it is or it has. It's raining. It's been a long day.
• Its = belonging to it. The cat licked its paw.

A quick test: if you can replace the word with it is, use it's.

Your vs you're

• You're = you are. You're very kind.
• Your = belonging to you. Is this your bag?

Their, there and they're

• They're = they are. They're late.
• Their = belonging to them. Their car is red.
• There = a place or there is. Put it there.

Would of, could of, should of

Because would've sounds like would of, some people write it that way. This is always wrong.

• Wrong: I should of called you.
• Right: I should've called you. Or: I should have called you.

Contracting at the end of a sentence

You cannot use a positive contraction at the end of a sentence or short answer.

• Wrong: Yes, I'm. Wrong: Yes, she's. Wrong: I don't know where he's.
• Right: Yes, I am. Yes, she is. I don't know where he is.

Negative contractions are fine: No, I'm not. No, she isn't.

Informal spoken forms

You will hear these in films, songs and casual speech. They are common in speaking, but avoid them in formal writing.

Spoken	Full form
gonna	going to
wanna	want to
gotta	got to, have got to
kinda	kind of
dunno	don't know
y'all	you all (American South)
ain't	am not, is not, have not (non-standard)

Ain't is common in some dialects and in music, but it is considered non-standard. Learners should understand it but not use it in formal situations. Read more about informal language in our guide to common English slang.

When to use contractions

Use them:

• in conversation
• in text messages, chats and social media
• in friendly and most business emails
• in blog posts and informal articles

Avoid them:

• in academic essays and exams like IELTS Writing, unless the task is informal
• in legal and official documents
• when you want to add emphasis: I do NOT agree.

Practice quiz

Write the contraction.

1. I am not ready.
2. She has not called.
3. They will not come.
4. We would like to order.
5. It is a beautiful day.
6. You should have told me.

Answers: 1 I'm not, 2 She hasn't, 3 They won't, 4 We'd like, 5 It's, 6 You should've told me.

Choose the correct word.

7. The dog wagged (its / it's) tail.
8. (Your / You're) going to love this film.

Answers: 7 its, 8 You're.

Sound more natural

Using contractions is one of the easiest ways to improve your English speaking. For more on apostrophes and commas, read English punctuation basics. And if you are just starting out, the free A1 course introduces contractions from your first lessons.

People Also Ask

What is a contraction in English?

A contraction is a short form of two words joined with an apostrophe, such as I'm for I am or don't for do not. The apostrophe shows where letters are missing.

Can I use contractions in formal writing?

In very formal writing, such as academic essays and legal documents, full forms are usually better. In emails, blogs and most business writing, contractions are normal and sound friendly.

What is the difference between its and it's?

It's is a contraction of it is or it has. Its is a possessive meaning belonging to it, and it never has an apostrophe.

Why is will not shortened to won't?

Won't comes from an older form of will, woll, so woll not became won't. It is irregular, so you simply learn it as a special case.

Related Reading

• English Punctuation Basics
• 25 Common English Mistakes and How to Fix Them
• How to Improve Your English Speaking
• English Grammar for Beginners: Where to Start